Quezon City Academy Foundation Inc.

1144 E. Delos Santos Avenue Quezon City, Philippines

Senior High School Department

Sleep Deprivation and Its Effects

to Students

By:
Capote, Joshua A.
Dela Cruz, Ghenrae Leanne S.

Submitted in the fulfilment of the

Requirement for Practical Research 1

Presented to:
Ms. Ruby Rose Casingal
i.Acknowledgement
This work won’t be possible without the help of the people around

us, who has been with us throughout this whole research.

First and foremost, we would like to express our deep and sincere

gratitude to our research teacher, Ms. Ruby Rose Casingal for giving us

the opportunity to do this research and guiding us throughout the process.

She has taught us the methodology to carry out the research and to

present the research works within the limited time. We would also like to

thank her for the patience and answering our questions about in regard

with this. We are very grateful for the kindness and what she has offered

us. It was a great privilege and honor to study under her guidance.

We are extremely grateful to our parents for understanding and

letting us work during late nights. For the unending support especially

financially, in completing our research work. Also, we would like to thank

our classmates for their advices, prayers, comments, and showed full

support in completing this research. To our friends who motivated us to

successfully finish our work and stayed with us in the whole research.

We would also like to extend our thanks to all of our subject

teachers especially our adviser, Mr. Alvin Llaneta, for understanding us

and giving us some time to be able to conduct our work.

Finally, to the Almighty God for showering us with blessings every

day, for giving us wisdom, knowledge and strength to finish our research

successfully.
ii.Abstract

Sleep is essential for the human body to function effectively. It is

critical for the function of the brain, helping with other cognitive functions

such as memory, learning, decision making, and critical thinking. Having

enough rest enables the body and mind to get ready for the day.

Students are one of the most sleep deprived people in the world.

They have some of the worst sleep habits compared to other adult groups.

Research shows that sleep deprivation is widely a problem especially to

students. In a detailed 2014 report, the American Academy of Pediatrics

called the problem of tired teens a public health epidemic.

Sleep crisis has been worsened due to different factors

contributing to sleep loss. Living in the modern society with the

advancement of technology, it only increased the probability of lack of

sleep. When students loses sleep, they disrupt their sleep cycles; ruin

their body clock and their bodies respond by decreasing their ability to

concentrate, participate actively and complete special task in school. With

these unhealthy sleeping habits and lifestyle, researchers found out that it

affects the student’s performance in school and could lead to different

health problems.

The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of sleep

deprivation to students, the factors that contributes to lack of sleep, as well

as solutions on how to prevent and overcome being sleep deprived.

 Chapter I: The Problem and its Background

Introduction

A human body needs regulated sleep, right amount and scheduled

food intake, and enough rest to function efficiently. Sleep is an

essential human need to fuel the body with energy to perform activities

in their everyday lives. Sleep deprivation, associated with lack of sleep

has been a common issue these days to people, especially to

students. A 2006 survey by the National Sleep Foundation reported

that more than 87 percent of U.S. high school students get far less

than the recommended eight to 10 hours. Moreover, the trend

indicates the amount of time they sleep is decreasing. In 2014, the

American Academy of Paediatrics declared the problem of tired teens

a public health epidemic.

Although the hours of sleep needed varies from different age

groups, the average sleep needed for students, is at least 9-10 hrs

according to the United States National Institutes of Health. It is during

sleep when the brain is at the state of rest to prepare and help one

remember and learn information. It is the time the brain is still rapidly

developing, so enough sleep should really be required especially

students to have better performance in school.

Rationale

Sleep deprivation has some factors that affect every student's

grade and performance in their schools. The purpose of this research

is to help students understand and learn about sleep deprivation, its

causes, effects and the possible solutions to it.

In studying and learning about sleep deprivation, it will be possible

to know and determine the factors why students are sleep deprived.

Identifying the factors that cause students lack of sleep, will enable

researchers to provide better solutions to the specific problem.

Statement of the Problem

This research is has been made to find answers to the following:

1. What are the causes of sleep deprivation of students?

2. What are the effects of sleep deprivation to students?

3. How does lack of sleep affect students’ behaviour in class?

Objectives of the Study

This study aims to shed light on the following:

● To clarify of sleep deprivation and its effects to students.

● Identify the factors that cause students’ lack of sleep.

● Provide solutions to sleep deprivation.

