Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026
06:48
Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil
Published on: July 29, 2020
Sleep disorders in children beginning school: their causes and effects
Deutsches Arzteblatt International
|July 7, 2009
Summary
Sleep disorders are common in school-aged children, impacting school performance and behavior. Early diagnosis of these sleep problems is crucial for addressing associated fatigue and psychological issues.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Sleep disorders are prevalent in children starting school.
- These disorders can negatively affect academic performance and behavior.
- Variability in presentation necessitates thorough diagnostic evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of sleep disorders in preschool-aged children.
- To explore the association between sleep problems and behavioral difficulties.
- To highlight the importance of diagnosing sleep issues in early childhood.
Main Methods:
- A sleep questionnaire and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) were administered.
- Data collected from approximately 1400 children before school entry in 2005.
- Utilized screening instruments for behavioral assessment and sleep pattern evaluation.
Main Results:
- 5% of children experienced issues with falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking at night.
- Parasomnias like night terrors (0.5%), sleepwalking (0.1%), and nightmares (1.7%) were less common.
- Sleep disturbances were linked to increased risks of daytime fatigue and psychological problems.
Conclusions:
- Sleep disorders in young children are connected to hyperactivity and emotional stress.
- Diagnosing sleep problems in early childhood is essential.
- Addressing sleep disturbances can mitigate risks of behavioral and psychological issues.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Nightmares and Night Terrors
Nightmares and night terrors represent two distinct types of sleep disturbances that differ in timing, characteristics, and the sleeper's recall of the event. Nightmares are vivid, disturbing dreams that usually awaken the sleeper from REM sleep, a stage of sleep where brain activity is high, and dreams are most frequent. Upon awakening, individuals often have detailed recollections of their nightmares, which can include themes of threats to survival, security, or self-esteem.
Nightmares often...
Nightmares often...
01:24Sleep-Wake Cycles
Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
01:27Insomnia
Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings during the night, and waking up too early without being able to return to sleep. People with insomnia often experience these disruptions at least three nights a week for at least one month. Chronic insomnia, which lasts for at least three months, can lead to increased anxiety, which in turn can worsen sleep difficulties, creating a cycle of sleeplessness and stress.
Multiple factors contribute...
Multiple factors contribute...
01:13Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Insufficient sleep refers to not getting the recommended amount of sleep for optimal functioning, even if it's just slightly less than needed. Sleep insufficiency may occur due to lifestyle choices, such as staying up late for social events or work, resulting in routinely getting less sleep than required. For example, consistently sleeping 6 hours when the body needs 7-9 hours can lead to cumulative effects on health and well-being.
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
01:07Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by pervasive, uncontrolled sleepiness and other sleep disturbances. One of its hallmark symptoms is an abrupt transition to REM sleep upon falling asleep, which causes symptoms typically associated with this phase to occur unexpectedly during wakefulness. These include the following symptoms, which typically last from a minute or two to half an hour.
01:53Cause and Effect
While variables are sometimes correlated because one does cause the other, it could also be that some other factor, a confounding variable, is actually causing the systematic movement in our variables of interest. For instance, as sales in ice cream increase, so does the overall rate of crime. Is it possible that indulging in your favorite flavor of ice cream could send you on a crime spree? Or, after committing crime do you think you might decide to treat yourself to a cone?