CHANGES IN SLEEP PATTERNS IN ADOLESCENTS IS MORE ASSOCIATED WITH PUBERTAL INDICATORS THAN AGE: A PERFECT STORM WITH A DASH OF HORMONES

Older adolescents tendo to stay awake longer in the evening and prefer to rise later but it is still unclear if these sleep changes occur as adolescents become older or more pubertally mature. This was investigated in a cross-sectional study with a community sample of 121 9-to-17-year-old Brazilian adolescents who informed on their circadian preferences (Morningness-Eveningness Scale for Children: MESC) and sleep habits [bed/rise times on weekdays and weekends, time in bed (TIB) and social jetlag]. We analyzed changes in these factors according to four development measured: age (in months), self-assessed pubertal status [Pubertal Development Scale (measures adrenal and gonadal changes) and Tanner pubertal staging by clinician (pubic hair and breast/genitalia development, respectively associated with adrenal and gonadal maturation), controlling for sex and socioeconomic status. Older age related only to later bedtimes on weekdays. Later bedtimes and less TIB on weekdays and weekends were more associated with Tanner ratings, particularly pubic hair maturation, whereas evening preference (MESC scores) was found in participants with higher PDS scores and genital/breast Tanner ratings. Adolescents’ age and pubertal maturation do not equally map onto sleep/circadian alterations. Adrenal maturation associates more with later bedtime and less TIB, while circadian phase-delay may be more gonadally-related.