SYC 2024 Breakout: Kara Duraccio on Sleep in Youth Sports

Join Dr. Kara Duraccio, Pediatric Sleep Psychologist and researcher, as she dives into the critical role of sleep in youth wellness and sports performance at the 2024 Strong Youth Conference. Learn why sleep is a "legal performance-enhancing drug" and how it impacts cognitive, emotional, and physical health. Dr. Duraccio provides practical strategies to combat sleep deprivation and optimize sleep for athletes and youth alike.

Topics Covered:

• Sleep requirements for children and teens
• The consequences of sleep deprivation on health and performance
• Sleep hygiene tips for better rest
• The connection between sleep and sports performance
• Actionable advice for parents, coaches, and athletes

Dr. Kara Duraccio is a licensed clinical psychologist with an emphasis in sleep psychology. She currently serves as an assistant professor in the psychology department at Brigham Young University. She previously completed her clinical residency and research fellowship at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, specializing in behavioral sleep medicine. She received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Brigham Young University. Dr. Duraccio is an active researcher with dozens of peer-reviewed articles that center around sleep in youth. Specifically, she has focused her research efforts on uncovering risk factors for insufficient sleep in youth, understanding the mental, behavioral, and physical health consequences of obtaining insufficient sleep, developing innovative methods for measuring and manipulating diet, physical activity, and sleep outcomes, and creating effective pediatric obesity interventions.