上海市松江区学龄前儿童睡眠状况和睡眠问题的横断面调查

目的调查学龄前儿童的睡眠情况，分析不同特征学龄前儿童的常见睡眠问题。方法在普遍动员、自愿参与的原则下，以上海市松江区幼儿园作为问卷调查现场，以《儿童家族社会环境与睡眠健康问卷》作为调查工具，以年龄和性别分层分析。睡眠问题包括睡眠不足，就寝延迟，睡眠中发生每周＞2次的以下情况：害怕就寝、打鼾、白天嗜睡、磨牙、夜惊、梦魇、入睡困难和梦游。先对幼儿园保健老师集中统一培训，保健老师再对幼儿园班主任进行培训。问卷填写人为幼儿父或母或抚养人且近１年与幼儿一起生活。当场发放问卷、填写和回收。结果2018年5~6月22所幼儿园参与问卷调查，向儿童家长发放问卷8 624份，有效问卷8 586份，男孩4 595名(53.5%)，女孩3 991名； 3~岁占17.8%、4~岁占34.1%、5~岁占32.0%、6~岁占16.1%。平均晚上就寝时间为21∶43，平均晨醒时间为7∶01，随年龄增长，白天、夜间和全天睡眠时间总量在减少，晚上就寝时间点延迟，平均晨醒时间点提前，差异有统计学意义（P＜0.01）。不同性别学龄前儿童白天、夜间、全天睡眠总量和就寝时间，差异均无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。睡眠不足的发生率为12.2%，就寝延迟的发生率为75.7%。随年龄增长，睡眠不足和就寝延迟的发生率逐渐增加，差异有统计意义(P＜0.05)。害怕就寝72.4%，打鼾62.5%，白天嗜睡51.2%，磨牙50.4%，夜惊49.2%，梦魇41.2%，入睡困难33.4%，梦游4.4%。打鼾和磨牙的发生率男童高于女童（P＜0.05），夜惊、梦魇、入睡困难和梦游的发生率女童高于男童（P＜0.05）。结论上海市松江区学龄前儿童睡眠时间不足，就寝延迟，睡眠问题发生率高，应引起社会及家长的重视。     

南宁市3～14岁儿童睡眠打鼾及相关情况调查

目的调查南宁市学龄前及早期学龄儿童打鼾和相关症状的发生情况。方法采取随机整群分层抽样方法,应用由家长完成的问卷调查表对南宁市12所幼儿园、8所小学和6所初级中学的3～14岁儿童进行调查,确定打鼾和习惯性打鼾及相关症状的发生情况。实际发放调查问卷总数为9000份,应答8150份,回收率为90.6%,剔除〉14岁的儿童问卷,有效问卷6999份。结果本组儿童打鼾现患率32.7%。其中男童打鼾发生率（44.22%）显著高于女童（28.58%）（P〈0.01）。儿童打鼾现患率以3～5岁儿童相对较高,打鼾儿童相关症状发生率分别为注意力不集中65.66%,夜间多汗51.61%,口干咽痛45.07%,食欲减退37.09%,张口呼吸36.21%,夜醒及夜惊34.21%,慢性咳嗽31.81%,体质量不增27.44%,呼吸恶臭23.56%,白天困倦23.04%,生长迟缓22.95%,遗尿17.98%。睡眠打鼾儿童相关疾病中以扁桃体肥大（31.02%）最常见,其次反复呼吸道感染29.89%,过敏性鼻炎16.19%,体质量超标13.61%。2292例睡眠打鼾儿童有家族史占26.79%,家庭中有吸烟者（父或母）47.77%,喜好毛绒玩具者32.02%,睡眠中喜好抱枕者23.56%。仅0.19%家长认为儿童打鼾可能是一种病症。结论学龄前及早期学龄儿童睡眠打鼾是较常见现象,睡眠打鼾儿童存在较多影响生长发育的情况,对有睡眠打鼾的儿童家长应引起重视。     

