Sleep Patterns In Children Research Articles

Sleep pattern and sleep disorders in school-going children aged 6-12 years and its association with screen time: a cross-sectional study from South Kerala during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: Poor sleep quality in school children can negatively impact their neurocognitive abilities and academic achievement. Increased screen time was shown to interfere with children’s sleep habits and disrupts their sleep pattern. This study aimed to understand the sleep patterns and sleep disorders in school children and the influence of screen time on sleep in children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional observational school-based study was done on 443 children aged 6-12 years. Data was collected through parent filled online questionnaire having a proforma and child sleep habit questionnaire (CSHQ), a validated questionnaire to assess sleep disorders in children Results: Out of 443 children studied, the average sleep duration of the study population was 9:06 hours ±42:18 min and, 34.3% of the children slept less than 9 hours per day. The prevalence of sleep disorders was found to be 76.52%. Significant screen time after 8 PM was observed in 65.9% and 62.2 % of children had a total screen time of more than 2 hours. Increased screen time after 8 PM, delayed bedtime and wake-up time in children and also contributed to sleep disorders. Bedtime resistance and daytime sleepiness were more commonly observed in children with increased screen time. Conclusions: Sleep disorders in children are more predominant than sleep deprivation. Increased screen time before bed was found to alter sleep patterns in children and increases bedtime resistance, daytime sleepiness, and sleep disorders.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep in children with Tourette syndrome in Ireland and the United Kingdom.

The aim of this mixed-methods study was to gain an insight through qualitative and quantitative means into the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on children with and without Tourette syndrome (TS). Parents/guardians of children and adolescents with TS (n = 95; mean age = 11.2 years, standard deviation = 2.68 years) and typically developing controls (n = 86; mean age = 10.7 years, standard deviation = 2.8 years) in the United Kingdom and Ireland completed an online questionnaire examining sleep, with open-ended questions pertaining to their perceived impact of COVID-19 on the sleep of their children. Nine items from the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children were used to supplement qualitative data. A negative impact of the pandemic on the sleep of both groups was observed, including exacerbated tics, sleep deprivation, and anxiety, with particular disruption for children with TS. Parents of children with TS reported poorer sleep patterns than parents of typically developing children on the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children. Analyses showed that group and age predicted 43.8% of variance in sleep duration: F (4, 176) = 34.2, P < .001. Findings suggest that sleep patterns of children with TS may be more impacted by the pandemic than the average child. Given that there are generally more sleep issues reported in children with TS, further research is warranted in relation to the sleep health of children with TS in a postpandemic era. By identifying sleep issues potentially persisting after COVID-19, the true impact of the pandemic on the sleep of children and adolescents with Tourette syndrome may be ascertained. Colreavy E, Keenan L, Downes M. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep in children with Tourette syndrome in Ireland and the United Kingdom. J Clin Sleep Med. 2023;19(8):1485-1493.

Роль родительских представлений о своем сне и сне ребенка в регуляции сна и бодрствования у детей 5—13 лет: культурно-исторический подход в психосоматике

&lt;p&gt;From perspective of cultural-historical approach in psychosomatics, the psychological regulation of a child's sleep and wakefulness is developed in children in interaction with significant adults. The aim was to reveal the relationship between dysfunctional beliefs of parents about their own sleep and its vulnerability as well as their violations of sleep hygiene and parental beliefs about the sleep of their children aged 5-13, the beliefs of the children about their sleep and their quality of sleep and wakefulness. 147 pairs of "parent-child 5-13 years old without diagnosed sleep disorders" participated (47 pairs with a child 5-6 years old, 49 pairs with a child 7-9 years old, 51 pairs with a child 10-13 years old). Parents answered questions about their child's sleep pattern, filled children's sleep habits questionnaire, dysfunctional beliefs about sleep and sleep vulnerability scales about their own and their child's sleep, insomnia severity index, and a scale of behavioral factors of sleep disturbances about their own sleep. Children answered the questions of children's self-report about their sleep, dysfunctional beliefs about and vulnerability of their sleep scales, pediatric sleepiness scale. According to the analysis of mediation, dysfunctional perceptions of parents about their own sleep are indirectly associated with sleepiness and sleep difficulties in children, since they increase the likelihood of the same perceptions of parents about their children's sleep. Sleepiness, according to the children appraisals, is additionally indirectly related to the dysfunctional beliefs of parents about their sleep through the mediation of the child's beliefs about their sleep. Parents' beliefs about their sleep vulnerability are associated with children's poorer sleep and sleepiness, as they increase the likelihood of the child's sleep vulnerability beliefs, which, in turn, increase the likelihood of the child's own perceptions of the vulnerability of his sleep. The data are consistent with the perspective of the psychology of physicality about the development of the psychological regulation of sleep and wakefulness of the child in interaction with significant adults.&lt;/p&gt;

