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Sleep duration trajectories from age 3 to 48 months in The Pelotas (Brazil) 2004 Birth Cohort Study
Mariana Otero Xavier1, Renata Moraes Bielemann1,2, Marina Xavier Carpena1
1Post-Graduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
Insights
Children with shorter sleep durations in early life are linked to maternal factors like lower education and prenatal alcohol use. Sharing a bedroom also increases the risk of insufficient sleep in young children.
Area of Science:
- Child Health
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Optimal sleep is critical for children's growth, development, and immune function.
- Longitudinal studies on factors influencing childhood sleep duration are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify distinct sleep duration trajectories in childhood.
- To investigate maternal and child characteristics associated with these trajectories.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Pelotas (Brazil) 2004 Birth Cohort, assessing sleep duration via maternal report at 3, 12, 24, and 48 months.
- Employed semi-parametric, group-based modeling for trajectory analysis.
- Used multinomial logistic regression to determine associations between variables and sleep trajectory groups.
Main Results:
- Identified three sleep duration trajectories: "short sleepers" (9.1%), "typical sleepers" (72.1%), and "initially longer sleepers" (18.8%).
- Short sleepers were associated with maternal factors including lower maternal education, maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy, and postpartum alcohol consumption.
- Children sharing a bedroom were 40% more likely to be short sleepers.
Conclusions:
- The "short sleepers" trajectory warrants attention due to its association with adverse maternal factors and potential impact on child development.
- Maternal education, mental health, and substance use are significant factors influencing early childhood sleep duration.
- Interventions targeting these maternal risk factors may help promote adequate sleep in early childhood.
Background:
Optimal sleep is essential for child growth, development, and immune function. Few studies have evaluated factors associated with sleep duration in childhood from a longitudinal perspective.
Objectives:
This study aimed to identify trajectories of sleep duration in childhood and associated maternal and child characteristics.
Methods:
Sleep duration was assessed by maternal report at 3, 12, 24, and 48 months among children from the Pelotas (Brazil) 2004 Birth Cohort. Independent variables included family income, maternal and child demographics, and clinical characteristics. Trajectory analysis was carried out using a semi-parametric, group-based modelling approach. Multinomial logistic regression provided odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between independent variables and sleep duration trajectory groups.
Results:
A total of 3824 participants were included in the analyses. Three trajectories of sleep duration were identified: "short sleepers" (9.1%), "typical sleepers" (72.1%), and "initially longer sleepers" (18.8%). When compared to typical sleepers, children from less schooled mothers (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.26, 2.62) and those whose mothers reported depressive symptoms during pregnancy (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.02, 1.68) and consumed alcohol beverages at 3 months post-partum (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.03, 2.50) were more likely to be short sleepers. Children who shared the bedroom with another child were about 40% (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.07, 1.87) more likely to be short sleepers. None of the investigated maternal and child characteristics remained associated with the "initially longer sleeper" group.
Conclusions:
Among the identified trajectories, the group with short sleep duration trajectory deserves special attention given the importance of adequate sleep duration in the first years of life for the child's growth and development and the high concomitance of other risk factors, such as less schooled mothers, and mothers who reported depressive symptoms during pregnancy and consumed alcohol at 3 months post-partum.
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