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Study Objective. To test whether sleep duration on school nights differs between adolescents in Australia and the United States and, if so, whether this difference is explained by cultural differences in school start time, parental involvement in setting bedtimes, and extracurricular commitments. Participants. Three hundred eighty-five adolescents aged 13 to 18 years ("M" = 15.57, SD = 0.95; 60% male) from Australia and 302 adolescents aged 13 to 19 years ("M" = 16.03, SD = 1.19; 35% male) from the United States. Methods. Adolescents completed the School Sleep Habits Survey during class time, followed by an 8-day sleep diary. Results. After controlling for age and gender, Australian adolescents obtained an average of 47 minutes more sleep per school night than those in the United States. Australian adolescents were more likely to have a parent-set bedtime (17.5% vs. 6.8%), have a later school start time (8:32 a.m. vs. 7:45 a.m.), and spend less time per day on extracurricular commitments (1 h 37 min vs. 2 h 41 min) than their U.S. peers. The mediating factors of parent-set bedtimes, later school start times, and less time spent on extracurricular activities were significantly associated with more total sleep. Conclusions. In addition to biological factors, extrinsic cultural factors significantly affect adolescent sleep. The present study highlights the importance of a cross-cultural, ecological approach and the impact of early school start times, lack of parental limit setting around bedtimes, and extracurricular load in limiting adolescent sleep. (Contains 3 tables and 1 figure.)

Aim: Adolescent sleep patterns vary between countries, and these differences influence adolescent functioning and well-being. The present study provides data on the sleep and well-being of Australian adolescents. Methods: 385 adolescents aged 13-18 years were recruited from 8 South Australian schools spanning the socio-economic spectrum. Adolescents completed survey battery during class time at school, followed by a 7-day sleep diary. Results: Australian adolescents, on average, obtained inadequate sleep across the school week. Adolescents commonly reported difficulty initiating sleep, unrefreshing sleep, and the subjective feeling of restless legs. Problematic levels of sleepiness, fatigue, depressed mood and anxiety were highly prevalent. Later bedtimes, longer sleep onset latencies, and shorter sleep duration were significantly associated with aspects of poor daytime functioning. Conclusion: These results add to our knowledge of adolescent sleep and well-being worldwide. They also highlight the need for greater attention to sleep during this phase of development, when future behaviors and outcomes are being shaped. (Contains 4 figures and 3 tables.)

Outcomes measurement has become a contemporary requirement for non-profit, government, and private sector child, youth, and family service providers throughout North America as well as in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere. Cost-effectiveness, care planning, service evaluations, and fiscal audits are now commonplace with efforts to improve out-of-home care, education, and treatment outcomes. There is a growing expectation that service providers demonstrate accountability and achieve specific outcomes. The authors combine the Circle of Courage and the Search Institute Assets models to record developmental outcomes. (Contains 1 figure.)

Attention is drawn to important themes thought likely to influence the continuing development of group care services for children and young people in the decade ahead. These include a poorly educated workforce, autonomous training, multi-disciplinary approaches, centres of excellence, diversified programs, new trends and issues shaping the future, and group care practice and the law. (Contains 1 note.)

The article focuses on the economic implications of sleep deprivation as a community problem to public health. It says that these implications should have accurate data on its prevalence, costs, and causes since it is significant to health policy. It mentions a study on Australians' sleep habits which show a high prevalence of sleep difficulties, daytime fatigue, and irritability. The study demonstrates the economic outcome of sleep disorders wherein it costs $5.1 billion annually to Australia.

Abstract: Aim: Adolescent sleep patterns vary between countries, and these differences influence adolescent functioning and well-being. The present study provides data on the sleep and well-being of Australian adolescents. Methods: 385 adolescents aged 13–18 years were recruited from 8 South Australian schools spanning the socio-economic spectrum. Adolescents completed survey battery during class time at school, followed by a 7-day sleep diary. Results: Australian adolescents, on average, obtained inadequate sleep across the school week. Adolescents commonly reported difficulty initiating sleep, unrefreshing sleep, and the subjective feeling of restless legs. Problematic levels of sleepiness, fatigue, depressed mood and anxiety were highly prevalent. Later bedtimes, longer sleep onset latencies, and shorter sleep duration were significantly associated with aspects of poor daytime functioning. Conclusion: These results add to our knowledge of adolescent sleep and well-being worldwide. They also highlight the need for greater attention to sleep during this phase of development, when future behaviors and outcomes are being shaped. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Presents a comparative study of epiphytic algal communities on two common genera of sea-grasses in eastern Australia. Aim of the study to provide basic information on the algal epiphytes of the sea-grasses Zostera and Posidonia; Investigation on the use of algal species as indicators of water quality at these sites; Species of sea-grass epiphytes found during this study.

Background: In healthy populations, irregular sleep patterns are associated with delayed sleep and poor functional/mood outcomes. Currently, it is unknown whether irregular sleep contributes to poor functional/mood outcomes in individuals with Delayed Sleep-Wake Phase Disorder (DSWPD)., Methods: In 170 patients with DSWPD, we collected sleep-wake patterns, dim light melatonin onset (DLMO), and functional/mood outcomes. The Sleep Regularity Index (SRI) and other sleep timing metrics were computed. Correlations of SRI were computed with phase angle (difference between DLMO and desired bedtime), sleep timing and quality variables, daytime function, sleep-related daytime impairment, mood, and insomnia symptom severity. Path analyses assessed whether SRI or total sleep time mediated the associations between sleep onset time and phase angle with daytime functioning, sleep-related impairment, and mood outcomes., Results: Higher SRI was associated with earlier sleep and longer total sleep time, but did not relate to sleep quality, daytime function, or mood outcomes. Path analysis showed that phase angle was directly associated with all outcome variables, whereas sleep onset time was not directly associated with any. SRI mediated the effects of sleep onset time and phase angle on daytime function. Total sleep time mediated the effects of sleep onset time and phase angle on sleep-related impairment., Conclusion: Individuals with DSWPD who have more delayed sleep and a greater phase angle also have more irregular sleep. This suggests that it is not delayed sleep timing per se that drives poor functional outcomes in DSWPD, but rather the timing of sleep relative to circadian phase and resultant irregular sleep patterns., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Study Objective: To test whether sleep duration on school nights differs between adolescents in Australia and the United States and, if so, whether this difference is explained by cultural differences in school start time, parental involvement in setting bedtimes, and extracurricular commitments., Participants: Three hundred eighty-five adolescents aged 13 to 18 years (M = 15.57, SD = 0.95; 60% male) from Australia and 302 adolescents aged 13 to 19 years (M = 16.03, SD = 1.19; 35% male) from the United States., Methods: Adolescents completed the School Sleep Habits Survey during class time, followed by an 8-day sleep diary., Results: After controlling for age and gender, Australian adolescents obtained an average of 47 minutes more sleep per school night than those in the United States. Australian adolescents were more likely to have a parent-set bedtime (17.5% vs. 6.8%), have a later school start time (8:32 a.m. vs. 7:45 a.m.), and spend less time per day on extracurricular commitments (1 h 37 min vs. 2 h 41 min) than their U.S. peers. The mediating factors of parent-set bedtimes, later school start times, and less time spent on extracurricular activities were significantly associated with more total sleep., Conclusions: In addition to biological factors, extrinsic cultural factors significantly affect adolescent sleep. The present study highlights the importance of a cross-cultural, ecological approach and the impact of early school start times, lack of parental limit setting around bedtimes, and extracurricular load in limiting adolescent sleep.