WIRED AND TIRED: HOW SLEEP DEPRIVATION DISRUPTS CORTISOL SECRETION IN ADOLESCENTS

Adolescence is a crucial period of our neurophysiological and hormonal development, during which sleep plays a vital role in maintaining our physical and emotional health. Nonetheless, adolescents nowadays balance increasing stressors, such as academic responsibilities, social expectations, and negative exposure to digital media; this leads to persistent sleep deprivation. Although cognitive deficits and fatigue are well-documented consequences, the hormonal imbalances triggered by the lack of sleep have not been thoroughly investigated or brought to attention. This paper examines how sleep deprivation affects cortisol release, which is our body’s main stress hormone. Cortisol controls multiple aspects, such as mood, metabolism, immune response, and many more. Interrupted sleep cycles disrupt the natural cortisol release rhythm, which may result in long-term health effects and hinder stress responses. This paper also discusses the importance of understanding the physiological process linked to imbalanced cortisol secretion in sleep-deprived adolescents, emphasizing the necessity for increased awareness and approaches to better encounter this issue during this crucial development stage.