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Short sleep duration is associated with teacher-reported inattention and cognitive problems in healthy school-aged

Reut Gruber1, Sonia Michaelsen, Lana Bergmame

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada ; Attention, Behavior and Sleep Lab, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada.

Nature and Science of Sleep
|April 26, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Short sleep duration is linked to attention and cognitive issues in children. This study investigated the connection between sleep duration and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-like symptoms in healthy school-aged children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Child Psychology
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

  • Insufficient sleep in children is associated with attention, learning, and impulse control difficulties.
  • These issues are particularly noted in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or co-occurring sleep disorders.
  • Previous research highlights the impact of sleep on cognitive and behavioral regulation in pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between sleep duration and ADHD-like symptoms in healthy school-aged children.
  • To determine if reduced sleep impacts cognitive functioning and attention in a non-clinical pediatric sample.
  • To differentiate the effects of sleep duration on inattention versus hyperactivity symptoms.

Main Methods:

  • Study included 35 healthy children aged 7-11 years.
  • Actigraphy was used for two nights to record typical sleep patterns.
  • Ambulatory polysomnography assessed sleep architecture over a third night.
  • Teacher-reported ADHD-like symptoms were collected using the Conners Teacher Rating Scale.

Main Results:

  • Shorter sleep duration correlated with increased teacher-reported inattention.
  • Reduced sleep was associated with higher levels of cognitive problems.
  • No significant link was found between sleep duration and hyperactivity symptoms.

Conclusions:

  • Short sleep duration is related to ADHD-like symptoms of inattention in healthy children.
  • Sleep duration appears to impact cognitive functioning and attention in school-aged children.
  • Findings suggest sleep is a critical factor in attention and cognitive performance during childhood.
Abstract

Keywords:
ADHD-like symptomshealthy school-aged childrenhyperactivityimpulsivityinattentionsleep duration

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