 Scope and limitation

The study focuses on students who are sleep deprived caused by

different factors.

Limitation is that we haven’t prepared a series of questions and interview

to be ask to the students. To get the full understanding of the schools

environmental surrounding sleep deprivation, we need to interview some

respondents.
Significance of the Study

This research has been conducted for all the students, especially

those who are struggling in school and doesn’t get enough time to

sleep. The importance of this research is to help the students

understand and learn about sleep deprivation, the cause and its

effects, as well as the solutions to it.

Furthermore, students will be able to identify the relation of not

getting enough sleep to their performance in school and how it could

impact their health.

In addition, this study can be of help in the community by gaining

knowledge and spreading awareness of how sleep is very important to

every individual. In this way it can lessen the risk brought by sleep

deprivation and promote a more healthy lifestyle and community.

 Definition of Terms

Sleep- a condition of body and mind such as that which typically recurs for

several hours every night, in which the nervous system is relatively

inactive, the eyes closed, the postural muscles relaxed, and

consciousness practically suspended.

Sleep Deprivation-the situation or condition of suffering from a lack of

sleep.

Deprive-suffering a severe and damaging lack of basic material and

cultural benefits.

Essential-absolutely necessary; extremely important.

Body clock- a person's biological clock. It’s the way a person sleep usually

the time it specifically sleep and also wake up in the morning.

Sleep cycles- the way a body usually sleeps and the way of sleep that is

your body used to.

Chapter II: Review of Related Literature

This section gives a presentation of related studies and literature which are

significant to the study. Their statements, findings and conclusions indicate their

influence and relevance to the present research.

Local Literature

According to Leonidas (2014), as a med student, it was a common

practice to cram and study up to 3 or 4 in the morning before the examination as

it is believed that their performance in their tests would be better. But in the past

decades, sleep studies made in the laboratories of psychologists showed the

contrary. “Students need about eight hours of sleep before an examination for

better performance. Adding a nap in the afternoon will also improve memory.”

In a study of soldiers operating complex military hardware, it was revealed

that one night of lack of sleep resulted in about 30% loss of cognitive skills and a

drop in performance. If they are deprived of two nights of rest, the outcome is a

60% drop in performance.

The more studies being conducted about the effects of sleep loss, the

more it will result to the purpose of sufficient sleep is to maintain better memory

and boost learning. “Sleep loss means mind loss. It shackles learning in

many ways. It curtails critical thinking, messes up memory and mood,

retards reasoning, and shutters quantitative skills.”

Soliven (2016) in an article titled Sleepless sleep, it is said that rest isn’t

just a period when the body shuts off. While at rest, the brain remains busy,
manage a wide variety of biological maintenance that keeps the body running in

top condition, preparing for the day ahead. An individual won’t be able to perform

activities throughout the day without having enough hours of restorative sleep.

At the Sleep Disorder Center of the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, a study

was conducted among college graduate students between 18 to 30 years old. It

was discovered that 20 percent of them, who averaged seven to eight hours of

sleep, still fell asleep quickly during the day when they were allowed to be in a

dark room. When one hour was added to their sleep, they improved noticeably

on performance tests measuring reaction time and other skills. It is now believed

that the “quality of our sleep directly affects the quality of our waking life,

including our productivity, emotional balance, creativity, physical vitality, and

even our weight.” Sleep is therefore an essential human need.

Mild sleep deprivation does not cause serious impairment but chronic

deprivation does. The scope of impairment varies from feeling sleepy and irritable

to having headaches, feeling unmotivated, suffering body aches and pains, and

generally feeling “stressed out.” Chronic sleep loss influences a person’s

cardiovascular health, energy balance and ability to fight infections. According to

Robert Watson, PhD, director of the New Haven Sleep Disorder Center in

Connecticut, it is better to develop good sleeping habits – by which he means

developing regular sleeping habits that are synchronized with your natural

circadian rhythm. “It is most effective to go to bed early,” Watson says. “The

closer you can come to doing that every night, in keeping with your own body

clock, the more rested you will feel.”

 Sleep Deprivation causes an individual to have low performance and

tends to fall asleep during the day which affects their focus, memory and

productivity. In the articles given, it is proved that having enough rest makes an

individual to be more productive during the day than an individual with lack of

sleep. And it was mentioned that sleep can greatly affect the mental and physical

well-being of an individual, in which sleep is an essential need of the human

body.

