COVID-19 School Shutdown and Adolescent Sleep: Article Critique

Article Summary

The study under review is experimental in nature — specifically, a natural experiment — as the authors themselves describe it. In experimental studies, an intervention is introduced; in this case, that intervention was the sudden shutdown of schools following the onset of COVID-19. This abrupt change was studied using a qualitative research method: semi-structured interviews conducted with 45 adolescents. The independent variable was the unanticipated school closure caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the dependent variable was the sleep behaviors of the participating adolescents. No manipulation of the independent variable was necessary, as the pandemic itself constituted the sudden change under investigation. Only the effects of this disruption needed to be studied. The operationalization of the dependent variable — sleep behaviors — was captured through changes in sleep schedules, sleep quality associated with later sleeping hours, reduced daytime sleepiness due to the elimination of forced early waking, and improved daytime functioning.

Both the dependent and independent variables are operationally defined, as their measurement was carried out through specific methods suited to the chosen study design. No deliberate changes were made to the independent variable, since COVID-19 itself represented the change that imposed drastic alterations on normal societal routines. For instance, before the pandemic, adolescents routinely woke up early on school days — a pattern distinct from their behavior on days off. The abrupt school closures shifted instruction online, and the later timing of online classes allowed adolescents to wake up later in the morning. Although they also went to bed later at night, the net result was a roughly two-hour shift in their sleep pattern. COVID-19 is therefore the independent variable that required no further modification; it was itself the reason why changes occurred in the mechanisms of daily life, particularly for school-going adolescents.

The dependent variable was operationalized clearly, with explicit definitions provided for what constituted "sleep behaviors." These were defined by the level of daytime sleepiness — which was reportedly higher before the pandemic when children had to wake up early — compared to the reduced sleepiness observed when children slept two hours later and woke up naturally. It is inferred that adolescents woke up at a time natural to them without being forced awake, meaning their sleep duration was more appropriate. As a result, they felt more refreshed and were able to complete online school tasks, including participation in arts and physical education classes.

Study Design and Methodology

A qualitative research design was adopted for this study in keeping with its natural experiment aim. Adolescents were asked questions about how the pandemic had suddenly affected their daily school routines. The study sought to measure how disrupted school schedules impacted sleep behaviors and how those changes affected physical performance throughout the day and engagement in online classes. A semi-structured interview approach was used, with interviews conducted over the phone. Forty-five adolescents participated, of whom 32 were girls; the mean age was 13.5 years; and the sample was 96% Caucasian, 2% Asian, and 2% multiethnic (Gruber et al., 2020). The study does not clearly state whether participants were selected randomly or by another sampling method, nor does it specify the schools, neighborhoods, or institutions from which they were drawn. Trained research assistants conducted the interviews from April 28 to June 3, 2020. The research criteria included analysis of pre-pandemic and during-pandemic sleep schedules, sleep duration, wake times, and daytime sleepiness relative to the number of hours slept.

Semi-structured phone interviews were arranged on a one-on-one basis to allow participants to respond personally and comfortably. Participant anonymity was ensured throughout the process. Interviews were subsequently transcribed and uploaded to MAXQDA 2020, a software platform used to analyze audio files and survey responses with credibility. Two researchers independently coded the transcripts using a pre-developed thematic system that was deductively formed to guide analysis. Additional content was inductively developed from the interview material to provide further analytical support. The use of coded themes facilitated easier comparison of findings across participants. Data triangulation was also employed to identify and exclude disconfirming evidence, thereby strengthening the validity of the results. The convergence of information from multiple sources was the objective, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of the concepts under study and the relationship between the variables.

Findings Overview

The findings were presented in table form, with interview questions arranged alongside corresponding participant responses. Questions 1–3 indicated that sleep schedules had shifted by approximately two hours due to the disruption of school routines caused by COVID-19. Questions 4–5 confirmed that participants went to bed later and woke up later. Questions 6–10 were answered with the confidence that school-related stress had decreased, as students no longer needed to wake up at an early, externally imposed hour. Questions 11–13 noted that 55% of participants had previously felt tired and sleepy during in-person schooling, believing they were not getting enough sleep. Questions 14–15 showed that participants no longer felt sleepy during the pandemic-era online school routine, as they slept later and woke up naturally, without external prompting. Questions 16–20 revealed that while some participants were still awakened by parents or an alarm clock, the majority woke up at a time that suited them naturally.

References

Gruber, R., Saha, S., Somerville, G., Boursier, J., & Wise, M. S. (2020). The impact of Covid-19 related school shutdown on sleep in adolescents: A natural experiment. Sleep Medicine, 76, 33–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2020.09.015