Question

Margaret sleeps erratically, but when all that time is added up, she sleeps about 14 hours a day. Based on the research on sleep across the lifespan, Margaret is likely to be _______.

a) A teenager going through a growth spurt
b) A young adult with a highly active lifestyle
c) An older adult experiencing age-related sleep changes
d) A child in the midst of rapid cognitive development

Answer 1

Margaret's 14-hour sleep pattern suggests she could be a young child in a vital stage of cognitive and physical development, as infants and children require significantly more sleep than adults.

Step-by-step explanation:

Margaret sleeps about 14 hours a day. Based on research regarding sleep across the lifespan, it's likely that she could be a child in the midst of rapid cognitive development. Infants and young children require significantly more sleep than adults due to the intensive brain development and physical growth occurring during this period. As an individual ages, the amount of sleep needed typically decreases.

For instance, the National Sleep Foundation notes that newborns require the most sleep, which can range between 12 and 18 hours a night, eventually decreasing to just 7-9 hours by adulthood. Given Margaret's sleep pattern, it aligns with the higher sleep demands of early childhood, which is essential for healthy development and learning. Therefore, Margaret is likely to be a young child in a critical phase of growth.