In addition, there are a lot of factors that influence individuals to stay up

late at night and be sleep deprived. With these problems encountered by most

students in school, they settle for caffeine, carbonated drinks, and other

stimulants, which have side effects, to defeat their sleepiness. This means that

having sleep deprivation results to being stressed out and affects the

cardiovascular and overall health of an individual. Thus, a result of mild or acute

sleep deprivation and chronic deprivation. And as the experts say with all the

possible solutions given, there’s no substitute for sleep; and developing a good

sleeping habit, may have a great chance for an individual to end sleep

deprivation.
Foreign Literature

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (2008), when an

individual fails to get sufficient sleep, sleep deprivation occurs. Though the

needed amount of sleep a person needs varies from one another, the average of

sleep most adults need is about 7-8 hours of sleep every night to be alert and

well rested. However, teenagers need an average of about 9 hours of sleep each

night, while children need 9 hours or more, depending of their age.

The causes of sleep deprivation could be the following:

 Voluntary behaviour- “People who engage in voluntary, but unintentional,

chronic sleep deprivation are classified as having a

Sleep disorder called behaviourally induced insufficient sleep

syndrome.”

 Personal obligations- Lack of sleep occur when personal obligations

hinder the time to rest.

 Work hours- The hours required for working can limit the time of an

individual to get enough time to sleep and could cause sleep deprivation.

 Medical problems- Being sleep deprived may be a sign of a sleep

disorder or other medical condition that interrupts sleep.

Lack of sleep can occur to every males and females of all ages. And it can

greatly affect the daily activities and productivity of an individual. The primary

effect of sleep deprivation is excessive daytime sleepiness. A person who is

sleep-deprived has a tendency to fall asleep in a quiet or tedious situation,

especially during a meeting or class. There are other more effects of sleep

deprivation that are widespread such as mood, performance, and health.

“Severe sleep deprivation has even been associated with an increased risk of

age-specific mortality.”

There are different ways, long-term or short-term solutions to end sleep

deprivation such as Caffeine, Sleep prior to deprivation, Naps during deprivation,

Caffeine and a nap, and other stimulants.

Although there are strategies to reduce sleep deprivation, the best way for

an individual to defeat it is to get enough sleep to fulfill biological need to rest;

there is no replacement for sufficient sleep.

According to Savage (2013), the effect of lack of sleep in college students

is a widely known or common problem. As they encounter the new experiences

of dorm life, new sleep patterns, sharing dorm rooms, freedom away from

parents, late night study habits, new clubs and activities — all this can result to

sleep deprivation and disruptive effects on their bodies and school performance.

Sadly, in some cultures in college it is a symbol of respect to brag how

little of rest you get. Students confronting finals or tests depend on caffeine,

carbonated drinks, or worse, pills or stimulants; which could have effects in

health. These solutions are not the appropriate response and might actually

make the situation worse. Understanding why sleep deprivation occur and

afterward finding a way of remedy is the thing that will enable you to prevail over

the long term.

The most common causes of sleep deprivation include:

 Stress and anxiety

 Ritalin, alcohol and/or drug abuse

 All-night studying for a test the next morning

 Interrupted sleep and eating patterns

“A good night’s sleep varies with each person, but for adolescents and young

adults, it is generally considered to be eight or more hours per 24 hours. Less

than eight hours and the body’s efficiency start to decline. “We know little about

the health of this age range even though the consequences — substance use,

psychopathology, poor grades, dropout and subsequent unemployment — of

sleep disturbance could be greatest,” said Daniel Taylor, assistant professor of

psychology at the University of North Texas, reported in “Significant sleep

deprivation and stress among college students, USA,” August 10, 2009 in

MedicalNewsToday.com.”

Other effects of sleep deprivation on the overall well-being include:

 Missed classes

 Poor classroom performance

 Difficulty concentrating

 Hallucinations

 Declines in blood glucose metabolism, blood pressure control and/or

insulin sensitivity

 Weight gain.
  Mental health issues.

Sleep helps an individual to remember. Getting 8 hours of rest before a test

makes the brain to remember the data and information collected or learned.

