Running head: THE EFFECTS AND RELATIONSHIPS OF ADOLESCENT SLEEP AND

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

PPE 310: Health Literacy for Schools

The Effects and Relationship of Adolescent Sleep and Physical Activity
Signature Assignment Outline
Denn Aras and Kayla Exley
Course # 21742
Dr. Hesse

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Introduction
Living well becomes a struggle in how todays society with the way the media displays
healthy living. The emphasis about this portion of living well and to maintain a healthy lifestyle
is to show the importance of sleep and the major affects it has to and individuals physical
abilities. Sleep has a direct link to the amount of energy you have, energy has the direct link to
amount of physical performance you can have. Sleep deprivation is very bad for your body and
even more so for a student who is in the prime growth period with their human anatomy and
brain developments. Proper sleep plays the role of repairing body organs, sustained energy, and
reductions for further health complications. It is important to educate the students about these
problems sooner than later. (Why Is Sleep Important?, 2012)
The goal behind this week Get Some Zs! is to educate the masses about the importance of
sleep and its relation is has to physical activity. The activities will highlight the facts and
incorporate and education standpoint in the Get Some Zs! with fun and interactive
envelopment. As young adults they have loads of energy and the typical reaction is to stay up late
and then wake up early for school. What students fail to see is People are precisely tuned to eat,
sleep and wake at specific times. (Mascarelli, 2013, pg. 1). The purpose is educate them that
sleep and physical activity is a cycle in its own, this will be emphasized in the Get Some Zs!
as well.
Kayla and Denn both collaborated in this project and the disruptions of our schools are
similar and far from in the same respect. Queen Creek High school, doesn't showcase the
importance of sleep as much and they should be, but they do have the start to a good journey.
The school covers many health factors as is, like healthy food during lunch, showcasing sports
and school activities, this will only improve its overall growth of the high school and will serve a

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great additive to tying in multiple health awareness topics. Marcos de Niza High School displays
similar traits as Queen Creek. The students do not place as high of an importance to their sleep
patterns and quality or physical fitness, not making the correlation between the two and their
academic performance. Both schools will benefit greatly from a higher health literature and
programming.
REVIEW OF CURRENT LITERATURE
In the article Adolescent Sleep Needs and Patterns published by the sleep
foundation, their research focused on the affects and relations of problem sleepiness highlighting
the age group of 12-25 years old. The purpose being to show the effects of sleepiness and is
consequences that lead to horrific events and the direct like to adolescents. The methods used
was the monitoring and review of currents researched involved in these cases, taking from
multiple information points. The results indicated that there is a direct link to sleepiness and
injury rates with validating evidence of police reports, and public records.
The focus on this research article, Sleep and Adolescents by Mr. Dawson, is to
inform the bases of sleep disturbance and disorders that follow with sleep and acquiring
information about adolescents sleep. It also clarifies normal sleep patterns and recognizing the
importance of sleep and sleep disorder and its role in having healthy sleep patterns. The methods
indicated were taking information from multiple source outlets. There is a compilation of eight
different studies with different source analysis methods. The overall results fallowed that there is
a positive correlation in the relationship that sleep does have a connection the purpose of healthy
growth in young adults.

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The main idea behind the article Lifestyle Habits: Diet, Physical Activity and
Sleep Duration among Omani Adolescents is to engage in the daily routines that
include sleep and physical activity, and other health concerns such as dietary points and lifestyles
(Hashem 2013). The methods involved in this case study was by a pole with a range difference in
age as well as coordination between female and male. Is was done in random and information
gathered from 802 individuals. The results showed that the role between female and male was
irrelevant, but along with sleep and physical activity many other factors played in affect in an
overall standpoint in terms of having a successfully healthy lifestyle and body health.
Brand, S., Gerber, M., Beck, J., Hatzinger, M., Puhse, U., & Holsboer-Trachsler, E. (2009,
January 1). High Exercise Levels Are Related to Favorable Sleep Patterns and Psychological
Functioning in Adolescents: A Comparison of Athletes and Controls. Retrieved February 16,
2015, from http://www.jahonline.org/article/S1054-139X(09)00255-9/abstract
The article High Exercise Levels Are Related to Favorable Sleep Patterns
and Psychological Functioning in Adolescents: A Comparison of Athletes and
Controls aims to view the correlation between high levels of physical activity with improved
sleep functioning and to view the differences, if any, between genders (Brand 2009). The study
was conducted with 434 adolescents with an average age of 17: 176 were a control group and
258 were athletes. The participants kept a sleep log during the study for seven days self-rating
questions pertaining to the study. Compared to the control group, athletes reported higher sleep
quality, less tiredness, and lowered anxiety. Compared to females, control group males reported
more unfavorable sleep patterns. Overall, vigorous exercise contributed to better overall sleep
patterns and quality among adolescents.

