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CDC: Teens sleeping patterns may contribute to risky behavior

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The amount your teen is sleeping may contribute to some risky behavior.

A study by the Center for Disease Control found that if high schoolers sleep too little or too much they’re also more likely to take other risks like driving drunk. But, the cause and effect are still in question.

The study surveyed more than 50,000 high school students.

Researchers say this doesn’t prove what the connection is. It’s not clear if it’s sleep issues that cause this behavior or whether both are a reflection of things like depression. The survey found students who slept five to six hours a night or more than ten hours were twice as likely to say they’d driven drunk compared to those who regularly got a full night’s sleep.

The CDC released the results Thursday.

Previous studies have connected lack of sleep to problems among young people like academic issues and a higher risk of obesity.