Gun violence linked to poor sleep in teens

Teen exposure to gun violence linked to poor sleep and violent behaviors, per study.

Why it matters

  • Links community violence to teen sleep health.
  • Highlights cycle of violence and poor sleep.

By the numbers

  • Surveyed 44,161 teens.
  • 77% reported insufficient sleep.
  • 10% slept ≤4 hours; 3x higher odds of violence exposure for them.

The big picture

  • Sleep is influenced by community safety.
  • Potential cycle: poor sleep may lead to violent behaviors.

What they're saying

  • Findings seen as intuitive by some.
  • Personal anecdotes align with study.

Caveats

  • Correlational; not causation.
  • Self-reported data may have biases.

What’s next

  • Further research on gun violence and sleep.
  • Community efforts to promote healthy sleep.