Tired Teenagers Are More Likely to Have Criminal Records as Adults

A recent survey indicated that tired teenagers are more likely to have criminal records when growing up, becoming adults. The survey stated that this type of teens commits five times more crimes compared with the rest of the teens who are not drowsy. A lack of sleep can lead adolescents to deploy criminal activities. Usually, teens who tend to be tired in the middle of the day will be engaged in lying, cheating, and fighting.

During their adulthood, these adolescents can participate in violent crimes. The new study was developed by researchers at the University of York which collaborated with the University of Pennsylvania. Professor Adrian Raine from the University of Pennsylvania argued that the new survey indicates that sleepiness during daytime experienced by teenagers was linked to criminal activities which occurred later.

Professor Raine gathered this information forty years ago, and now he started analyzing all the prospects. Raine together with Professor Peter Venables at the University of York have worked together and tested about one hundred boys aged 15. All these boys who participated in the study were students at three different secondary schools in England.

Researchers’ goal was to examine the amount of sleepiness to establish the physical condition specific to tired teenagers. The participants heard a particular sound in their headphones, helping scientists to determine whether they were attentive or not. The attention span highlights the brain-wave activity of the members. Both professors who took care of the development of the study have gathered information regarding participants’ anti-social behavior to develop an accurate survey.

The new study was published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. The report included teachers and colleagues impressions towards participants’ attitudes and social skills. Professor Adrian Raine has also gathered data from the Central Criminal Records Office in London. He was seeking which of the participants in the study had a criminal record at the age of 29. The report which was collected helped him find out more about those participants’ backgrounds.

The study concluded that 17% of all participants engaged in criminal activities when they turned into adults. Besides the lack of sleep, another factor was a poor socioeconomic status. Unprivileged teens and adversity in social status put together lead to daytime drowsiness which develops brain dysfunctions.

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