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Relationship between bedtime, nighttime sleep duration, and anxiety symptoms in preschoolers in China

Shuang-Yan Qiu1, Xiao-Na Yin1, Yanni Yang2

  • 1Shenzhen Longhua Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Shenzhen, China.

Frontiers in Psychology
|February 1, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Later bedtimes and insufficient sleep in preschoolers are linked to increased anxiety symptoms. Ensuring children have adequate sleep, ideally by 21:00 with 10 hours duration, may help prevent anxiety.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Child Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Sleep problems in preschoolers are a growing concern.
  • The link between sleep patterns and anxiety in young children needs further investigation.
  • Limited research exists on the specific impact of bedtime and sleep duration on preschooler anxiety.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the association between bedtime and nighttime sleep duration and anxiety symptoms in preschoolers.
  • To identify optimal sleep parameters for reducing anxiety risk in early childhood.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study of 69,138 preschoolers in Shenzhen, China (Longhua Cohort Study of Children).
  • Data collected via parent-completed questionnaires on sociodemographics, bedtime, sleep duration, and anxiety symptoms (Spence Preschool Children Anxiety Scale).
  • Binary logistic regression models were used to examine the relationships, adjusting for confounding factors.

Main Results:

  • Over 75% of preschoolers experienced insufficient nighttime sleep, and 38.70% had bedtimes after 22:00.
  • A significant positive association was found between later bedtimes (especially after 23:00) and increased odds of anxiety symptoms.
  • Insufficient nighttime sleep (less than 9 hours) was also associated with a higher likelihood of anxiety symptoms (OR 1.36).

Conclusions:

  • Bedtime and sleep duration in preschoolers are significantly associated with anxiety symptoms.
  • Earlier bedtimes (around 21:00) and adequate sleep duration (around 10 hours) may be protective against anxiety.
  • These findings underscore the critical role of sufficient sleep in promoting mental well-being and preventing anxiety in early childhood.
Abstract

Keywords:
anxiety symptomsbedtimeboundarynighttime sleep durationpreschoolers

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