Restless-Leg Syndrome Among Adolescents: Impact on Sleep Quality, Mood, and Academic Performance.

Authors

Moutrisha M Roy, Ruchi Singh, Anzar Bashir Alvi, Sunil Chouhan, Rekha Jiwane, Nirendra Kumar Rai

Published in

Behavioral sleep medicine. Pages 1-12. Aug 14, 2026. Epub Aug 14, 2026.

Abstract

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a prevalent but frequently underrecognized neurological sleep disorder. It presents as an irresistible urge to move legs, often accompanied by unpleasant sensations. More than 25% of those affected report onset of symptoms between 10-20 years of age. This cross-sectional study examined the prevalence of RLS among adolescents and its association with sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, mood, and academic performance.
The study was conducted among school-going adolescents aged 10-19 years after obtaining approvals from school authorities, informed assent, and parental consent. They were assessed for sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, symptoms of RLS, and mood fluctuations using validated tools.
Among 2,289 adolescents with a mean age of 13.85 ± 1.92 years; (50.19% female), 29.18% (668) experienced restless leg sensations at night or during evening relaxation. Students with RLS reported poorer sleep quality (5.52 ± 2.70), increased daytime sleepiness (15.44 ± 5.31; p < .001), and a higher risk of depression (OR = 1.678; p < .001), anxiety (OR = 1.514; p < .001), and stress (OR = 1.706; p < .001). Mood derangements were significantly higher in both young (≤14 yrs) and old adolescents (>14 yrs) with RLS. Academically, students with RLS had lower scores in science (p = .033) in Grades 6-10 and in English (p = .018), mathematics (p = .035), economics (p = .026), and overall scores (p = .013) among commerce stream students of higher secondary school.
RLS-related sleep difficulties and circadian issues combine with age-based circadian changes, leading to varied outcomes across the adolescent developmental spectrum.

PMID:
42601325
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 15 Aug 2026.

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