Sleep-related difficulties in healthy children and adolescents
Christiane Lewien1, Jon Genuneit2,3,4, Christof Meigen2
1LIFE Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, Leipzig University, Philipp-Rosenthal-Strasse 27, 04103, Leipzig, Germany. lewien.christiane@gmail.com.
Insights
Sleep difficulties are common in children and adolescents, with prevalence varying by age and gender. Socioeconomic status impacts adolescent sleep, highlighting the need for early clinical identification of sleep problems.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Developmental Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Sleep-related difficulties represent a growing public health concern, particularly among children and adolescents.
- Understanding specific sleep challenges in vulnerable pediatric populations is crucial for effective intervention.
- This study examines the prevalence and influencing factors of sleep difficulties in healthy children and adolescents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of sleep-related difficulties in children and adolescents.
- To investigate the influence of age, gender, and socioeconomic status (SES) on various sleep problems.
- To provide insights for pediatric clinicians in identifying sleep issues in young individuals.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the LIFE Child study, a population-based cohort in Germany (2011-2015).
- Included 855 children (4-9 years) assessed via the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) and 1,047 adolescents (10-17 years) via the Sleep Self Report (SSR).
- Employed multiple regression analyses to examine the effects of age, gender, and familial SES on sleep difficulties.
Main Results:
- Sleep duration decreased by 14 min/year of age in children. Problematic sleep difficulties were reported by 22.6% of children and 20.0% of adolescents.
- Younger children experienced more bedtime resistance, sleep onset delay, anxiety, night waking, and parasomnia. Adolescents showed more bedtime difficulties when younger and more daytime sleepiness when older.
- Gender differences in sleep difficulties emerged early (boys more affected in childhood, girls in adolescence). Lower SES was linked to increased sleep problems in adolescents but not younger children.
Conclusions:
- Sleep-related difficulties persist throughout childhood and adolescence, with distinct age and gender patterns.
- Socioeconomic status emerges as a significant factor in adolescent sleep difficulties.
- Early identification of sleep-related issues by pediatric clinicians is vital for addressing the needs of vulnerable young individuals.
Background:
As sleep-related difficulties are a growing public health concern, it is important to gain an overview of the specific difficulty areas of the most vulnerable individuals: children. The current descriptive study presents the prevalence of sleep-related difficulties in two large samples of healthy children and adolescents and outlines the effects of age, gender, and socioeconomic status (SES) on various sleep-related difficulties.
Methods:
Participants were 855 4-9 year-old children (child sample) and 1,047 10-17 year-old adolescents (adolescent sample) participating 2011-2015 in the LIFE Child study, a population-based cohort study in Germany. Parents of the child participants completed the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ), whereas adolescents self-administered the Sleep Self Report (SSR). Familial SES was determined by a composite score considering parental education, occupational status, and income. Multiple regression analyses were carried out to address the research question.
Results:
Among 4-9 year-old children, the mean bedtime was reported to be 8 p.m., the mean wake-up time 7 a.m., and sleep duration decreased by 14 min/year of age. 22.6 % of the children and 20.0 % of the adolescents showed problematic amounts of sleep-related difficulties. In the child sample, bedtime resistance, sleep onset delay, sleep-related anxiety, night waking, and parasomnia were more frequent in younger than older children. In the adolescent sample, difficulties at bedtime were more frequent among the younger adolescents, whereas daytime sleepiness was more prominent in the older than the younger adolescents. Considering gender differences, sleep-related difficulties were more frequent among boys in the child sample and among girls in the adolescent sample. Lower SES was associated with increased sleep-related difficulties in the adolescent, but not the child sample.
Conclusions:
The present results report sleep-related difficulties throughout both childhood and adolescence. Gender differences can already be observed in early childhood, while effects of SES emerge only later in adolescence. The awareness for this circumstance is of great importance for pediatric clinicians who ought to early identify sleep-related difficulties in particularly vulnerable individuals.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Sleep-Wake Cycles
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
01:18Nightmares and Night Terrors
Nightmares...
01:13Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
01:27Insomnia
Multiple factors contribute...
01:11Understanding Sleep
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
01:24Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...