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The article Physical Activity and Student Performance at School overviews

the benefits and current trends of physical activity in schools in the United States across grades
two through twelve (Taras 2009). The data was taken in a variety of ways from questionnaires,
data tracked by physical education specialists, and a review of current physical education
curriculum in relation to the students academic performance. The groups of students studied
were from across the nation and varied in size from fifty to thousands of students per study. Of
the fourteen groups of students studied, only four of them showed little to no improvement or
correlation between physical activity and academic achievement. The other ten groups showed
significant improvements after more physical activities were implemented into the school days.
Synthesis of Results
All of the five articles reviews had very similar results. With the exception of a few
studies in one of the articles, all of them showed that regular exercise leads to improved sleep
patterns/quality and to improved academics. While the results did vary with some showing only
moderate improvements, many of the studies showed significant improvements, especially with
students who previously did not have regular exercise and physical activity in their daily
schedules. The studies on sleep were also very similar, all showing improved physical activity
levels and academic performance. After reviewing current literature, sleep, physical activity, and
academic performance are interrelated much like a triangle with academic performance at the
top. If either or both sleep and physical activity are weak, then academic performance will be
adversely affected. For these reasons, more practical applications need to be implemented into
the schools to improve student health and academics.

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Practical Implications
From all the research done and personal experiences we have, it is no debate that more
sleep leads to a healthier lifestyle. For children adolescents, this is most important as this time of
their lives is when they do the majority of growth, both physically and mentally. There are many
different practical implications of having students get more sleep overall. This paper is designed
to cover the research, literature review, and practical implications. We have two main
implementations to raise awareness of sleep importance and gain student involvement: to
propose to the administration to change early-release days to late-start days and to have a biannual health and wellness week with main focuses on increased sleep and physical activity.
These two goals are to be implemented at both Marcos de Niza and Queen Creek high schools to
start, the respective schools of Kayla Exley and Denn Aras.
For the later school times, a proposal will be written to the high school administration and
to the respective school district. The proposal would detail research on the sleep shift patterns
that adolescents have differing from young children and adults as well as research from other
districts who have seen positive results from later start times in their own schools. The proposal
would also include solutions to common objections such as, but not limited to, the differing
schedules between parents and students and class scheduling. Interviews and commentary from
local administration, teachers, staff, students, and parents would also be included to show the
support of starting the schools at a later time. After the written proposal, meetings would be
scheduled with appropriate administration to begin the process and planning of when to
implement the start of a later school time.

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For the bi-annual health and wellness week, much more planning would be needed. The
best way to accomplish a school-wide and week-long event would be to set up a committee
comprised of school staff, students, and parents. To ensure a comprehensive and effective event,
planning would begin at the beginning of each semester. There will be several focus areas
including funding, marketing, scheduling, community support/involvement, and student
engagement. Marketing will be within the school and be comprised of professional and student
made posters, morning announcements, and word of mouth to advertise the event (Appendix C).
Funding will come from part of the schools budget for clubs/organizations and through
donations/fundraising by the involved students and staff. Scheduling will be coordinated with
administration to work around other school events but will have a focus on the first week of
March (national sleep week). Community support will be gained through letters, emails, phone
calls, and meetings with community members for monetary or physical support. It will the goal
to have local health providers come to speak and present on the importance of sleep. Student
engagement will be achieved through the marketing and a mandatory school assembly during the
week. The committee will be responsible for coordinating with administration to work the
schedule for an assembly. All other engagement will be voluntary to students during
before/lunch/after school planned events. One such event will be a two-week long competition
for students to keep sleep journals documenting their nightly sleep and technology/physical
activity (Appendix B). All students will receive a prize for participating and the top students
will receive a top prize for the healthiest sleep patterns.
The health week will be like a traditional spirit week but be health themed and have two
main focuses: sleep and physical activity. Each day the committee will be hosting different
events to promote awareness and gain student involvement. The events will be during lunch in

