13.6.1 Sleep (in relation to circadian rhythms and impact on adolescent wellness)

Adolescents often change their sleeping patterns because of a change in melatonin uptake. During these years, it is still important for adolescents to get enough sleep (approximately 9 hours) however, melatonin uptake occurs later than it did earlier in childhood (1–3 hours later), causing them to stay up later and then wanting to sleep in (Carskadon, 2011; Kelley et al., 2017). Some schools have begun to change the start of the school day to better align with cognitive development, but this can have an impact on learning and academic performance.

13.6.2 Stressors that Impact Information Processing

Information processing refers to the mental processes involved in encoding, storing, retrieving, and utilizing information from the environment. Several factors can impact these processes, including increased academic demands, social pressures, technological advancements, and environmental distractions. Understanding the factors that contribute to the stress on information processing in middle childhood is crucial for educators, parents, and caregivers to provide appropriate support and optimize children’s cognitive development during this critical period.

13.6.2.1 Bandwidth Tax

Bandwidth Tax was mentioned previously in Chapter 10, and this term related to cognitive capacity is important in adolescence as well. Adolescents who are facing environmental stressors or scarcity of resources have additional situational constraints on their capacity for executive functioning. Scarcity impacts our cognitive development (Noble et al., 2012) executive functions and our overall ability to process information. Learning and the ability to complete important tasks during this developmental period are diminished by these external stressors. Teachers can implement strategies, policies can address disparities, and interventions addressing resources can support adolescents on an individual level who might be struggling with external stressors leading to a tax on their cognitive bandwidth (Verschelden, 2020).