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Mental health and sleep habits/problems in children aged 3-4 years: a population study

Fumie Horiuchi1,2, Kentaro Kawabe3,4, Yasunori Oka5

  • 1Department of Neuropsychiatry, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Shitsukawa, Ehime, Toon City, Japan. matsufu@m.ehime-u.ac.jp.

Biopsychosocial Medicine
|May 21, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Poor mental health in 3-4-year-olds is linked to sleepiness and snoring. Addressing sleep problems like irregular sleep-wake patterns is crucial for early childhood mental well-being.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Pediatric Mental Health

Background:

  • Sleep is vital for mental health across all age groups.
  • Research on sleep's impact on early childhood mental health remains limited.
  • This study investigates the connection between mental health and sleep in 3-4-year-old children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between mental health and sleep habits/problems in preschool-aged children.
  • To identify specific sleep-related issues that may correlate with poor mental health in early childhood.

Main Methods:

  • Recruited 415 children aged 3-4 years from the community.
  • Assessed mental health using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).
  • Evaluated sleep habits and problems with the Child and Adolescent Sleep Checklist.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in general sleep habits (total sleep time, bedtime, wake time, nap conditions) were found between groups.
  • Children with poor mental health exhibited higher rates of anxiety before sleep, circadian rhythm abnormalities, and daytime sleepiness.
  • Poor mental health status was significantly associated with sleepiness and snoring.

Conclusions:

  • Preschoolers' mental health status is linked to specific sleep problems, including sleepiness and snoring.
  • Healthcare providers should monitor irregular sleep-wake patterns in young children.
  • Interventions promoting appropriate sleep hygiene can alleviate psychological distress for children and families.
Abstract

Keywords:
Child and Adolescent Sleep ChecklistCircadian rhythmMental healthPreschool childrenSleep habitsSleepinessSnoringStrengths and Difficulties Questionnaire

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