Social Jetlag and Its Effects on Adolescent Mental Health

Abstract

Adolescence is a period when many physiological, social, and psychological changes take place. During this period, some differences occur in the duration and timing of adolescents’ sleep. Recognized as a condition associated with the duration and timing of sleep during the week, social jetlag describes the mismatch between the social clock and the circadian clock. Social jetlag causes cardiovascular and metabolic problems and obesity and behavioral problems in adolescents. However, it negatively affects not only their physical health but also their mental health. Reflecting on this information, this review was conducted to reveal the effects of social jetlag on mental health in adolescents and to discuss the role of health professionals in its management in the light of the literature. Accordingly, the content of the study was presented under the headings of circadian rhythm, chronotype, social jetlag, adolescents and social jetlag, social jetlag and adolescent mental health, and the role of the nurse in the management of social jetlag. This review revealed that social jetlag affected the mental health of adolescents in the areas of anxiety, depression, smoking and alcohol addiction, aggression, quality of life, and menstrual symptoms and that the literature on the subject was limited.

Keywords

• social jetlag
• mental health
• adolescence and sleep