Sleep In, Feel Better
By Editorial Staff
Feeling overwhelmed and exhausted has become almost normal for teens and young adults today. Between school, work, social life and screen time, many young people don't get enough sleep during the week. A study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders suggests staying in bed a little longer on weekends could actually help ease depressive feelings among this age group.
Researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a large, nationally representative health survey in the United States. They focused on 1,087 participants between the ages of 16 and 24, examining how their weekday sleep patterns compared to their weekend sleep habits, and whether those patterns were linked to daily feelings of sadness or depression.
The study centered on what's known as "weekend catch-up sleep" – extra hours of rest on Saturdays and Sundays that make up for sleep lost during busy weekdays. Many teens and young adults fall short of recommended sleep amounts during school or work nights, so weekends often become a chance to recharge.
The findings were striking. Young people who regularly caught up on sleep during the weekend were significantly less likely to report daily depressive symptoms compared to those who did not. Consistently getting adequate sleep overall and maintaining a relatively steady sleep schedule were also associated with a lower likelihood of experiencing depressive feelings.
These results matter because depression remains one of the most common mental health challenges among adolescents and young adults. Academic pressure, social stress, screen time, and early schedules all contribute to chronic sleep deprivation. This research suggests improving sleep habits – even in simple, realistic ways – may play a meaningful role in supporting emotional well-being.
While weekend catch-up sleep is not a substitute for professional mental health care, it may serve as a practical and accessible strategy for sleep-deprived young people. Prioritizing enough total sleep across the week and allowing the body to recover when possible could be one small but powerful step toward protecting mental health.