Associations between screen use, outdoor time/daylight exposure and sleep changes during the first COVID-19 lockdown in French children from the ELFE and EPIPAGE2 birth cohorts.

To investigate associations between outdoor and screen time and changes in sleep patterns in children from two nationwide birth-cohorts in the SAPRIS project. During the first French COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, volunteer parents of children enrolled in the ELFE and EPIPAGE2 birth-cohorts completed online questions about their child's outdoor time, screen time, and changes in sleep duration and quality compared with the pre-lockdown situation. In 5700 children (aged 8-9 years, 52% boys) with available data, we assessed associations between outdoor time, screen time, and sleep changes using multinomial logistic regression models adjusted for confounders. Children spent on average 3h08 outdoors and 4h34 using screens/day (3h27 for leisure, 1h07 for class-work). Sleep duration increased in 36% of children and decreased in 13.4%; sleep difficulties appeared/increased in 22.5% and decreased/disappeared/remained stable in 18.3%. After adjustment, increased screen time, especially for leisure, was associated with increased and decreased sleep duration (OR(95%CI)=1.03(1.00-1.06) and OR=1.06(1.02-1.10), respectively). No association was observed between outdoor time and sleep changes after adjustment. Our study adds evidence for the association between high leisure-time screen time and shorter sleep time. It supports current screen guidelines for children, especially during leisure time and for those whose sleep duration is short.

Examination of parent-reported differences in children's daily screen use, sleep, and sleep hygiene behaviors during the school year and summer and their association with BMI

ObjectiveThe current study examined school-summer differences in children's sleep patterns and sleep hygiene. Cross-sectional relationships with children's sleep, sleep hygiene, and weight status were explored during the school year and summer. MethodsChildren (5-8 years) and their parents (n = 197 dyads) were recruited from 4 schools in southeastern Texas and via Facebook. Parents reported children's school year and summer sleep, sleep hygiene, and screen media use. Children's body mass index (BMI) was objectively assessed at the beginning and end of the summer. Associations between children's sleep hygiene and screen media use, sleep duration, and weight status were explored. ResultsChildren's sleep midpoint was earlier during the school year (1:54 AM ± 0.03) than in the summer (2:06 AM ± 0.03; t = 4.07, p < .0001). During summer, children increased their screen media use by 38 minutes (t = 2.32, p = .023) and decreased their caffeine intake from 7.43 to 7.0 (with scores ranging from 3 to 15; t = 2.83, p = .006). Greater sleep-inhibiting (β = 0.40, p = .011) and fewer sleep-promoting (β = −0.28, p = .049) behaviors during the school year were associated with having a higher BMI. There were no associations among sleep patterns, sleep hygiene and BMI during summer. ConclusionsMore positive school year sleep hygiene behaviors were supportive of having a healthier weight status. Changes in these behaviors during the summer did not portend worse weight outcomes. Supporting families in the establishment of sleep-promoting behaviors, particularly during the school year may help address the child obesity epidemic.

Sleep and psychological characteristics of children with cancers and type 1 diabetes and their caregivers

ObjectivesChildren with chronic illnesses and their parents are more at risk to develop sleep problems, which are linked to worse psychological and physical well-being. This study aimed to assess sleep patterns and their connections with psychological outcomes in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and cancer and their caregivers, compared to a control sample. In addition, we explored the associations between caregiver and child's sleep quality across the three groups. MethodsWe enrolled 56 children with T1D, 33 children with cancer, and 61 healthy children between 7 and 15, and their respective caregivers. Caregivers filled out an ad-hoc survey assessing their sleep disturbances, parenting stress, general well-being, anxiety, and their children's sleep patterns and psychological adjustments. ResultsChildren with cancer showed lower sleep quality than the other groups. Moreover, worse psychological adjustment was associated with greater sleep disturbances in both clinical groups. As for caregivers, the cancer group reported the worst sleep quality and greater anxiety compared to the other samples. Greater anxiety was also linked to worse sleep quality. Furthermore, greater sleep problems in children were associated with poorer caregivers’ sleep quality in the whole sample and the T1D group. ConclusionsA better understanding of sleep patterns and problems for chronically ill children and their parents is fundamental to provide adequate care for these vulnerable populations. Furthermore, an illness-specific approach may better inform and guide the practitioners in clinical practice.

