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Sleep Duration, Snoring Prevalence, Obesity, and Behavioral Problems in a Large Cohort of Primary School Students in
Naoko Sakamoto1, David Gozal2, Dale L Smith3
1Department of Epidemiologic Research, Toho University, Tokyo, Japan.
Insights
Short sleep duration and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children are linked to obesity and significant behavioral issues like poor concentration. Addressing sleep health is crucial for academic and behavioral well-being.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Child Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Poor sleep and snoring, indicative of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), are linked to behavioral problems in school-aged children.
- Understanding the interplay between sleep, SDB, obesity, and behavior is essential for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), sleep duration, obesity risk, and behavioral characteristics in Japanese elementary school students.
- To identify potential risk factors and associations contributing to behavioral issues in children.
Main Methods:
- A large-scale, cross-sectional survey was conducted in Matsuyama city, Japan, involving 17,769 elementary school students.
- Parental questionnaires assessed sleep habits, SDB risk, and behavioral characteristics.
- Data analysis explored correlations between sleep patterns, SDB, obesity, and reported behaviors.
Main Results:
- Mean sleep duration decreased with age, and pediatric SDB prevalence also declined with age.
- Overweight/obese children showed an increased risk for SDB and short sleep.
- Both SDB and short sleep were significantly associated with increased odds of restless behaviors, fidgety behaviors, and poor concentration.
Conclusions:
- Shorter sleep duration is associated with increased obesity risk, which in turn elevates SDB risk.
- Both short sleep duration and SDB risk are significantly linked to behavioral problems in school-aged children.
- These findings highlight the critical impact of sleep health on children's behavior and academic performance.
Study Objectives:
Poor or short sleep and the presence of snoring indicative of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) have been associated with behavioral problems in school-aged children. We examined the relationship between SDB, sleep duration, obesity risk, and behavioral characteristics in Japanese elementary school students using a large-scale survey.
Methods:
We conducted a cross-sectional study of children enrolled in all 46 public primary schools in Matsuyama city, Japan. The children's parents or guardians completed a questionnaire that covered sleep habits, presence of SDB risk, and behavioral characteristics.
Results:
In total, 24 296 responses were received (90% response rate). After excluding incomplete responses, we analyzed complete datasets for 17 769 children. Mean sleep duration decreased with age, as did the prevalence of pediatric SDB. We found an increased risk for the presence of SDB and short sleep among overweight/obese children. With SDB or short sleep, we observed significantly increased odds of restless behaviors, fidgety behaviors, and poor concentration in school.
Conclusions:
Shorter sleep duration was associated with increased risk of obesity, and in turn, obesity increased SDB risk. Both short sleep duration and SDB risk were significantly associated with behavioral problems in school.