Abstract
This study was designed to examine the relationships between sleep problems among elementary school children and lifestyles of their family. We conducted a cross-sectional survey at the Elementary School attached to Joetsu University of Education from February to March 2013. The questionnaire for children consists of the Child and Adolescent Sleep Checklist (CASC: Oka, et al., 2009). The questionnaire for caregivers consists of items about lifestyles and sleep problems among their family members. Three hundred eighty-nine elementary school children (and their caregiver) completed and returned the questionnaire (collection rate: 84.74%). The analyzed sample was composed of 378 valid data (168 boys and 210 girls). Ninety-three children (24.6%) were classified into the sleep disturbances group, as defined by a CASC total score ⩾18. Based on the results of unpaired t -test, sleep disturbances among elementary school children was significantly associated with (a) the discrepancy of average time in bed between weekday and a day before a holiday among family members ( t (368) = 2.13, p = .03), (b) delayed average wake time on the weekend morning of family members ( t (368) = 2.63, p =.01), (c) the discrepancy of average wake time between weekday and weekend among family members (t(358) = 2.61, p = .01), and (d) the percentage of family members with sleep problems ( t (368) = 2.52, p = .01), and marginally significantly associated with (e) delayed average time in bed on a day before a holiday among family members ( t (368) = 1.69, p = .09) and (f) the discrepancy of average total sleep time between weekday and weekend among family members ( t (359) = 1.81, p = .07). Sleep disturbance among elementary school children is associated with the lifestyles of their family members. For the children’s sleep health, this study suggests that all family members should try to keep a regular sleep-wake schedule and especially try not to catch up on sleep on their days off. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Joetsu University of Education. This study was granted by Research Project of Joetsu University of Education (General Research 2012–2013).
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