BEDTIMES AND SLEEP DURATION IN RELATION TO SMOKING-BEHAVIOR IN 14-YEAR-OLD ENGLISH SCHOOLCHILDREN

Data from a survey of 3727 14-year-old children from 31 secondary schools in England in 1984-85 were analysed to obtain information about smoking habits, bedtimes and times of rising in the morning, on a weekday during school term. Subjects completed a questionnaire, anonymously, in class. Twenty percent of respondents reported that they currently smoked cigarettes. Smokers went to bed significantly later, and spent significantly less time in bed, than non-smokers. Twice as many smokers as non-smokers went to bed at or after 22.30, went to bed after midnight, and spent 7.5 hr or less in bed. Possibly, some adolescent smokers may be at risk from loss of sleep.