Predictors of Sleep Duration and Sleep Disturbance in Children of a Culturally Diverse Region in North-Eastern Greece.

Evangelia Nena,Beat Knechtle,Athanasios Kaditis,Maria Kourantzi,Paschalis Steiropoulos,Georgia Trakada,Angelos Tsalkidis,Pantelis T Nikolaidis,Nikolaos-Tiberio Economou,Dimitrios Cassimos,Thomas Rosemann

doi:10.3389/fped.2020.00023

Abstract

Background Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the sleep characteristics of children and explore associations with various socio-demographic factors in an area of Greece characterized by cultural diversity.Methods: A questionnaire about children's sleep habits had been distributed to parents of children who visited the pediatric outpatient clinic of University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis for a medical examination and to get a health certificate for participation in sports activities. Children with chronic health conditions were excluded.Results: In the study, 449 children (27.1% belonging to minorities) were included, aged 7.6 ± 2.9 years. Most of them (81.7%) slept after 10 p.m., with a mean nocturnal sleep duration of 9.4 ± 1.2 h. The most commonly reported disturbance was snoring (26.2%). Age and high educational level of the mother were both important determinants for sleeping late [OR 1.139 (1.033–1.255); p = 0.009 and OR 1.086 (1.004–1.175); p = 0.040, respectively]. The latter was also associated with an absence of any reported sleep disorder in children [OR 0.934 (0.877–0.994); p = 0.031]. A longer sleep duration was reported among Roma children (p = 0.022), which was more overt in girls (mean sleep duration 10.4 ± 1.6 h). In the Roma group also, the prevalence of sleep disorders was higher.Conclusion: Age progression and maternal educational level, along with cultural background, seem to be correlated with variations in the sleep characteristics of children in a culturally diverse population in Greece.

Highlights

Sleep disturbances may have a negative impact on the physical and mental health of children
The aim of the current study was to assess the sleep characteristics and disturbances of children living in the above area and examine their associations with socio-demographic factors
Regression analysis revealed that children of better-educated mothers had a lower likelihood of sleep disturbances [OR: 0.934, p = 0.031], while no other parameters were associated (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

Sleep disturbances may have a negative impact on the physical and mental health of children. Sleep duration in childhood is affected by biological and environmental factors and by socio-demographic and behavioral factors and varies significantly between different countries [4,5,6,7]. Differences in cultural characteristics may play a significant role in sleep duration, especially with reference to time of sleep initiation. In the United States of America, the prevalence of serious sleep problems is higher in children living in neighborhoods with poor socioeconomic conditions compared to children from neighborhoods of a favorable socioeconomic environment [10]. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the sleep characteristics of children and explore associations with various socio-demographic factors in an area of Greece characterized by cultural diversity

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion