The Impact of Sleep Deprivation
on Academic Performance in
High School Students
Author:
MAYRYZA MORGA
ANGEL SHAYNE NABUA
Affiliation:
BONIAO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Instructor:
MRS. JICEL DELOS REYES SEBIAL
Abstract
Keywords: Sleep deprivation, Academic Performance, High School Students,
Sleep habit’s
Chapter 1
Introduction
Sleep plays a vital role in helping us think clearly, retain information, and stay
focused throughout the day. However, many high school students don’t get enough
sleep due to homework, extracurricular activities, and social obligations. With late-
night study sessions and early morning classes, sleep deprivation has become a
common issue, often affecting students’ ability to concentrate and perform well in
school.
Students don’t get enough rest, they struggle with focus, memory, and problem-
solving-skills that are crucial for academic success. Lack of sleep can also lead to
stress, anxiety, and low motivation, making it even harder to keep up with
schoolwork. Despite knowing that sleep is important, many students sacrifice rest
to meet deadlines or prepare for exams, believing that staying up late will help
them achieve more.
This study explores how sleep deprivation affects high school students’ academic
performance and highlights the importance of developing better sleep habits for
long-term success.
Background of the Study
Sleep is essential for everyone, but for high school students juggling academics,
extracurricular activities, and social lives, it often takes a backseat. Late-night
study sessions, homework, and the constant pull of technology make it easy for
students to sacrifice sleep in the name of productivity. What many don’t realize,
however, is that this lack of rest can have serious consequences on their academic
performance and overall well-being.
Studies show that sleep deprivation affects memory, concentration, and problem-
solving skills—key factors in learning and performing well in school. When students
don’t get enough sleep, they struggle to focus in class, retain information, and
perform on tests and assignments. Over time, chronic sleep loss can lead to
increased stress, anxiety, and even a decline in mental and physical health.
This study aims to explore how sleep deprivation impacts the academic
performance of high school students. By looking at factors like sleep duration,
quality, and its effects on focus and grades, we hope to shed light on just how
important rest is for success in school. The findings could help spark discussions
among students, parents, and educators about the need for better sleep habits
and possible solutions to support healthier lifestyles.
Basic Research Questions
1. How does the duration of sleep affect the academic performance of high
school students?
2. What are the common causes of sleep deprivation among high school
students?
3. What cognitive and behavioral effects does sleep deprivation have on
students’ ability to focus and retain information?
4. How do students’ sleep habits correlate with their grades and overall
academic performance?
5. What strategies can help high school students manage their time effectively
to improve sleep quality?
Hypotheses:
H1: High school students who experience sleep deprivation will have lower
academic performance compared to those who get adequate sleep.
H2: There is a positive correlation between the number of hours of sleep and
students’ GPA.
H3: Sleep-deprived students will perform worse on cognitive tasks related to
memory, concentration, and problem-solving than students who get
sufficient sleep.
H4: Students with irregular sleep patterns will have lower test scores and
assignment completion rates compared to students with consistent sleep
schedules.
H5: Chronic sleep deprivation in high school students will lead to decreased
academic motivation and engagement.
Significance of the Study
This study is significant as it examines the impact of sleep deprivation on the
academic performance of high school students. High school is a critical period for
academic achievement, and understanding how sleep deprivation affects students’
learning can help improve educational outcomes and student well-being.
Enhancing Academic Performance: By identifying how insufficient sleep
affects grades, cognitive abilities, and concentration, this study provides
valuable insights into the role of sleep in academic success. Findings can
encourage students, educators, and parents to prioritize healthy sleep habits
for better academic outcomes.
Improving Cognitive Function: Sleep plays a vital role in memory
retention, problem-solving, and focus. This study highlights how lack of sleep
negatively affects these cognitive functions, leading to poor test
performance, difficulty in completing assignments, and reduced classroom
engagement.
Guiding School Policies: Schools may use the findings to reassess
academic workloads, homework policies, and school start times.
Implementing strategies to support healthy sleep schedules could lead to
improved student performance and well-being.
Raising Awareness Among Parents and Students: Many high school
students sacrifice sleep due to academic pressure, social activities, and
screen time. This study provides evidence on the risks of chronic sleep
deprivation and encourages students and parents to adopt better sleep
hygiene practices.
Contributing to Educational Research: The findings add to the growing
research on adolescent sleep patterns and their effects on academic
performance, paving the way for future studies and interventions to support
students in achieving their full potential.
Scope and Limitations
o Scope
research paper is focused on exploring how sleep deprivation affects the
academic performance of high school students. We’ll dive into several key
areas:
Sleep and Brain Function: We’ll look at how not getting enough
sleep affects important mental functions like memory, attention, and
learning. These are all crucial for performing well in school, especially
when it comes to studying for tests or retaining information in class.
Sleep Duration and Quality: It’s not just about how many hours
students sleep, but also how well they sleep. We’ll examine whether
the sleep students get each night is enough and of good quality, and
how it impacts their academic performance.
Emotional and Behavioral Effects: Sleep doesn’t just affect the
brain—it also impacts students’ moods and emotional states. We’ll
explore how being tired can lead to irritability, stress, and even
anxiety, and how these emotions can get in the way of doing well in
school.
Academic Outcomes: This section will focus on how sleep deprivation
translates into real academic results—grades, class participation,
focus, and memory retention. We’ll analyze how sleep (or lack of it)
directly affects school performance.
Practical Solutions: We’ll also look at what can be done to help
students sleep better and perform better in school. Whether it's school
policies, changes at home, or better sleep habits, we’ll discuss
potential solutions to help students succeed.
o Limitations
While this research will provide valuable insights, there are some important
limitations to keep in mind:
Generalizing the Results: The findings may not apply to every single high
school student. Since everyone’s situation is different—whether it’s health,
school pressures, or personal life—sleep deprivation might affect students in
different ways.
Subjective Reports: Much of the data comes from students’ self-reports
about how much sleep they get and how well they’re doing academically.
This means there’s a chance students may not always be honest or accurate
in their responses, which can affect the results.
Different Academic Subjects: The impact of sleep deprivation might not
be the same across all subjects. For example, students might struggle more
in subjects like math or science that require more focus, while subjects like
English or social studies may be less affected by lack of sleep.
Limited Long-Term Research: Most studies look at short-term effects of
sleep deprivation. Long-term research would give a clearer picture of how
lack of sleep impacts academic performance over months or even years, but
that kind of data isn’t always easy to come by.
Other External Factors: It’s important to remember that other factors—like
socioeconomic background, family support, extracurricular activities, or even
school workload—can influence how well a student does in school. This
makes it tricky to say that sleep deprivation is the only factor affecting
performance.
Cultural Differences: The study might not fully capture how different
cultural or societal expectations around sleep and academics can impact
students. Sleep habits vary widely across cultures, so what’s true for one
group of students may not hold for another.
Chapter 2
