Associations between sleep practices and social behavior of children and adolescents: a systematic review

Abstract

Studies have shown that sleep problems can affect social behavior. This review was conducted to evaluate how reduced sleep duration, sleep quality, and sleep problems can contribute to changes in the social behavior of children and adolescents from scientific evidence on problems regarding the social behavior in children and adolescents derived from sleep problems. It integrated findings from cross-sectional and cohort studies that assessed the association between sleep duration/quality/problems and social behavior of children and adolescents. PubMed and LILACS databases between January 2011 and March 2016 were searched. Two independent reviewers extracted data on study characteristics and assessed agreement on the selection and quality of the articles according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. Nine studies were added from the reference lists. Twenty studies were considered, and ten showed an association between an individual’s reduction in number of sleep hours, bedtime, and awakening with worse social behavior (p < 0.001). From seven studies analyzing sleep disorders, four identified a positive association with social behavior. Out of all the studies, one study indicated greater conflict between parents and children and sleep reduction. Duration of and problems in sleeping, bedtime, and wakefulness are associated with poorer social behavior, including aggression, anxiety, and depression, among children and adolescents. Although these differences in social behavior are small, a persistent reduction in sleep hours and consequent inadequacy of social behavior in this population may contribute to later illnesses in adulthood. PROSPERO registration number CRD42019129212.