新疆阿勒泰市汉族和哈族学龄儿童睡眠状况流行病学调查

目的 了解新疆阿勒泰市汉族和哈族学龄儿童睡眠障碍的发生情况及民族差异性、儿童睡眠时间.方法 采取随机整群抽样方法,对阿勒泰市1 096名汉族及988名哈族6～13岁学龄儿童进行睡眠状况的问卷调查(包括父母及儿童问卷).结果 新疆阿勒泰市汉族和哈族学龄儿童各种睡眠障碍总发生率为33.16%,其中哈族儿童发生率为35.83%,汉族儿童为30.75%,两者差异有统计学意义(X2=6.05,P=0.01).哈族儿童睡眠不安、肢体抽动、梦呓、梦游、梦魇和夜惊的发生率较汉族儿童高.在儿童睡眠呼吸障碍相关症状中,习惯性打鼾的总发生率为2.5%,若加上儿童问卷报告的例数,其总发生率升至4.75%,其中哈族为4.76%,汉族为4.74%,两者差异无统计学意义(P=0.989).哈族和汉族学龄儿童在睡眠呼吸障碍的其他相关症状如睡眠呼吸暂停、张口呼吸、喉头哽噎和遗尿等的发生率上差异均无统计学意义.哈族和汉族儿童总的平均睡眠时间为10.67 h,各年龄段儿童平均每天睡眠时间均不低于国内外报道的数据.结论 新疆阿勒泰市汉族和哈族学龄儿童睡眠障碍总发生率高于国内外报道;哈族较汉族儿童睡眠障碍总体发生率及睡眠不安、肢体抽动、梦呓和梦游等的发生率高,应引起社会各界及儿科工作者足够重视.习惯性打鼾总发牛率为4.75%,哈族和汉族学龄儿童习惯性打鼾及其他睡眠呼吸障碍相关症状的发生率差异无统计学意义.哈族儿童的睡眠障碍总体发牛率比汉族儿童高.     

全国城市学龄儿童睡眠状况研究

目的 掌握全国城市学龄儿童的睡眠时间,分析这一年龄阶段儿童主要存在的睡眠问题及变化规律.方法 采用分级整群抽样,于2005年11-12月对我国9城市、55所小学的19 299名学龄儿童进行问卷调查,调查内容包括儿童个人基本情况(采用自制问卷)、睡眠习惯和睡眠问题(采用中文版儿童睡眠习惯问卷).结果 我国城市学龄儿童平均每日睡眠时间平时为9 h 10 min(标准差48 min),周末为9 h 48 min(标准差63 min),睡眠不足发生率平时为71.4%,周末为41.8%.各类型睡眠问题发生率波动于14.5%(睡眠呼吸障碍)～75.3%(白天嗜睡).男童与女童相比,睡眠焦虑的发生率略低(χ2=19.42,P＜0.01),但异态睡眠(χ2=13.76,P＜0.01)和睡眠呼吸障碍(χ2=119.83,P＜0.01)的发生率则高于女童.除夜醒问题外,其他类型睡眠问题均呈显著的年龄别差异.结论 我国城市学龄儿童睡眠状况值得忧虑,儿童睡眠健康问题应作为一重要"公共卫生问题",给予足够的重视.     

