Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2025

Setup of Consumer Wearable Devices for Exposure and Health Monitoring in Population Studies
15:00

Setup of Consumer Wearable Devices for Exposure and Health Monitoring in Population Studies

Published on: February 3, 2023

2.5K

Children's Sleep and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Betty Pfefferbaum1, Phebe Tucker2, Vijayabharathi Ekambaram3

  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 920 Stanton L. Young Boulevard, WP 3217, P.O. Box 26901, Oklahoma City, OK, 73126-0901, USA. Betty-Pfefferbaum@ouhsc.edu.

Current Psychiatry Reports
|November 13, 2023
PubMed

Insights

The COVID-19 pandemic altered children's sleep schedules, increasing sleep duration for some. Further research is needed to understand the impact on sleep quality and psychological well-being during mass trauma events.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Public Health Crises
  • Child Psychology

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic and associated home confinement disrupted established routines, raising concerns about children's sleep patterns.
  • Understanding these changes is crucial for addressing potential health and psychological consequences in children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review general principles of pediatric sleep.
  • To examine sleep changes and disturbances in children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • To explore the links between children's sleep and health/psychological outcomes during the pandemic.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature review.
  • Synthesis of findings from studies on pediatric sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Analysis of associations between sleep metrics and health outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Studies indicated increased sleep duration, with later bedtimes and waketimes for some children.
  • Documented sleep disturbances and correlations between sleep patterns and psychological outcomes were observed.
  • The impact of increased sleep duration on overall sleep quality and disturbance reduction remains uncertain.

Conclusions:

  • Children's sleep is a critical factor during mass trauma events like pandemics.
  • Findings highlight the need to consider pediatric sleep in disaster preparedness and response.
  • Further investigation is required to clarify the relationship between altered sleep and child well-being post-pandemic.
Abstract

Keywords:
COVID-19ChildrenDisasterMental healthPandemicSleep

More Related Videos

Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Self-distancing in Young Children07:01

Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Self-distancing in Young Children

Published on: March 1, 2019

8.0K
Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Mouse Pups by Means of Gentle Handling03:46

Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Mouse Pups by Means of Gentle Handling

Published on: October 11, 2018

10.1K

Related Concept Videos

Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation01:13

Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation

Insufficient sleep refers to not getting the recommended amount of sleep for optimal functioning, even if it's just slightly less than needed. Sleep insufficiency may occur due to lifestyle choices, such as staying up late for social events or work, resulting in routinely getting less sleep than required. For example, consistently sleeping 6 hours when the body needs 7-9 hours can lead to cumulative effects on health and well-being.
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
148
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep01:24

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep

Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
174
Nightmares and Night Terrors01:18

Nightmares and Night Terrors

Nightmares and night terrors represent two distinct types of sleep disturbances that differ in timing, characteristics, and the sleeper's recall of the event. Nightmares are vivid, disturbing dreams that usually awaken the sleeper from REM sleep, a stage of sleep where brain activity is high, and dreams are most frequent. Upon awakening, individuals often have detailed recollections of their nightmares, which can include themes of threats to survival, security, or self-esteem.
Nightmares...
95
Stress and Mental Health01:30

Stress and Mental Health

Chronic stress profoundly affects mental health, significantly influencing mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Research closely links chronic stress with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to physiological and psychological changes, initiating a cycle of emotional distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
163
Insomnia01:27

Insomnia

Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings during the night, and waking up too early without being able to return to sleep. People with insomnia often experience these disruptions at least three nights a week for at least one month. Chronic insomnia, which lasts for at least three months, can lead to increased anxiety, which in turn can worsen sleep difficulties, creating a cycle of sleeplessness and stress.
Multiple factors contribute...
88
Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
57