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A study of high school students in the United States indicated that young adults who sleep less may be more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as smoking, drinking and unprotected sex than those who get more rest at night.

The study found that about 7 out of 10 American high school students sleep less than 8 hours a day, less than the optimal amount of mental and physical health of teens, which ranges between 8 and 10 hours.

Compared to teens who slept at least 8 hours, students who slept less than 6 hours were twice as likely to drink alcohol, nearly twice as likely to smoke, and more than twice as likely to use other drugs or engage in harmful sexual activities.

The study also showed that students who slept less than 6 hours were 3 times more likely to engage in self-destructive activities or to attempt suicide or actually commit suicide compared to those who slept 8 hours or more.

Although the study is not designed to prove whether or how the number of hours of sleep affects teenage behavior, study author Matthew Weaver of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston said it seems likely that inadequate hours of sleep leads to changes In the brain, it increases risky behavior.

One explanation, he said in an email, is that "insufficient sleep and poor quality are associated with decreased activity of the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for executive tasks and logical thinking."

"The parts of the brain associated with reward are also affected, which can lead to more impulsive emotional decisions," he added.

The study team examined about 68 questionnaires filled out by secondary school students between 2007 and 2015.

The study showed that young men who got the lowest level of sleep - less than 6 hours - scored the highest rates of unsafe behavior, but the researchers also found risks in those who slept between 6 and 7 hours.

Young men who sleep 7 hours are 28% more likely to drink alcohol, 13% to smoke, and 17% to try different types of drugs compared to those who sleep 8 hours.