A new study highlights something surprisingly simple that
could help teens protect their mental health: catching up on sleep over the
weekend. Researchers found that young people aged 16-24 who slept more on
weekends to make up for lost weekday sleep had a 41% lower risk of depression
symptoms compared to those who did not.
While experts still say getting consistent sleep every night
(around 8-10 hours) is ideal, the reality is that many teens cannot manage that
due to school, social life, and other commitments. In addition, the natural
body clocks of an adolescent is a night owl, making it harder to fall asleep
early. So, weekend “catch-up sleep” may act as a practical backup. Overall, the
findings reinforce how important sleep is for mental health and suggest that
even small, realistic adjustments – like sleeping in – can make a meaningful
difference.