Some studies have demonstrated that students who get sufficient rest the most

tend to have higher grades than those who are chronically sleep deprived. In

order for a human body to function efficiently, an individual should have adequate

sleep and scheduled food intake. “Without damaging drugs or stimulants, you

can easily get your body back on track and working for you. Sleep at a regular

time each night for at least eight hours, eat nutritious food (fruits and veggies

each day), eat at regular times and limit alcohol consumption. Treat your body

well, and it will treat you well.”

According to Ritcher (2015), sleep deprivation increases the possibility teens

will suffer myriad negative consequences, including an inability to concentrate,

poor grades, drowsy-driving incidents, anxiety, depression, thoughts of suicide

and even suicide attempt; a problem that knows no economic boundaries. In a

poll, the organization’s most recent survey of teen sleep, more than 87 percent of

high school students in the United States get far less than the recommended

eight to 10 hours, and the amount of time they sleep is decreasing — a serious

threat to their health, safety and academic success. (National Sleep Foundation,

2006)

While studies show that both adults and teens in industrialized nations are

becoming more sleep deprived, the problem is most acute among teens, said
Nanci Yuan, MD, director of the Stanford Children’s Health Sleep Center. In a

detailed 2014 report, the American Academy of Pediatrics called the problem of

tired teens a public health epidemic.

Social and cultural factors, as well as the advancement of technology and

innovation, all have caused and prevented teens from getting enough rest. Also,

the start of classes at a relatively early hour could be a factor. “Because of it their

time for sleep is compressed, and many are jolted out of bed before they are

physically or mentally ready. In the process, they not only lose precious hours of

rest, but their natural rhythm is disrupted, as they are being robbed of the dream-

rich, rapid-eye-movement stage of sleep, some of the deepest, most productive

sleep time, said pediatric sleep specialist Rafael Pelayo, MD, with the Stanford

Sleep Disorders Clinic.” For many teens, other aspects of their lives seem more

vital than sleeping. For example, a large number of teens use social media

before going to bed. Those crucially involved with their phones and social media

were less likely to report getting a good night sleep and feeling energized in the

morning.

Many studies show students who sleep less suffer academically, as chronic

sleep loss impairs the ability to remember, concentrate, think abstractly and solve

problems. Sleep is believed to help regulate emotions, and its deprivation is an

underlying component of many mood disorders, such as anxiety, depression and

bipolar disorder. Definitely, changing school start times is only part of the

solution, experts say. More widespread education about sleep and more

resources for students are needed. “At some point, we are going to have to
confront this as a society,” Carskadon said. “For the health and well-being of the

nation, we should all be taking better care of our sleep, and we certainly should

be taking better care of the sleep of our youth.”

Chapter III: Methodology

Research Procedure

This research focuses on sleep deprivation and its effects in the

performance of an individual. Different theories and related phenomena

proposed by researchers will be presented.

The major theories proposed by the researchers are explained within the

theoretical framework which also includes the functions and purpose of sleep.

The study will use the descriptive approach. Furthermore, based from the

studies, observation can be a method used to be able to collect the data and

information needed, such that conducting a survey and giving out questionnaires.

The primary source of this study is the 3 major theories based on

investigations of sleep by researchers. Also, previous studies, related articles can

be used, which we will tackle the impact of sleep deprivation in the cognitive

performance. Meanwhile, the researchers can include conducting a survey and

observation for better results in the study.

This research will widely explain the necessity of sleep, its function,

purpose, and the effects to the performance of an individual. Although not all

experts exactly agree on why sleep is needed; there is fairly a predicted schedule

sleeping pattern follows and experts agree that sleep contributes to the health

and wellness of a being.

Research Design

This study focuses on sleep deprivation and its effects to students, regarding

their performance and productivity. This research aims to determine the factors

that contributes to sleep deprivation, the causes, effects, and find solutions to

end sleep deprivation. In studying and gathering data, qualitative method will be

used as an instrument for this research.

Theoretical Framework

Sleep has been the subject of theory and thought since the period of the

early Greek Philosophers, but as time develops, researchers found ways to study

sleep in a systematic and objective manner. The advancement of technology

lead to the introduction of the electroencephalograph (EEG) which allowed the

scientists to view and measure electrical patterns and activity produced by the

sleeping brain. (Cherry, 2016)

Different theories have been proposed to explain the necessity of sleep as

well as the functions and its purposes.

Repair and Restoration Theory of Sleep

Sleeping is needed for relaxing and restoring the physiological processes

that keep the body and mind healthy and to make it function normal every day.

