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Unveiling the Sleep Crisis: Implications for Adolescent Health,
Academic Performance, and Policy Reform
average is about 8.5 hours. It is true that some people sleep longer and some people sleep shorter.
But this is an average. It does not necessarily mean that a person must sleep for 8.5 hours.

We: So why is there such a big difference between when we sleep 7.5 hours and when we
sleep 8.5 hours?

Dr. Fang-Chia Chang: Your body's repair is not enough. Another thing is the recovery
status of your nerves. This will all have an impact. In fact, there is a natural circadian rhythm in
our body, which is our day and night rhythm cycle. The circadian rhythm cycle cannot move, so if
your sleep is short, it is actually very bad. The fact is that you just can't sleep that long, but that
doesn't mean you shouldn't sleep that long. So there will definitely be problems in the long run

Because most of the second half of our sleep is rapid eye movement sleep. The period of
sleep during the rapid mobilization period is related to your nerve repair and the operation of your
entire nerve network. And your learning and memory. So you can find a very simple phenomenon:
for example, if you have a midterm exam, will you stay up late to study? You may have recited
for three hours, but stayed up late and only slept for three or four hours. But most of these four
hours are spent in deep sleep. Because our sleep cycle begins with deep sleep, followed by light
sleep and rapid eye movement sleep. But you are gone from behind and have no ability to repair
yourself. Therefore, the recovery of the neural network of repair ability, and your learning and
memory will actually become worse. So you will find that, for example, after you stay up late,
although you may seem to remember for a short time that you took the exam, you will forget it all
after a week. Because your memory does not have it, your entire memory has not solidified it. If it
is not solidified, it is not yours, and it will not be stored in the brain.

During the discussion with Dr. Fang-Chia Chang, he elucidated the diverse ramifications
of inadequate sleep, emphasizing the crucial need for sufficient rest:
1. Signs of Insufficient Sleep: Dr. Fang-Chia Chang explains that feeling tired upon waking
up indicates insufficient sleep, emphasizing the importance of feeling refreshed and awake
in the morning.
2. Negative Impacts of Insufficient Sleep: Long-term lack of sleep or sleep disturbances can
lead to various health issues, including mental illnesses like depression and anxiety,
reduced immunity, increased susceptibility to infections like colds or COVID-19, and
even neurological diseases such as epilepsy.
3. Injuries and Performance: Inadequate sleep can impair concentration, coordination, and
overall performance, increasing the risk of sports injuries and affecting daily activities.

On the other hand, Dr. Fang-Chia Chang also highlights solution for both adolescents and
adults:
1. While catching up on missed sleep during weekends or holidays may help to some extent,
the most effective solution is to ensure sufficient sleep every day. Consistency in sleep
patterns is crucial for overall well-being.
2. Recommended Sleep Duration: The ideal duration of sleep varies with age, with
adolescents needing around 8.5 hours of sleep on average. However, individual variations
exist, and it's essential to prioritize quality sleep over a specific duration.

B. Analysis on scholarly studies that provide insights for policy change

I. Background

Understanding the importance of sleep, we delve into the issue and research for tangible
policy changes. Also, to demonstrate the academic benefits sleep could bring and referencing

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