Prevalence of Sleep Deprivation and its Associations with Depressive Symptoms, Academic Performance, and Sleep Hygiene among School-going Adolescents (12–18 Years) in Urban Delhi

Abstract Background: Adequate sleep is vital during adolescence, a critical neurodevelopmental period. Sleep deprivation (SLD) is increasingly prevalent and linked to adverse outcomes. The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of SLD among school-going adolescents and investigate its associations with cognitive function, depressive symptoms, and sleep-hygiene practices in urban India. Materials and Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study included 1521 adolescents (12–18 years) from Government, Government-aided, and Private schools in Central Delhi. Data were collected using digitized questionnaires: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Patient Health Questionnaire, and Adolescent Sleep-Hygiene Scale. Statistical analyses included appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The prevalence of SLD was 22.5% (95% CI: 20%–25%). Nearly 60% of adolescents reported depressive symptoms (27% moderate-severe), and 65.7% demonstrated poor cognitive function. SLD was significantly associated with lower academic grades ( P = 0.004), higher depressive symptoms ( r = 0.480, P < 0.001), and poor sleep hygiene ( r = −0.353, P < 0.001). No significant association was found with cognitive function scores ( P = 0.81). Poor sleep hygiene correlated with higher depression levels ( r = −0.509, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified depression (odds ratio (OR) = 3.511, 95% CI: 2.32–5.33, P = 0.001) and sleep hygiene (OR = 0.441, 95% CI: 0.333–0.584, P = 0.001) as factors significantly associated with SLD. Conclusion: SLD is notably prevalent among urban Indian adolescents, correlating with compromised academic performance, increased depressive symptoms, and poor sleep hygiene. While overall cognitive function was suboptimal and associated with factors like socioeconomic status, it was not directly associated with SLD among study participants. School-based interventions targeting improvements in sleep hygiene and addressing mental health are warranted to enhance adolescent well-being.