健康儿童和哮喘儿童睡眠紊乱状况调查比较

目的初步调查北京地区2~12岁健康儿童和哮喘儿童中睡眠呼吸障碍常见症状的发生率,比较二者的差异。 方法2002年6月至2003年6月间对北京6个近郊区县随机整群抽取6193例2~12岁健康儿童和北京儿童医院呼吸疾病专业门诊随机抽取的200例2~12岁缓解期哮喘儿童,由专人负责对家长进行儿童睡眠状况问卷调查。 结果哮喘儿童睡眠障碍症状发生率为47.0%(94例)。其中睡眠频繁鼾症发生率为11.0%(22例),喉头哽咽1.5%(3例),张口呼吸13.0%(26例),睡眠呼吸暂停1.5%(3例),磨牙8.0%(16例),梦呓7.0%(14例),梦游0.5%(1例),睡眠中肢体抽动4.0%(8例),睡眠不安28.5%(57例)。哮喘儿童睡眠障碍发生率较无呼吸道疾病的正常儿童高,其中睡眠频繁打鼾、睡眠不安、张口呼吸和睡眠呼吸暂停的发生率差异存在显著性意义(P<0.05)。 结论哮喘儿童睡眠障碍发生率高于无呼吸道疾病的正常儿童,其中睡眠频繁打鼾、睡眠不安、张口呼吸和睡眠呼吸暂停的发生率差异存在显著性意义,应引起重视。对哮喘儿童睡眠障碍的防治应进行进一步研究。     

6~12岁儿童冲动行为与睡眠障碍相关性研究

目的：探讨儿童冲动行为与睡眠障碍的关系。方法：在长沙市5个行政辖区随机抽取1 736名6~12岁儿童,对受试儿童的家长进行睡眠状况和Barratt冲动量表问卷调查。结果：1 736例儿童中睡眠障碍总发生率为31.9%,男性为35.4%,较女性的28.3%明显增高（P＜0.01）。睡眠障碍组注意因子、运动因子、缺少计划因子得分及冲动量表总分均明显高于非睡眠障碍组（P＜0.01）;睡眠障碍组白天嗜睡率为35.9%,较非睡眠障碍组的24.7%增高显著（P＜0.01）。注意因子、运动因子及缺少计划因子得分随着睡眠障碍评分等级的升高而呈现上升趋势,睡眠障碍评分升至5级时,各因子得分均达最高水平。经常打鼾组各因子得分均高于从不打鼾组及偶尔打鼾组（P＜0.01）。结论：儿童冲动行为与睡眠障碍相关,对临床表现较高冲动水平的儿童,有必要关注其睡眠状况。［中国当代儿科杂志,2009,11（4）：310-312］     

乌鲁木齐市小学儿童睡眠障碍及影响因素分析

目的：乌鲁木齐市小学儿童睡眠障碍发生状况及影响因素。方法：2005年11~12月间在乌鲁木齐市三个行政区随机抽取2 034名6~14岁儿童,由专人负责对其家长进行儿童家庭环境、社会环境与睡眠健康问卷调查。结果：小学儿童睡眠障碍发生率为55%,依次为睡眠时辗转不安14.7%,梦呓4.8%,梦游1.5%,遗尿1.5%,睡眠时磨牙5.7%,睡眠时频繁打鼾12.9%,睡眠时呼吸暂停0.5%,憋醒1.9%。影响睡眠障碍发生的主要危险因素有曾长期或近期服用某些药物、常患感冒、家庭人均住房面积、家族中有人有睡眠障碍、与父母同睡等。结论：乌鲁木齐市小学儿童睡眠障碍的发生率较高,造成睡眠障碍的因素较多,应引起社会及家长的重视,对其防治还需进一步深入研究。［中国当代儿科杂志,2007,9（6）：543-545］     

