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Factors associated with bed and room sharing in Chinese school-aged children

S Li1, X Jin, C Yan

  • 1Department of Child Health, Shanghai Xin Hua Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Child: Care, Health and Development
|February 21, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Co-sleeping, or bed and room sharing, is common in Chinese school-aged children. Factors like younger age and family size influence this practice, reflecting cultural norms.

Area of Science:

  • Child Development
  • Sociology
  • Cultural Anthropology

Background:

  • Co-sleeping (bed or room sharing) has potential implications for children's development.
  • Previous studies indicated higher prevalence in non-Western countries, suggesting ethnic and socio-cultural influences.
  • Co-sleeping practices vary significantly across different cultural contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of bed and room sharing among school-aged children in China.
  • To investigate factors associated with co-sleeping arrangements in this population.
  • To understand the socio-cultural context of co-sleeping in an Asian setting.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in Shanghai, China.
  • Data collected from 4108 elementary school children (mean age 8.79 years).
  • Parent-administered questionnaires gathered information on sleeping arrangements and socio-demographics.

Main Results:

  • Prevalence of routine bed sharing was 21.0%, room sharing 19.1%, and sleeping alone 47.7%.
  • Co-sleeping prevalence decreased with age and showed no significant gender difference.
  • Associated factors included younger age, larger family size, lack of a private bedroom, and parental approval.

Conclusions:

  • Co-sleeping is a common practice among Chinese school-aged children.
  • Associated factors are linked to intrinsic socio-cultural values and socio-economic status in China.
  • Findings highlight the cultural significance of sleeping arrangements in Chinese society.
Abstract

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