Sleep Hours: Risk behavior in adolescents from different countries.

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Sleep Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Adolescent sleep patterns are crucial for academic success and overall well-being.
• Cross-cultural comparisons of sleep habits in students can reveal important public health differences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate sleep duration and associated factors in Brazilian and Spanish students aged 11-16.
• To compare weekday and weekend sleep patterns between the two student populations.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study conducted in Brazil (n=264) and Spain (n=233) between 2013-2015.
• Sleep duration (weekdays, weekends, siesta) was recorded and analyzed using statistical tests including Mann-Whitney U, Chi-square, and Odds Ratio (p < 0.05).

Main Results:

• High prevalence of sleeping ≥8 hours on weekends in both groups.
• Spanish students showed a higher likelihood (3x) of sleeping <8 hours on weekdays, particularly those aged 14-16 and inactive students.
• Spanish students were also 2x more likely to sleep <8 hours on weekends.

Conclusions:

• Sleep duration varies significantly between Spanish and Brazilian students, with Spanish students reporting shorter weekday sleep.
• Adolescents, especially older and inactive ones, may require targeted interventions to improve sleep habits.
• Recommendations include regular physical activity, ensuring ≥8 hours of sleep, and limiting technology use before bed to support academic development.