0238 Self-Reported Sleep Patterns and Daytime Functioning in a Nationally Representative Sample of U.S. Youth

Abstract Introduction Adolescents face biologically delayed sleep and competing demands, yet post-pandemic national data on sociodemographic sleep disparities are sparse. We examined sleep patterns and daytime sleepiness, in a nationally representative sample of youth from the 2024 American Youth Panel (AYP). Methods AYP is a probability-based, nationally representative sample of adolescents ages 12–21 oversampled in California, Florida, New York, and Texas. We analyzed self-reported school-night bedtimes and waketimes, yielding an estimate of sleep duration, and past-month sleepiness using linear and ordinal regressions adjusted for sex, age, and school enrollment status. Results The analytic sample included 724 youth (Mean age = 16.3; 42% female): 528 White, 79 Black, 35 Asian/Pacific Islander, 14 American Indian/Alaskan Native, and 63 Other race youth; 184 were Hispanic. Most (78%) were enrolled in school (16% middle, 48% high, 14% postsecondary). Youth reported average bedtimes of 22:36 and waketimes of 6:45, yielding 8.12 hours of sleep; 31% fell asleep in class/work at least once in the past month. Older age predicted later bedtime (b = 0.20, p < 0.001), waketime (b = 0.11, p < 0.001), and shorter duration (b = -0.09, p < 0.001), but not sleepiness. Non-enrolled youth slept longer (b = 0.34, p = 0.02) and were less sleepy (b = -1.62, p < 0.001). Youth in Pacific region (oversampled for California) woke 30 minutes later (p = 0.003) and slept ~22 minutes longer (p = 0.019). Asian/Pacific Islander youth had later bedtimes (b = 0.74, p = 0.002) and waketimes (b = 0.75, p = 0.006). Black (b = 0.70, p = 0.01) and Hispanic youth (b = 0.55, p = 0.004) reported greater daytime sleepiness than White and non-Hispanic peers despite comparable duration. Conclusion Structural factors likely drive sleep deficits. Youth not enrolled in school slept more and were less sleepy, indicating rigid schedules restrict sleep opportunity. Longer sleep in the Pacific region may reflect policies such as California’s later start times. Greater sleepiness among Black and Hispanic youth, despite similar duration, highlight disparities in sleep quality. These findings underscore the need for coordinated state and national policy action. Support (if any) None (Gates Foundation sponsors the American Youth Panel.)