Australian Journal of Teacher Education - Vol 46 - Issue 9 - Article 6 - Sleep in Adolescents Attending Australian Boarding Schools - A Review and Interim Recommendations

Oct 15, 2026

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Boarding schools provide an overnight sleep context that may differ substantially from students’ home environments, creating a convergence of psychosocial and physiological influences on adolescent sleep. This paper reviews research on sleep and boarding students within Australia and formulates interim, evidence-aligned recommendations to support healthy sleep. Focus areas include staff training and sleep knowledge, daily routines, sleeping arrangements, and student mental health and wellbeing, along with calls for standardized practice guidelines.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Sleep in Adolescence

Biological regulation of sleep

Australian Journal of Teacher Education | Volume 46 Issue 9 | Article 6 | | --- | --- | | 2021
Sleep in Adolescents Attending Australian Boarding Schools: AReview and Interim Recommendations
Madeline Sprajcer
Central Queensland University
David Mander
The University of Western Australia
Gabrielle Rigney
Central Queensland University
Tessa Benveniste
Central Queensland University
Follow this and additional works at: [https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ajte](https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ajte)
Part of the Educational Psychology Commons, Health and Physical Education Commons, and the Other Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons | | Recommended Citation Sprajcer, M., Mander, D., Rigney, G., & Benveniste, T. (2021) . Sleep in Adolescents Attending Australian Boarding Schools: A Review and Interim Recommendations. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 46(9) . [http://dx.doi.org/10.14221/ajte.2021v46n9.6](http://dx.doi.org/10.14221/ajte.2021v46n9.6) [This Journal Article is posted at Research Online.](This Journal Article is posted at Research Online.)[ ](This Journal Article is posted at Research Online.)[https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ajte/vol46/iss9/6](https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ajte/vol46/iss9/6) Sleep in Adolescents Attending Australian Boarding Schools: A Review and Interim Recommendations Madeline Sprajcer Central Queensland University David Mander University of Western Australia Gabrielle Rigney Tessa Benveniste Central Queensland University Abstract: Boarding schools, by definition, house students in residence either on campus or close by in residential facilities-where the sleep environment is likely to differ from their home environment. For boarders, being in the boarding environment occurs alongside a convergence of psychosocial and physiological factors likely to impact adolescent sleep. This paper comprises a review of the literature on sleep and boarding students in the Australian context. We also propose recommendations aligned with the scientific evidence base that can be used to promote healthy sleep in Australian boarding school students, focusing on staff training and sleep knowledge, daily routines, sleeping arrangements, and student mental health and wellbeing. It must be noted that these recommendations should be considered interim recommendations until further research is performed in the area. Further, we suggest the development of standardised practice guidelines, to ensure that student sleep is supported appropriately within the Australian boarding context. Introduction Adolescence is a critical time for physical and mental development, with typical onset at approximately 10 – 12 years of age (Dahl et al., 2018; Ogden & Hagen, 2018). During this time, over 20,000 young Australians attend boarding school (Australian Boarding Schools Association, 2019) . Health and wellbeing over the lifespan are significantly influenced by positive (or negative) influences in adolescence (Olsson et al., 2013). As Australian boarding schools generally accept students aged eleven and older, it is key to understand any factors that may impact mental health and wellbeing within this context. One factor known to impact adolescent mental health, wellbeing, and development is sleep (Tarokh et al., 2016) . Insufficient sleep in adolescents is associated with poorer physical and mental health, academic outcomes, learning ability, memory, cognitive function, and emotion regulation (Tarokh et al., 2016) . Yet, it is largely unknown how boarding school attendance impacts adolescent sleep (e.g., sleep quality, duration, and timing). Thus, this review explores the ways in which the boarding environment may impact sleep, with a view to identifying practical strategies and tools for teachers and boarding staff to support the wellbeing, health and development of students who board. Critically, we must note that, to date, there has been little literature

FAQs

Why might boarding school attendance affect adolescents’ sleep?

Boarders experience sleep in residential environments that can differ from home and involve interacting psychosocial and physiological factors. These factors may influence sleep quality, duration, and timing.

What does the paper include besides the literature review?

The paper proposes interim, evidence-aligned recommendations for promoting healthy sleep in Australian boarding school students. It targets staff training and sleep knowledge, daily routines, sleeping arrangements, and student mental health and wellbeing.

Are the recommendations intended to be final guidelines?

No. The recommendations are explicitly described as interim until further research is conducted, and the authors suggest developing standardized practice guidelines.

Oct 15, 2026

Upload by Franzy