“This theory suggests that NREM sleep is important for restoring physiological

functions, while REM sleep is essential in restoring mental functions.” Also a

support for this theory, when you are sleeping, the repair and restoration occurs
because there was an increase in rates of your cell division and protein synthesis

while you are sleeping.

Recently, researchers found a new evidence that can support the repair

and restoration theory, discovering that the brain is performing “housekeeping

duties” while an individual is sleeping.

Researchers say that the brain utilizes sleep to flush out waste toxins in

an issue of the journal science on October 2013.

The authors of this study explained that the functions of sleep are to clean

the waste products or toxins in our body that was happening right at the start of

our awake.

According to one of the study's authors, Dr. Maiken Nedergaard, the

brain's limited resources force it to choose between two different functional

states: awake and alert or asleep and cleaning up. They also suggest that

problems with cleaning out this brain waste might play a role in a number of brain

disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

Evolutionary Theory of Sleep

Also known as the adaptive theory of sleep, suggests that periods of

activity and inactivity evolved as a means of conserving energy. According to this

theory, all species have adapted to sleep during periods of time when

wakefulness would be the most hazardous.

 A support for this theory was an investigation that some animals like

natural predators such as bears and lions, often sleep 12 to 15 hours of each

day. On the other hand, those animals who have many natural predators have

only short periods of sleep, usually getting no more than 4 or 5 hours of sleep

each day, based on a comparative research.

Information Consolidation Theory of Sleep

It is based on cognitive research and states that people sleep because it

needs to process information that has been acquired during the day. With sleep,

the information is being processed to prepare the brain for the day to come.

In addition, sleep helps to compact the things learned during the day into a

long-term memory as suggested by researchers.

This demonstrates that lack of sleep can seriously affect one’s ability to

recall and remember information.

IMPACT TO COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE

According to Alhola and Polo-Kantola (2007), as of now, prolonged

wakefulness is a widespread phenomenon. Though many questions still remains

unanswered, in the field of sleep and wakefulness; prolonged wakefulness can

be due to acute total sleep deprivation (SD) or to chronic partial sleep restriction.

Although chronic partial sleep restriction is more common in everyday life, the
effects of total SD have been examined more thoroughly. Both induce adverse

changes in cognitive performance.

There are some hypotheses proposed which explains why cognitive

performance is vulnerable to prolonged wakefulness.

The theories can be divided roughly in two main approaches, in which SD

is assumed to have

1. general effects on alertness and attention, or

2. selective effects on certain brain structures and functions.

“Cognitive impairments would be mediated through decreased alertness

and attention through lapses, slowed responses, and wake-state instability.

Attentional lapses, brief moments of inattentiveness, have been considered the

main reason for the decrease in cognitive performance during sleep deprivation.”

“According to explanations on selective impact, SD interferes with the

functioning of certain brain areas and thus impairs cognitive performance.”

Acute total sleep deprivation

 The two most widely cognitive domains in sleep deprivation research

pertain to attention and working memory. Due to being sleep deprived, there is a

tendency of decrease in attention and working memory of an individual. In the

sudy, different tests were conducted but differences in essential study elements,

like the age and gender of participants, as well as the duration of SD, further

complicate comparison of the results.

Long-term memory and other cognitive functions are also affected in terms

of lack of sleep.

In addition, motivation also play a role in cognitive performance.

“According to a commonly held opinion, high motivation compensates for a

decrease in performance, but only a few attempts have been made to confirm

this theory. “

Chronic partial sleep restriction

Chronic partial sleep restriction is common in everyday life and even more

prevalent than total sleep deprivation.

“It is difficult to compare the effects of total and partial SD based on

existing literature due to large variation in methodologies, including the length of

SD or the type of cognitive measures. According to the well-controlled studies

(Dinges et al 1997; Belenky et al 2003; Van Dongen et al 2003), the less sleep

obtained due to sleep restriction, the more cognitive performance is impaired.

Otherwise, it is difficult to draw conclusions about the effects of chronic sleep

restriction because of methodological problems in the previous studies.”

Since chronic partial sleep deprivation follows every day life

circumstances more than acute total sleep deprivation, additional studies on how

cognitive performance is affected are warranted. In addition, the tasks used in

past studies have been quite short and simple, and trials with more demanding

cognitive tasks are required.

REFERENCES