The BEARS sleep screening tool: Sex, age and circadian typology differences in Spanish adolescents

The aim of this study was to carry out a detailed analysis of the BEARS, providing data on the prevalence of sleep problems according to sex, age and circadian typology in a large sample of Spanish adolescents.

A total of 2182 adolescents aged 12-17 years completed the BEARS sleep problem questionnaire, which measures bedtime problems (B), excessive daytime sleepiness (E), awakenings during the night (A), regularity and duration of sleep (R), and snoring (S), and the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, which differentiates between evening, intermediate and morning types.

The results indicate a higher prevalence of sleep problems, including late bedtimes on both school days (85 %) and weekends (84 %), excessive daytime sleepiness (47.8 %), sleep less than 8 h during school days (42 %), problems falling asleep at bedtime (32.6 %) and struggling to return to sleep after nocturnal awakenings (26.2 %).

The prevalence of these problems was greater in girls and in evening types. These findings highlight the need to consider individual differences in the clinical management of sleep problems in adolescents.