长沙市学龄儿童打鼾与注意力缺陷 多动冲动的相关性

目的：了解长沙市学龄儿童打鼾的发生情况,探讨打鼾与注意力缺陷、多动冲动等行为问题之间的关系。方法：在长沙市5个行政辖区随机抽取1 736名6~12岁儿童,对受试儿童进行睡眠状况和父母版注意力缺陷多动障碍诊断量表的调查。结果：1 736名学龄儿童中频繁打鼾的发生率为5.7％,其中男童为7.5％,高于女童的3.8％（χ2＝18.782,P＜0.01）;6～9岁组为7.2%,高于10～12岁组的3.7%（χ2=9.666,P＜0.01）。打鼾组白天嗜睡发生率为31.5%,高于无打鼾组的25.9%（χ2=6.678,P＜0.01）。频繁打鼾组喉头哽咽、呼吸暂停、张口呼吸、睡眠多汗、不明原因觉醒或憋醒等症状的发生率均高于偶尔打鼾组、从无打鼾组（χ2分别=37.035,27.745,51.341,30.975,45.972,均P＜0.01）。注意力缺陷的发生率在打鼾频繁组、偶尔组及从无组分别为31.3%,16.2%,13.9%; 多动冲动的发生率分别为18.2%,9.9%,8.8%,二者组间差异均有显著性意义（χ2=20.592,P＜0.01; χ2=9.067, P＜0.05）。结论：长沙市学龄儿童打鼾发生率较高,打鼾与注意力缺陷、多动冲动等行为问题相关,应关注儿童打鼾及其心理行为发育状况。［中国当代儿科杂志,2009,11（7）：562-565］     

2~12岁儿童睡眠障碍流行病学调查及影响因素分析

儿童睡眠障碍相关症状的总发生率为45．7%,其中异态睡眠发生率24．3%,入睡困难发生率为14．9%,嗜睡发生率为6．5%。睡眠障碍发生率学龄前儿童[2~6岁,51．6%(551/1067)]与学龄儿童[7~12岁,30．9%(134/433)]相比较,差异有统计学意义。影响儿童睡眠的可能危险因素是：年龄、呼吸系统疾病病史、父母吸烟史、父母打呼噜史、父母亲学历、睡眠环境等因素。结论梅州市妇幼保健院儿科住院的2~12岁儿童睡眠障碍发生率非常高。家庭社会环境和身体疾病是儿童睡眠障碍发生的主要影响因素。目的了解2~12岁儿童的睡眠状况和睡眠障碍的发生情况及可能影响因素。方法于2012年6月至2013年9月调查梅州市妇幼保健院儿科住院的1500例2~12岁儿童的睡眠状况,在严格质量控制的情况下,由专人负责对家长进行儿童家庭社会环境与睡眠状况的问卷调查。结果儿童睡眠障碍相关症状的总发生率为45．7%,其中异态睡眠发生率24．3%,入睡困难发生率为14．9%,嗜睡发生率为6．5%。睡眠障碍发生率学龄前儿童[2~6岁,51．6%(551/1067)]与学龄儿童[7~12岁,30．9%(134/433)]相比较,差异有统计学意义。影响儿童睡眠的可能危险因素是：年龄、呼吸系统疾病病史、父母吸烟史、父母打呼噜史、父母亲学历、睡眠环境等因素。结论梅州市妇幼保健院儿科住院的2~12岁儿童睡眠障碍发生率非常高。家庭社会环境和身体疾病是儿童睡眠障碍发生的主要影响因素。     

北京地区6～18岁肥胖儿童青少年睡眠障碍相关症状调查

目的了解北京地区6~18岁肥胖儿童青少年睡眠障碍相关症状的发生情况。方法2004-03-10对首都儿科研究所联合18家医疗单位所进行的北京市6个区县的19517例6~18岁儿童体重测量结果进行分析,根据中国学龄儿童青少年超重、肥胖筛查体重指数值分类标准,共筛查出6~18岁肥胖儿童1888例。在此基础上,2005-03—2006-02,从中随机抽取了1100例6~18岁肥胖儿童和青少年,由专人负责对家长和儿童进行睡眠状况的问卷调查,合格问卷1000份,回收率为90.9%。结果北京地区1000例6~18岁肥胖儿童青少年睡眠障碍相关症状的发生率为38.7%,其中入睡时间超过0.5h发生率为7.5%,睡眠打鼾10.6%,张口呼吸为6.7%,憋醒0.5%,睡眠呼吸暂停为0.1%,睡眠恐惧感为2.4%,梦游或做噩梦2.4%,睡眠中肢体抽动为12.7%,过度出汗2.6%,遗尿0.1%,清晨起床困难9.0%,清晨起床感觉头痛1.4%,清晨起床感觉咽部发干5.8%,白天容易困倦4.8%,近半年学习成绩下降16.5%,性情急躁21.8%。不同症状的发生率存在性别和年龄差异,但城乡差异不明显。结论目前北京市肥胖儿童青少年睡眠障碍相关症状的发生率较高,应引起北京市儿科、儿保工作人员及儿童家长的重视。     

