Lifespan Changes

Question 1

What do we know about prenatal sleep?

Answer 1

Not much as it is very difficult to tell much about foetal sleep patterns

Question 2

Name 7 key points about infant sleep

Answer 2

1) New-borns sleep about 16/17 hours
2) Shorter cycles (wake every hour)
3) Immature versions of SWS (quiet) and REM (active)
4) At birth, more active than REM in adults (half)
5) When going to sleep, enter initial light sleep and after 20 mins, gradually enter deep sleep whereas adults directly into deep sleep
6) 6 months, rhythms established and sleep longer periods (6 hours) more at night
7) Deep sleep lengthens and reduced active sleep

Question 3

Name 2 key points about toddler sleep

Answer 3

1) By 1 year, total sleep declined to 13 hours and REM reduced to 4/5 hours
2) By 2/3 years, daytime naps still common

Question 4

Name 4 key points about childhood sleep

Answer 4

1) At 5 years, EEG similar to adults
2) Sleep more than adults (12 hours), and REM 30%
3) The need for sleep gradually decreases
4) Common parasomnias like sleep walking common

Question 5

Name 3 key points about adolescent sleep

Answer 5

1) The need for sleep increases slightly to 9/10 hours
2) Rhythms change as feel more awake at night and difficulty getting up early (phase delay)
3) Social pressures (and reduced parental influence)

Question 6

What happens with young adults (18-30)?

Answer 6

Sleep less than adolescents and do not experience such deep sleep

Question 7

What happens in middle age (30-45)?

Answer 7

Shallowing and shortening of sleep and reduced stage 4

Question 8

What happens with people aged 45-60?

Answer 8

Women in the loss of hormones in the menopause and men in the andropause so suffer sleep deprivation and poor quality. Reduced to 7 hours, stage 4 disappears and increased lighter sleep and REM constant

Question 9

What happens with people 60+?

Answer 9

Frequent interruptions at night

Question 10

What happens with people aged 90?

Answer 10

Only 5 hours

Question 11

What happens with the elderly in general?

Answer 11

Rise earlier as circadian dip isn’t as pronounced as younger, and they require 1/2 hours less

Question 12

Outline Redthe (2004)

Answer 12

Carried out a meta-analysis and concluded as we get older, total sleep decreases, time to get to sleep increases, night wakings increase, feeling sleepy in the day increases, and naps increase

Question 13

Explain 2 evaluative points for new-born babies sleep?

Answer 13

1) Evolutionary - adaptive as parents can do chores when asleep enhancing survival and small stomachs so need feeding regularly
2) Greater REM explained - immaturity of brains REM linked to production of neurotransmitters and consolidation of memories. Further supported by premature babies (less mature brains), 90% active sleep

Question 14

Explain 2 evaluative points for adolescent sleep?

Answer 14

1) Can be explained by hormonal changes - released at night so patterns disturbed so sleep deprivation
2) Also correlates with sleep deprivation ‘typical’ of puberty like moodiness, changes in school performance and motivation

Question 15

Explain 2 evaluative points for adulthood sleep?

Answer 15

1) Too much sleep not a good thing - Kripke (2002) surveyed 1 million adult men and women and found those have 6/7 hours had a reduced mortality risk when compared to those of 8 hours who had a 15% increase in risk of death, risk over 30% for 10 hours
2) Correlational data - intervening variables like underlying illness may lead to increased sleep needs and increased mortality

Question 16

Explain 2 evaluative points for sleep in old age?

Answer 16

1) Reduced sleep may be due to problems staying asleep like sleep apnoea or medical illnesses - deep sleep reduces so more easily woken
2) van Cauter et al (2000) reduced SWS reduces production of growth hormone which may explain some symptoms associated with old age like lack of energy and lower bone density

Question 17

Name 3 IDA points about lifespan changes in sleep

Answer 17

1) Important as it recognises sleep patterns are not consistent but change as we age - new understanding o some effects of ageing
2) Cultural bias
3) Real-world application

Question 18

Explain cultural bias in lifespan changes in sleep

Answer 18

American and British research studies which assume no cultural differences - Tynjala (1993) surveyed 40,000 11-16 year olds from European countries - Israeli children sleep the least at 8.5hours and Swiss the most at 9.5hours - contributory factor was numerous evenings spent outside so less sleep - in Korea 6.5 hours, Iran 7.7 hours, which supports the view that duration is shorter in Asia - highlights cultural differences - also take naps in afternoon (e.g. siestas), indicate nomothetic approach is limiting

Question 19

Outline Tynjala (1993)

Answer 19

Surveyed 40,000 11-16 year olds from European countries - Israeli children sleep the least at 8.5hours and Swiss the most at 9.5hours - contributory factor was numerous evenings spent outside so less sleep - in Korea 6.5 hours, Iran 7.7 hours, which supports the view that duration is shorter in Asia - highlights cultural differences - also take naps in afternoon (e.g. siestas), indicate nomothetic approach is limiting

Question 20

What does Tynjala (1993) show?

Answer 20

That there are cultural differences in sleep and it indicates a nomothetic approach is limiting

Question 21

Explain real-world application in lifespan changes in sleep

Answer 21

It has been suggested that teens should go to school later to accommodate for the delayed sleep phase syndrome, also effects of ageing can be reduced by improving sleep ‘hygiene’ such as napping