Associations Between Sleep and Health-Risk Behaviors in a Rural Adolescent Population

Abstract

Introduction: Insufficient sleep has been associated with engagement in a number of health-risk behaviors in adolescents, including substance use and sexual activity. Associations between sleep and health-risk behaviors in adolescents living in rural areas of the United States are not well investigated. In rural settings, adolescents' sleep patterns, lifestyle factors, and health-risk opportunities may differ from those of urban adolescents, making the independent study of sleep and health behavior associations necessary.

Method: This study examined data from the Rural Adolescent Health Survey (N = 322) administered in rural North Dakota.

Results: Rural adolescents who reported engaging in smoking, alcohol use, or drug use slept significantly less than adolescents who did not report engaging in these activities.

Discussion: Sleep was not associated with chewing tobacco use or risky sexual activity, which may reflect an effect of rural cultural values on sleep and health-risk behavior associations.

Keywords: Adolescent; health behavior; rural; sleep; substance use.