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Patterns and problems of sleep in school going children

Bhavneet Bharti1, Prahbhjot Malhi, Sapna Kashyap

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Advanced Pediatric Center, Postgraduate Institute of Medical and Education and Research, Chandigarh 160 012, India. bhavneetb@yahoo.com

Indian Pediatrics
|February 9, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Sleep problems are common in young children, affecting over 40%. Nuclear family structure was a significant predictor of these sleep issues in school-aged children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Child Health

Background:

  • Sleep habits and problems are crucial for child development.
  • Understanding sleep patterns in young children is essential for early intervention.
  • Prevalence of sleep disorders in healthy school-aged children requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess sleep habits and problems in healthy school-aged children (3-10 years).
  • To identify factors associated with sleep-related problems in this population.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 103 healthy school-aged children.
  • Data collected during hospital visits for minor illnesses or routine immunizations.
  • Statistical analysis including univariate and logistic regression models.

Main Results:

  • Average daily sleep duration was 10.32 hours; 28.2% took daytime naps.
  • Co-sleeping was reported in 93% of children.
  • Sleep problems affected 42.7%, including nocturnal enuresis, sleep talking, and bruxism.
  • Nuclear family structure was a significant predictor (OR 2.41) of sleep problems.

Conclusions:

  • Sleep problems are frequent in healthy school-aged children presenting in general pediatric practice.
  • Nuclear family environment is associated with increased risk of sleep disorders in children.
  • Further research into pediatric sleep disturbances and family dynamics is warranted.

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