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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06657482

Effects of Delayed School Start Times on Sleep, Mental Health, and Academic Performance Among Norwegian Adolescents

The aim is to investigate whether later school start times have positive effects on high school students' sleep patterns, mental health and daytime functioning.

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Key information

Conditions

Sleep Chronobiology Disorders Disorders of Excessive Somnolence Dyssomnias Mental Disorders Nervous System Diseases Occupational Diseases Psychiatric Disorder Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic Sleep Wake Disorders Sleepiness, Daytime

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Bergen

Bergen, Vestland, 5019, Norway

About this study

The current study is a randomized controlled study investigating whether later school start times on Mondays and Tuesdays have positive impact on high school students' sleep patterns, mental health, and daytime functioning. 1st year high school students are randomly assigned to classes starting either two hours later on Mondays and one hour later on Tuesday and ordinary school start times (8:15 ± 15 min) for the rest of the week, or to classes starting at regularly school start times (8:15 ± 15 min.) all weekdays. The students will be invited to respond to a web-based survey assessing sleep, mental health, and daytime functioning by the beginning and end of the school year. Official school grades and school absence data will be collected through the county administration for consenting students. Cognitive tests and objective sleep record through Somnofy are planned for a subgroup by the end of the 2024-25 school year. The study will last for two school years and involve two different cohorts of 1st year high school students.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • 1st year high school students at study preparatory program of participating schools

Exclusion criteria

  • Parent consent not obtained/documented for participants under 16 years

Treatment and study plan

Delayed school start time

Behavioral

The intervention group will start school two hours later on Mondays (at 10.15 ± 15 min) and one hour later on Tuesdays (9.15 ± 15 min) and to ordinary school start time (8.15 ± 15 min) for the rest of the week

Primary outcomes

  1. Average sleep duration on school days

    Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the school year (at about 8 months follow-up)

    Average sleep duration across the arms will be calculated using the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire (MCTQ), adjusted for nocturnal awakenings

  2. Preferred school start time (late vs. early Mondays and Tuesdays)

    Time frame: At the end of the school year (at about 8 months follow-up)

    A conditioned item asking how satisfied the students are starting early or later on Mondays and Tuesdays, or ranging from "Very satisfied" to "very dissatisfied", will be included.

  3. Daytime sleepiness on school days

    Time frame: CADSS: Baseline and at the end of the school year (at about 8 months follow-up). KSS: At the end of the school year (at about 8 months follow-up)-up

    Daytime sleepiness will be assessed based on the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS; adjusted to target sleepiness on each weekday) and The Chinese adolescent daytime sleepiness scale (CADSS).

Secondary outcomes

  1. School absence and academic performance (self-reported and objective)

    Time frame: Self-reported data: Baseline and end of school year. Objective data: At the end of the school year (at about 8 months follow-up)-up

    Data gathered from school authorities.

  2. Mental health

    Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the school year (at about 8 months follow-up)

    Anxiety and depression will be assessed during the past two weeks using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, respectively.

  3. Social jetlag

    Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the school year (at about 8 months follow-up)

    Social jetlag, calculated as the discrepancy in sleep timing on free vs. weekdays, will be calculated based on the MCTQ

  4. Sleep duration, school days with early vs. late start

    Time frame: At the end of the school year (at about 8 months follow-up)

    Sleep duration for late starting days will be compared with early starting days

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Bergen

Other

Collaborators

  • Haukeland University Hospital

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Oct 24, 2024
Registry last updated
May 1, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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