Staying up late might feel like a treat for children, but making it a habit poses serious risks to their health and well-being. A groundbreaking University of South Australia (UniSA) study reveals that both kids and adults who regularly hit the hay late tend to follow unbalanced diets, log more screen time, and exercise less.
By analyzing sleep data from Australian children and their parents, this pioneering research identified four distinct sleep profiles: short sleepers (27%), late-to-bed (17%), long sleepers (24%), and good sleepers (31%). Those in the late-to-bed group were linked to the lowest socioeconomic status and the least healthy eating and activity habits.
Lead researcher Dr. Lisa Matricciani from UniSA emphasizes the study's value for public health. "We all know a good night's sleep matters, but extremes like too much or too little sleep, late bedtimes, or irregular schedules raise red flags," she says.
"Our analysis of multiple sleep factors uncovered four clusters that shed light on lifestyle behaviors. Notably, late-to-bed individuals—both adults and children—consume fewer fruits and vegetables, more junk food like chips and sugary drinks, spend extra time on screens, and get less physical activity."
The findings also highlight a connection to lower socioeconomic backgrounds in this group.
The study drew on actigraphy data from the Child Health CheckPoint study, part of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC). Over 12 months, 1,043 children aged 11-12 and 1,337 parents (average age 43.2 years) wore wrist devices for seven days to track sleep duration, timing, quality, and variability. This was complemented by self-reported data on socioeconomic status, age/puberty, diet (via NaSSDA survey), and lifestyle (via MARCA).
