Changes in sleeping habits during the pubertal years; A descriptive study conducted in Jordan

Abstract

Background: There is limited information about changes in sleeping habits during the pubertal years of development among adolescents in Jordan. Objective: This study examined sleeping habits at the onset and end of puberty. Methods: This study utilized data from a nationwide survey in Jordan. Participants: Sleeping habits were obtained from 3,661 adolescents aged 11(onset of puberty) and 15 years (end of puberty) and their mothers using a self-reported questionnaire. The number of hours slept and bedtimes and wake-up times on both school and non-school days were examined. Results: On school days, 60% of 11-year-old and 34% of 15-year-old adolescents slept between 8:00-10:00 pm. On school days, the 11-year-old adolescent group reported sleeping significantly longer than the 15-year-old adolescent group, and the proportions of adolescents who met the minimal recommended sleeping hours were 64% and 54%, respectively. Sleeping hours were long for both groups attending government schools; for the 15-year-old adolescent group, sleeping hours varied with family income and maternal education. In the case of both groups, on non-school days sleeping hours varied with gender, family income, and type of school. Conclusion: At the end of pubertal years, adolescent sleeping habits differ significantly from those of adolescents at the onset of puberty. On school days, insufficient sleep is much evident in the case of both 11 and 15-year-old adolescent groups, but more pronounced in the latter. Nursing initiatives to address poor sleeping habits among adolescents are warranted, given their efficacy in promoting healthy growth and development within this age group.