Patterns and problems of sleep in school going children

This study was conducted to assess the sleep habits and problems of 103 young school going healthy children (3-10 yr) during their visit to hospital for minor illnesses or routine health visits for immunization. The average duration of daily sleep (nocturnal and daytime nap) was 10.32 and the percentage of children who took regular daytime nap was 28.2%. Co- sleeping, a traditional cultural practice in India was found in 93% of the children. Sleep related problems were reported in 42.7% children that included nocturnal enuresis (18.4%), sleep talking (14.6%), bruxism (11.6%) nightmares (6.8%), night terrors (2.9%) snoring (5.8%) and sleepwalking (1.9%). On univariate analysis, sleep related problems were notably common if it was nuclear family (Fishers exact test; P = 0.01), mother was younger in age (Mann Whitney U test; P= .04) and less educated (Mann Whitney U test; P=.04). However, when these predictors were entered simultaneously into a logistic regression model, only nuclear family remained as significant predictor of sleep related disorders (odds ratio 2.41; CI; 1.04-5.57). We conclude that sleep problems are frequent among healthy school going children seen at general pediatric practice.     

Sleep habits and sleep problems among a community sample of schoolchildren

Sleep habits, sleep problems and subjective depth of sleep among 1413 schoolchildren aged 6.2-10.9 y were examined via a questionnaire, answered by the child and parent together. Total sleep time was approximately 10.5 h, with no difference between the sexes. Of 887 children who reported that they were awoken at night, parents considered that 75% were superficial sleepers and 25% were deep sleepers. The prevalence of frequent insomnia, sleepwalking and daytime sleepiness was 13, 7 and 4%, respectively. Logistic regression analyses indicated that onset insomnia was associated with fear of sleeping alone, bone pains, hypnagogic myoclonias, rhythmic movement disorder, enuresis, nocturia, confusion when awoken at night, nightmares, bodily movements during sleep, interrupted sleep, daytime sleepiness and daytime headache or stomach ache. Somnambulism was associated with rhythmic movement disorder, somniloquy, spontaneous confused arousals, nocturia and confusion when awoken at night. Increased risk of daytime sleepiness was found among children with fear of sleeping alone, onset insomnia, rhythmic movement disorder, spontaneous confused arousals, snoring, confusion when awoken, nightmares, bodily movements during sleep and headache or stomach ache. Conclusion: The results support the notion that onset insomnia is a problem with a predominantly psychological and behavioural background, while sleepwalking is a disorder of arousal without major psychological implications. The mechanisms behind daytime sleepiness seem to be multifactorial.     

Symptoms of sleep disturbances among children at two general pediatric clinics

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the frequency of childhood sleep problems at 2 general pediatric clinics.Study design: Parents of 1038 unselected children (554 boys) aged 2.0 to 13.9 years completed a validated Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire while waiting for appointments. RESULTS: Habitual snoring was reported in 176 (17%) of the children. Criterion scores suggestive of sleep-disordered breathing were found in 115 (11%) of the children, in 29% of children at the clinic for neurologic indications, and in 21% of children at the clinic for noninfectious respiratory indications. Insomnia (ie, unrefreshing sleep or difficulty with sleep onset, sleep maintenance, or early morning awakening from sleep) was reported in 430 (41%) of the children; > or =2 symptoms were present in 191 (18%) of the children. Excessive daytime sleepiness was suggested in 148 (14%) of the children, and 390 (38%) had symptoms of sleep terrors, sleepwalking, or nocturnal bruxism. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep problems such as sleep-disordered breathing, insomnia, excessive sleepiness, and parasomnias are frequent among children seen at general pediatric practices.     

Sleep behaviors and disorders in children and adolescents evaluated at psychiatric clinics

The parents of 150 children and adolescents, evaluated at a university psychiatry outpatient clinic and a mental health center, were surveyed to determine the frequency of various sleep-related behaviors. This clinic sample was compared with a nonclinic sample of 309 subjects from the general population. A significantly higher incidence of restless sleep, limb movements, nightmares, night terrors, reluctance going to sleep, sleeping with others, fear of dying, fears of dark, and daytime overactivity differentiated the clinic population from the nonclinic population. There were no significant differences in the frequencies of sleep behaviors in the clinic sample due to chronic ear-nose-throat (ENT) problems, sex, or social class. However, bedwetting, sleeping with others, bedtime rituals, need for security objects, fears of the dark, and daytime overactivity were significantly more frequent in the younger age population. Nightmares and restless sleep were more likely to occur in patients having anxiety-affective disorder or conduct disorder DSM III diagnosis, as compared to clinic patients without psychiatric diagnoses. Patients with mental retardation were more likely to experience fears of the dark. A significantly greater number of patients with attention deficit disorder manifested problems with snoring, head banging, restless sleep, and nighttime awakening. There appeared to be an association between chronic ENT problems and daytime overactivity.     

Nichtorganische Schlafstörungen im Kindesalter

Sleep disorders are common in childhood. The results of the Cologne Children’s Sleep Study indicate that insomnia and parasomnia are frequent in children, occurring in approximately 15% and 14%, respectively. Children with sleep disorders seldom show daytime sleepiness but often exhibit hyperactive behaviour. In addition to the classification and diagnostic procedures for nonorganic sleep disorders in childhood, four therapy-related topics are described in the present article. First, sleep education and the significance of sleep hygiene are discussed. Strategies are presented on how to treat conflicts regarding the sleep situation and how to treat anxiety in the sleep situation. Finally, specific measures are given for dealing with difficulties in initiating and maintaining sleep, as well as ways to deal with nightmares, sleepwalking, and night terrors.     

长沙市2～12 岁儿童睡眠障碍流行病学调查

目的：了解长沙市2～12岁儿童的睡眠时间和睡眠障碍的发生情况,为有针对性的进行干预提供指导。方法：2006年6月~2007年4月,在长沙市5个行政区采用分层随机抽样方法调查3 756名2～12 岁儿童的睡眠情况,由专人负责对其家长进行问卷调查。结果2～12 岁儿童每天平均睡眠时间为10.60 h。从2~12岁共11个年龄组儿童的每天平均睡眠时间分别为12.26,11.57,11.33,11.26,10.95,10.64,10.62,10.45,10.28,9.83和9.61 h。2～12 岁儿童睡眠障碍总发生率为40.9%,其中睡眠时频繁鼾症发生率为8.2%,喉头哽咽1.5%,睡眠呼吸暂停0.8%,睡眠不安7.6%,张口呼吸4.9%,睡眠中多汗22.6%,睡眠中肢体抽动3.2%,磨牙9.5%,梦呓5.5%,梦游0.9%,夜间遗尿2.5%(≥5岁),不明原因睡眠中觉醒或憋醒1.9%。白天睡得多、夜间清醒者1.5%,入睡过早 2.1%,易惊醒者1.6%,睡眠中出现尖叫、哭喊者1.8%。不同症状的发生率存在性别、年龄差异。结论长沙市2～5岁年龄组儿童睡眠时间略低于儿童保健学要求的同年龄段儿童睡眠时间需求标准,长沙市2～12 岁儿童睡眠障碍发生率较高,高于其他城市的调查水平,需引起儿童保健工作者及儿童父母的重视。     

Short-term prospective study of sleep disturbances in 5-8-year-old children

The course and psychological correlates of disturbed sleep during middle childhood were investigated using parents' responses to questionnaires. Five specified sleep disturbances were explored in 614 5-8-y-old children, at baseline and at follow-up, 14 +/- 3 mo later. Difficulties falling asleep, in 6.2% of the children at baseline, persisted in 47.4% of the cases at follow-up; night-waking, in 18.6% at baseline, persisted in 45.5%; snoring, in 9.4% at baseline, persisted in 60%; nightmares, in 4.4% at baseline, persisted in 29.6%, and bedwetting, in 6% at baseline, persisted in 46%. Moreover, children with difficulties falling asleep at baseline frequently displayed bedtime resistance and shorter sleep at follow-up, while night-waking at baseline was related to co-sleeping at follow-up. Snoring at baseline was associated with a trend towards restless sleep at follow-up. Nightmares at baseline were related to several other sleep complaints as well as to behavioural difficulties during daytime at follow-up. Bedwetting at baseline was associated with tendencies towards hyperactivity at follow-up. Separate analyses of cases of persisting sleep disturbances showed that persisting difficulties falling asleep were associated with a need to remedy sleep problems, while persisting nightmares were strongly related to reports suggesting behavioural and emotional problems. Conclusion: During middle childhood, difficulties falling asleep, night-waking, snoring, nightmares or bedwetting commonly persist over the course of a year. Persistent nightmares frequently indicate significant psychological problems in affected children.     

Sleep architecture in healthy 5-year-old preschool children: associations between sleep schedule and quality variables

Aim: Although disturbed sleep quality such as night awakenings and difficulties in falling asleep are common symptoms during sleep in preschool children, relationships between sleep quality and sleep schedule are mostly unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between sleep schedule and quality variables in preschool children. Methods: Sleep‐wake patterns of 48 healthy 5‐year‐old children were assessed over 7 consecutive days using actigraphy. Results: Children with longer sleep latency had a lower sleep quality, a later bedtime, a later sleep onset time, a shorter nocturnal sleep period and a longer daytime nap. Children with a longer nocturnal sleep period on weekends compared with weekdays had longer sleep latency and a later sleep onset time on weekdays, resulting in a lower sleep quality on weekends. An irregular bedtime on weekdays was associated with a later sleep onset time and a shorter sleep period on weekends. Conclusion: Sleep quality and schedule were linked with each other, whiche may explain why sleep problems tend to aggregate and form a wider syndrome of disturbed sleep even in young children. Strategies solely targeting the improvement of sleep quantity may not promote ideal sleep; simultaneous considerations for the sleep rhythm and quality may be required.     

Parents'reports of disturbed sleep in 5—7-year-old Swedish children

Parents’reports on 1844 five to seven year olds from the general population were used to provide a detailed update about prevalence and correlates of sleep disturbances in children. Five different sleep disturbances were focused on: difficulty falling asleep, reported in 5.6% of the children; night waking in 15.5%; snoring in 7.7%; nightmares in 3.1%, and bedwetting in 5.3% of the children. Coexisting sleep disturbances were frequent in children with difficulties falling asleep, night waking and nightmares, but bedwetting usually emerged as a singular sleep disturbance. Nightmares were associated with serious health problems or handicaps, sleep problems in conjunction with life events, and female gender. Snoring as well as bedwetting were associated with reports of “very active” children. In 6.7% of the total sample, parents had previously consulted the healthcare services for a sleep problem in their child. These children had reports of colic during infancy, eczema, serious health problems or handicaps, current snoring and current nightmares. Only 1.1% (n = 21) of the children were said to have a present need to remedy sleep problems. The reports on these children included coexisting sleep disturbances, previous consultations for sleeping problems, parents’perceptions of “very active” children, diagnoses of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and major life events which had triggered sleep problems. In conclusion, although sleep disturbances are common in 5—7-y-old children, parents seldom express a need to remedy sleep problems in their children of this age. □ Children, parents, sleep behaviour, sleep disturbances, survey