Sleep Habits of Elementary and Middle School Children in South Texas.

Salim Surani,Sreevidya Sadasiva,Sean Hesselbacher,Saherish Surani,Sara S Surani,Shyam Subramanian,Zoya Surani,Amina Khimani

doi:10.1155/2015/179103

Abstract

Background. Sleep difficulties, including insufficient sleep and inadequate sleep hygiene, have been prevalent among children. Sleep deprivation can lead to poor grades, sleepiness, and moodiness. We undertook this study to assess the prevalence of sleep abnormalities among elementary and middle school students in South Texas and how the groups compare with one another. Method. After approval from the appropriate school district for a sleep education program, a baseline survey was taken of elementary and middle school students, using the Children's Sleep Habit Questionnaire-Sleep Self-Report Form, which assessed the domains of bedtime resistance, sleep onset delay, sleep anxiety, sleep duration, night awakening, and daytime sleepiness. Results. The survey was completed by 499 elementary and 1008 middle school children. Trouble sleeping was reported by 43% in elementary school, compared with 29% of middle school children. Fifty percent of middle school children did not like sleeping, compared with 26% in elementary school. Bedtime resistance, sleep onset delay, and nighttime awakening were more common among elementary school students. Daytime sleepiness was more common among the middle school children when compared to elementary school children. Conclusions. Sleep abnormalities are present in elementary school children with changes in sleep habits into middle school.

Highlights

Insufficient sleep syndrome “occurs when an individual persistently fails to obtain the amount of sleep required to maintain normal levels of alertness and wakefulness
A significantly higher proportion of students in ES1 were economically disadvantaged than in MS, which had a higher proportion than elementary school #2 (ES2); similar findings were identified for at-risk children
Our study has demonstrated the presence of sleep problems in a significant proportion of elementary and middle school children in a predominantly Hispanic population in South Texas; there are several important differences in the selfreported sleep habits between these two groups

Summary

Introduction

Insufficient sleep syndrome “occurs when an individual persistently fails to obtain the amount of sleep required to maintain normal levels of alertness and wakefulness. Inadequate sleep hygiene is characterized by sleep and wake difficulties resulting from “daily living activities that are inconsistent with the maintenance of good-quality sleep and normal daytime alertness” [1]. These problems are common among adolescents and children [2,3,4,5,6,7]. After approval from the appropriate school district for a sleep education program, a baseline survey was taken of elementary and middle school students, using the Children’s Sleep Habit Questionnaire-Sleep Self-Report Form, which assessed the domains of bedtime resistance, sleep onset delay, sleep anxiety, sleep duration, night awakening, and daytime sleepiness. Sleep abnormalities are present in elementary school children with changes in sleep habits into middle school

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion