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Associations of age and gender with activity and sleep
E T Aronen1, E J Paavonen, M Soininen
1Department of Child Psychiatry, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Helsinki University, Finland. eeva.aronen@helsinki.fi
Insights
As children age from 5 to 12 years, their daytime activity and total sleep time decrease, with changes in sleep patterns. No gender differences were observed in these activity and sleep changes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Childhood Motor Development
- Behavioral Pediatrics
Background:
- Understanding age-related changes in children's physical activity and sleep is crucial for assessing healthy development.
- Actigraphy is a reliable method for objectively measuring sleep and activity patterns in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the associations between age and gender with motor activity and sleep patterns in healthy children aged 5-12 years.
- To identify developmental trends in physical activity and sleep duration within this age group.
Main Methods:
- Utilized actigraphy to objectively measure motor activity and sleep parameters.
- Analyzed data from 66 healthy children aged 5 to 12 years.
- Examined correlations between age, gender, and measured activity/sleep variables.
Main Results:
- A significant decrease in daytime motor activity was observed with increasing age.
- Total sleep time also showed a decline as children grew older.
- The pattern of activity throughout the day and night underwent changes with age.
- No statistically significant gender differences were found in activity or sleep patterns.
Conclusions:
- The study highlights age-dependent changes in motor activity and sleep quantity and patterns in children aged 5-12 years.
- These changes are likely influenced by a combination of developmental maturation and environmental factors.
- Findings underscore the importance of considering age when evaluating children's activity and sleep behaviors.
Abstract:
Associations between age/gender and activity/sleep (measured by actigraphs) in 66 healthy children aged 5-12 y were studied. With increasing age, daytime motor activity and total sleep time decreased and activity pattern changed. No gender differences were found. It was concluded that in this age group there is an age-dependent change in the amount and pattern of motor activity and sleep due to developmental and/or environmental factors.