Sleep Regularity Across Adolescence

This thesis explores the development and associations of sleep regularity – the variation in sleep timing from day-to-day, during the early adolescent period. It identifies a significant decline in sleep regularity during the first 18-months of adolescence, in addition to a relationship between adolescents with more irregular sleep and reduced performance in cognitive and academic outcomes. The role of light as a driver of irregular sleep is subsequently explored using three new metrics for measuring light regularity. Overall, this thesis carries important implications for understanding and improving the sleep and wellbeing of Australian youth.