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Sleep problems in urban, minority, early-school-aged children more prevalent than previously recognized

Beverley J Sheares1, Meyer Kattan, Cheng-Shiun Leu

  • 1Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA. bjs4@columbia.edu

Clinical Pediatrics
|February 22, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Sleep problems are highly prevalent in urban minority children aged 5-6 years. The study found 94% of these children experienced sleep issues, significantly more than previously reported.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Child Psychology
  • Community Health

Background:

  • Sleep disturbances are common in children.
  • Understanding sleep patterns in diverse populations is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess sleep problems in 5- to 6-year-old urban minority children using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ).
  • To compare sleep problem prevalence in this group against a normative sample.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study design was employed.
  • Data were collected from parents via the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ).

Main Results:

  • 160 parents completed the CSHQ; 94% of children scored above the threshold for sleep problems.
  • The prevalence of sleep problems (94%) was significantly higher than the original CSHQ validation sample (23%).
  • Minority children exhibited significantly higher mean CSHQ total scores and scores across all subscales.

Conclusions:

  • Sleep problems appear to be more prevalent in urban, early-school-aged minority children.
  • Findings highlight a potential unmet need for sleep support in this demographic.
Abstract

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