How many hours of sleep is generally recommended for adolescents, and what is a common consequence of insufficient sleep?

• A. 6-7 hours; improved attention
• B. 7-9 hours; no change in mood
• C. 8-10 hours; impaired attention, mood, and academic performance
• D. 9-11 hours; increased energy

Answer: (C)

Adolescents generally need about 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night. This amount supports the developing brain, learning, memory, and emotional regulation. When sleep is insufficient, daytime functioning suffers: attention and concentration decline, mood becomes more irritable or down, and academic performance tends to drop due to poorer memory consolidation and slower processing. The other ranges either underestimate the nightly need for teens or exceed it without providing the same daytime benefits, so the 8–10 hour window paired with impaired attention, mood, and academic performance is the best match.