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the main quad/building of the school. There will be tables staffed by the committee with
information on sleep and physical activity (brochures, flyers, and handouts) with different minicompetitions students can participate in like a push-up competition, fastest sprints, and spin-thewheel to win prizes such as free passes to a gym or coupons to healthy restaurants (given by
community members). See appendix for calendar. The Get Some Zs! will have a spirit
component where one day students will come to school dressed, appropriately, in their pajamas
and one day students will come dressed in fitness attire.
All throughout the week, a school-wide competition (see Appendix A) will be happening
where students log their sleep and physical activity. The tracking will be done in the students
homeroom (or Math or ELA class depending on the school) and the competitions will be
between all of the classes and between the grade levels. The class with the best overall sleep and
physical activity levels will win a prize and the grade with the best overall sleep and physical
activity levels will win a prize. Prizes will be offered through community members and can
include things such as tickets to a sporting event. At the end of the week, there will be a school
wide assembly where there is a mini-presentation on the importance of the Get Some Zs! with
a possible guest lecturer and the results of the competition will be announced.
Conclusion
Every generation has its distractions and every year adolescents continue to not get
enough sleep. The same is true for Queen Creek and Marcos de Niza High Schools. There are
countless articles and research studies publishing the importance of sleep for everyone, and
especially young adults. By implementing a one-week program twice a year to raise awareness
of and promote sleep with young adolescents, we hope to increase the amount of time students

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sleep per night. Putting together a team of students, staff, and parents is the first step in making
positive change. A little friendly competition never hurts either! With awareness and education
comes action. In the years continuing after with this promotion week, the students will continue
to uphold a culture of health and wellness for the incoming students. The more students
participate every year, the more it is spread around and becomes the standard culture.

References
Adolescent Sleep Needs and Patterns. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16, 2015, from
http://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-news/adolescent-sleep-needs-and-patterns
Brand, S., Gerber, M., Beck, J., Hatzinger, M., Puhse, U., & Holsboer-Trachsler, E. (2009,
January 1). High Exercise Levels Are Related to Favorable Sleep Patterns and
Psychological Functioning in Adolescents: A Comparison of Athletes and Controls.

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Retrieved February 16, 2015, from http://www.jahonline.org/article/S1054139X(09)00255-9/abstract

Dawson, P. (2005, January 1). Sleep and Adolescents. Retrieved February 16, 2015, from
http://www.nasponline.org/resources/principals/Sleep Disorders WEB.pdf
Fitness. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15, 2015, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthyliving/fitness/in-depth/exercise/art-20048389
Hashem, A. (2013, January 1). Lifestyle Habits: Diet, Physical Activity and Sleep Duration
among Omani Adolescents. Retrieved February 16, 2015, from
http://www.academia.edu/4038743/Lifestyle_Habits_Diet_Physical_Activity_and_Sleep_
Duration_among_Omani_Adolescents
Mascarelli, A. (2013, June 14). Explainer: Our bodies' internal clocks. Retrieved February 15,
2015, from https://student.societyforscience.org/article/explainer-our-bodies-internalclocks
Physical Activity and Student Performance at School. (2009, January 1). Retrieved February 16,
2015, from Adolescent Sleep Needs and Patterns. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2015, from
http://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-news/adolescent-sleep-needs-and-patterns
Physical Activity and Student Performance at School. (2009, January 1). Retrieved March 26,
2015, from
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.17461561.2005.tb06675.x/abstract

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Study: Physical Activity Impacts Overall Quality of Sleep. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15, 2015,
from http://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-news/study-physical-activity-impacts-overallquality-sleep
Tang, N., & Sanborn, A. (2014, March 25). Better Quality Sleep Promotes Daytime Physical
Activity in Patients with Chronic Pain? A Multilevel Analysis of the Within-Person
Relationship. Retrieved February 15, 2015, from http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?
id=10.1371/journal.pone.0092158
Why Is Sleep Important? (2012, February 22). Retrieved February 16, 2015, from
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sdd/why (n.d.). Retrieved February
15, 2015, from http://theinnovationexchange.net/wp-content/uploads/arizona-stateuniversity-mary-lou-fulton.png

Appendix A
Calendar for Week

The Effects and Relationship of Adolescent Sleep and Physical Activity

~ March 2016 ~

Sep 2014

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

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Nov 2014

Thu

-Health
Week
Awareness
Hand Out
Letter
6
7
8
9
-Sleep Log -Sleep Log -Sleep Log -Sleep Log
and
and
and
and
Physical Physical Physical Physical
Activity
Activity
Activity
Activity
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4

Fri

Sat

10
11
-Sleep Log
and
Physical
Activity
Day 5

12

13
14
-Intro To -Pajama
Sleep and Day
Physical
Activity

15
16
17
18
-Sleep Log -Sports
-Assembly
(Turn In) Wear Day Day

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Notes:

Appendix B

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Sleep Log
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7
Complete in the morning
Bedtime
Rise time
Estimated time to fall asleep
Estimated amount of sleep
obtained
Complete at bedtime
Rate how you felt today
1 = Very sleepy/tired
2 = Somewhat sleepy/tired
3 = Fairly alert
4 = Wide awake
How many minutes of
exercise did you complete?
Hours/minutes
How much time did you
spend using technology
(non-academic)?
Hours/minutes
List any stressors you had
today

Appendix C
Marketing for Get Some Zs!