Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 29, 2026
Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training
Published on: July 27, 2022
Bed sharing, sleep habits, and sleep problems among Chinese school-aged children
Xianchen Liu1, Lianqi Liu, Ruzhan Wang
1Department of Family and Human Development and Program for Prevention Research, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA. xianchen.liu@asu.edu
Insights
Bed sharing is common in Chinese school children, decreasing with age. It
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Child Psychology
- Sociology of the Family
Background:
- Bed sharing practices vary globally and are influenced by cultural and socioeconomic factors.
- Understanding sleep habits in school-aged children is crucial for their development and well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and correlates of bed sharing among Chinese school-aged children.
- To examine the association between bed sharing, sleep habits, and sleep problems in this population.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire survey was conducted in Jinan city, China, in 2001.
- 517 elementary school children and their parents participated.
- Data collected included bed sharing habits, sleep habits (using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire), and family/child characteristics.
Main Results:
- 18.2% of Chinese school-aged children regularly shared beds with parents, with prevalence decreasing significantly with age.
- Younger age, poor child health, and crowded housing were associated with increased bed sharing.
- Children who shared beds reported more sleep anxiety and daytime sleepiness but no differences in sleep duration or parasomnias.
Conclusions:
- Regular bed sharing is prevalent in Chinese school-aged children, particularly among younger children and those in crowded housing or with poor health.
- Bed sharing appears to impact sleep quality (anxiety, sleepiness) rather than sleep quantity.
- Findings highlight the need for tailored sleep guidance considering cultural and socioeconomic contexts.
Study Objectives:
This study examined the association between bed sharing, sleep habits, and sleep problems among Chinese school-aged children.
Design And Setting:
A questionnaire survey of school-aged children was undertaken in Jinan city, People's Republic of China, in 2001.
Participants:
A total of 517 elementary-school children (mean age, 10.5 years; 47.4% boys) participated in the survey.
Measurements:
The parents completed the Chinese version of the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire and a number of questions that asked about bed sharing and characteristics of the family and child.
Results:
The prevalence of regular bed sharing in Chinese school-aged children was as high as 18.2%. The rate of bed sharing did not differ between boys and girls but significantly decreased with age from 55.8% in 7-year-olds to 7.2% in 11- to 13-year-olds. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that younger age, poor physical health of the child, and crowded housing were associated with an increased likelihood for the child's bed sharing with parents. Bedtime and total sleep duration did not significantly differ between children who shared beds and those who slept alone. Children who shared beds with their parents were reported to have more sleep anxiety and daytime sleepiness than children who slept alone. Bed sharing was not associated with parasomnias and breathing problems during sleep.
Conclusions:
Regular bed sharing in Chinese school-aged children was very common and significantly decreased with age. Crowded housing and poor physical health of the child increased the likelihood for children and parents to share beds. Bed sharing may exert influences on sleep quality rather than sleep quantity.
Related Concept Videos
01:13Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
01:30Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development