Influence of gender on psychomotor vigilance task performance by adolescents

F Beijamini,A.G.T Silva,F.M Louzada,C.A.T Peixoto

doi:10.1590/s0100-879x2008000800016

Abstract

During adolescence, the sleep phase delay associated with early school times increases daytime sleepiness and reduces psychomotor performance. Some studies have shown an effect of gender on psychomotor performance in adults and children. Males present faster reaction times (RT) compared with females. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of gender on Palm psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) performance in adolescents. Thirty-four adolescents (19 girls, 13 to 16 years old) attending morning school classes of a public school in Curitiba, PR, Brazil, participated in the study. Sleep patterns were measured using actigraphy and sleepiness data were accessed with the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS). KSS and PVT measurements were collected at two times in the morning (8:00 and 11:00 h). The data were compared using one-way ANOVA, considering gender as a factor. ANOVA indicated that gender did not affect sleep patterns and subjective somnolence; however, a statistically significant effect of gender was detected for PVT performance. Boys presented faster RT (RT-PVT1: 345.51 ms, F = 6.08, P < 0.05; RT-PVT2: 343.30 ms, F = 6.35, P < 0.05) and fewer lapses (lapses-PVT1: 8.71, F = 4.45, P < 0.05; lapses-PVT2: 7.82, F = 7.06, P < 0.05) compared with girls (RT-PVT1: 402.96; RT-PVT2: 415.70; lapses-PVT1: 16.33; lapses-PVT2: 17.80). These results showed that this effect of gender, already reported in adults and children, is also observed in adolescents. The influence of gender should be taken into account in studies that use Palm PVT to evaluate psychomotor performance in this age range.

Highlights

Our results showed an influence of gender on psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) performance in adolescents
Boys and girls showed similar sleep patterns and subjective sleepiness measured by Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS)
Differences in these variables could explain, at least in part, differences detected in PVT performance

Summary

Introduction

Adolescents, individuals in the transitional stage of physical and mental human development that occurs between childhood and adulthood, tend to go to bed and get up later [1,2,3,4] This phase delay, in addition to early school starting times, reduces sleep duration and increases daytime sleepiness levels on weekdays [5,6,7], with an impact on school performance [6,8]. More interventions are focusing on reducing the consequences of sleep phase delay Some of these interventions are related to changes in school schedules while others focus on changes in sleep habits; they are generically called sleep education programs [9,10]. Few studies have evaluated the impact of such programs on sleep patterns and have obtained only subjective sleep parameters in the analysis

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion