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Sleep Duration and Internalizing Symptoms in Children

Liliana C Wu1, Nayantara Hattangadi2, Charles D G Keown-Stoneman3,4

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.

Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry = Journal De L'Academie Canadienne De Psychiatrie De L'Enfant Et De L'Adolescent
|August 3, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Shorter sleep duration in children is linked to more anxiety and low mood. Further research is needed to understand insufficient sleep

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Child Psychology

Background:

  • Emotional problems like anxiety and low mood are common in children.
  • Sleep problems in children are frequently associated with emotional difficulties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the link between sleep duration and internalizing symptoms (anxiety, low mood) in children aged 5-12 years.
  • To determine if insufficient sleep, based on National Sleep Foundation (NSF) guidelines, correlates with internalizing symptoms in children.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 796 children aged 5-12 years from primary care settings in Toronto, Canada.
  • Linear regression analysis was used to assess the association between parent-reported sleep duration and internalizing symptoms (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire).
  • Analyses controlled for covariates including age, sex, socioeconomic factors, and BMI, and were repeated for insufficient sleep status.

Main Results:

  • A significant inverse association was found between sleep duration and internalizing symptoms (B = -0.33, p=0.012).
  • 14% of 5-year-olds and 6% of 6-12-year-olds experienced insufficient sleep.
  • A trend suggested a link between insufficient sleep and internalizing symptoms (B = 0.64, p=0.086).

Conclusions:

  • The association between insufficient sleep and internalizing symptoms in children warrants further investigation.
  • Children experiencing internalizing symptoms may benefit from sleep support interventions.
Abstract

Keywords:
childinternalizing symptomsmental healthsleep

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