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A community-based study of insomnia in Hong Kong Chinese children: Prevalence, risk factors and familial aggregation
Jihui Zhang1, A M Li, A P S Kong
1Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
Insights
Childhood insomnia shows significant familial aggregation, with parental insomnia increasing a child's risk. This study highlights the genetic and environmental links in sleep disorders across generations.
Area of Science:
- Sleep Medicine
- Genetics
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Limited data exists on the familial aggregation of insomnia.
- Childhood insomnia prevalence and risk factors require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the prevalence, risk factors, and familial aggregation of childhood insomnia.
- To investigate the relationship between parental insomnia and childhood insomnia.
Main Methods:
- A community-based epidemiologic study involving 5695 primary school children and their parents.
- Data collected on insomnia prevalence and parental sleep status.
Main Results:
- Insomnia rates were 4.0% in children, 12.8% in mothers, and 9.7% in fathers.
- Significant familial aggregation of insomnia was observed, even after adjusting for environmental factors.
- Parental insomnia status demonstrated a dose-response relationship with childhood insomnia risk, with maternal influence slightly more pronounced.
Conclusions:
- Insomnia is a common condition affecting both children and parents.
- Childhood-onset insomnia exhibits significant familial aggregation, independent of shared environmental factors.
- Parental insomnia is a risk factor for childhood insomnia, with a dose-dependent effect.
Objectives:
There has been limited data on familial aggregation of insomnia. We aimed to explore the prevalence, risk factors and familial aggregation of childhood insomnia with a large community-based sample.
Methods:
A community-based epidemiologic study of sleep disorders was conducted among primary school children. Those children with at least one reported biological parent were recruited. A total of 5695 children (mean age 9.2; SD 1.8), 4939 of their reported biological mothers (mean age 38.9; SD 4.6) and 4289 of their reported biological fathers (mean age 43.3; SD 5.5) were studied.
Results:
The rates of insomnia 3 times/week in the past 12 months were 4.0%, 12.8% and 9.7% for children, mothers and fathers, respectively. A robust familial aggregation of insomnia was found even after adjustment of the shared environmental and socio-demographic factors. There was a significant dose-response relationship among the children across their parental status from neither, fathers, mothers to both parents with insomnia [3.0%, 7.1%, 9.5% and 11.9%; with ORs (95% CIs)=2.48 (1.82-4.37) for fathers, 3.42 (2.55-4.59) for mothers and 4.42 (2.42-8.10) for both parents, respectively]. In addition, the frequency of insomniac symptoms of the parents also had a dose-response effect on the rate of insomnia of their children.
Conclusions:
Insomnia is a common problem in both children and their parents. A significant familial aggregation of childhood onset insomnia was seen in this study even after adjustment of the co-risk factors. There was a dose-response effect of parental insomnia on the rate of insomnia of their children with a slight predilection of maternal influences.
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