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Eye Tracking, Cortisol, and a Sleep vs. Wake Consolidation Delay: Combining Methods to Uncover an Interactive Effect of Sleep and Cortisol on Memory
08:08

Eye Tracking, Cortisol, and a Sleep vs. Wake Consolidation Delay: Combining Methods to Uncover an Interactive Effect of Sleep and Cortisol on Memory

Published on: June 18, 2014

Mandatory Naptimes in Childcare do not Reduce Children's Cortisol Levels

Karen J Thorpe1, Cassandra L Pattinson2, Simon S Smith2

  • 1Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR), The University of Queensland, Long Pocket Precinct, 80 Meiers Rd, Indooroopilly, Queensland, 4068, Australia. k.thorpe@uq.edu.au.

Scientific Reports
|March 16, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Mandatory nap times in childcare may cause stress for preschool children unable to sleep, as indicated by cortisol levels. Flexible nap practices are recommended to support children's well-being.

Area of Science:

  • Child psychology
  • Pediatric health
  • Sleep science

Background:

  • Most preschool children (3-5 years) do not habitually nap.
  • Childcare settings often mandate nap times without alternative activities.
  • Mandated naptimes are linked to poorer emotional climate and increased distress.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the stress responses of preschool children under mandated versus flexible naptime conditions.
  • To determine if mandatory nap times induce stress in children unable to sleep.

Main Methods:

  • A 2x2 factorial design (mandated/flexible practice x nap/no-nap) was used.
  • Salivary cortisol levels were measured in 43 children (mean age 56.3 months) at four time points over two days.
  • Cortisol was measured upon waking, pre-naptime, post-naptime, and at bedtime.

Main Results:

  • Cortisol levels significantly decreased from waking to pre-naptime and from post-naptime to bedtime.
  • No significant cortisol change occurred between pre-naptime and post-naptime.
  • Children in mandated nap conditions who did not sleep showed no cortisol reduction from post-naptime to bedtime.

Conclusions:

  • Naptime itself did not appear to be stressful or restful based on cortisol levels.
  • Mandated nap times may negatively impact children unable to sleep, potentially affecting bedtime arousal.
  • Flexible nap policies are suggested for childcare settings.

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