Sleep patterns in childhood: a longitudinal assessment from the Generation XXI birth cohort

ObjectiveTo describe sleep-wake patterns in young children, based on sleep characteristics in early infancy and preschool ages, identifying their main sociodemographic characteristics, and to assess the association between different sleep characteristics at both ages. MethodWe included 1092 children from the Generation XXI birth cohort, evaluated at six months and four years of age, by face-to-face interviews. Sleep patterns were constructed through latent class analysis and structured equation modeling, including data on wake-up time and bedtime, afternoon naps, locale of nighttime sleep and night awakenings. To estimate the association between sociodemographic characteristics and sleep patterns, odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were computed using logistic regression. ResultsTwo sleep patterns were identified through latent class analysis: pattern 1 was characterized by earlier bedtime and wake-up times, while pattern 2 was defined by later times. When compared with pattern 1, pattern 2 was more frequent among children whose mothers had changed from partnered to not partnered until preschool age and those who did not stay at the kindergarten, and was less common among those with siblings. Through structured equation modeling, an aggregating factor was identified at preschool age, which was mainly correlated with bedtime and wake-up time. A positive association between sleep characteristics evaluated in early infancy and in preschool ages was observed. ConclusionsSleep patterns and circadian sleep preferences seem to be developed early in life, which highlight the importance of promoting an adequate sleep hygiene from infancy, assuming its impact on sleep quality during the life course.

Sleep Status Among Children and Adolescents Aged 6-17 Years - China, 2016-2017.

There has been little to no description of sleep status among children and adolescents nationwide in recent years. This report assesses the sleep duration and sleep patterns of children and adolescents in China. Approximately half of the adolescents did not get the recommended amount of sleep on school days, and more than half overslept on weekends. The importance of children and adolescents meeting recommended sleep durations needs greater emphasis, especially among older age groups and those in urban areas.

SLEEP QUALITY ASSESSMENT IN ADOLESCENTS WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES MELLITUS

Background and Aims: Diabetes has been reported to be a risk factor for sleep disturbances in adolescent age groups. Although the impact of type1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) on sleep patterns of children is well recognized, data about its prevalence is scant. This study aims to determine the quality of sleep among adolescents with T1DM and factors inuencing it. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study collected data from 30 adolescent diagnosed with T1DM at least 6 months earlier. They presented to Paediatric endocrine OPD from May 2021 to May 2022. Subjects were asked to complete the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) 19-item self-report questionnaire. Children with T1DM being under treatment for sleep disorder were excluded. The combined score of the 7 components (subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efciency, sleep disturbances, use of sleeping medication, and daytime dysfunction) was used for analysis and the score ranged from 0 to 21. Atotal score &gt;5 was considered as “poor sleep quality”. The quality of sleep was correlated with drug, dietary compliance and metabolic control. p-value &lt;0.05 was considered signicant. Results: The mean age of study population was 14.3±1.7 years. 18 were boys and 12 were girls. Total 8 patients showed poor sleep quality (PQSI score &gt;5). No signicant relationship was found between sleep quality, duration of diabetes and HbA1c levels in the diabetes group (P= 0.59, P= 0.41, respectively). The total sleep time of boys (8.4 ± 1.2 h) was longer than girls (7.6 ± 1.7 h), but the overall total sleep time per night did not differ signicantly between boys and girls (P= 0.053). Conclusion: The present study shows that diabetes control may affect sleep quality in adolescents. Optimal diabetes management can positively affect sleep patterns in these adolescents. Further larger studies are needed to validate our results

Parenting in the bapukung tradition

South Kalimantan has local culture and wisdom regarding child care, especially in putting children to sleep. This tradition has been passed down from generation to generation until now, namely the unique and extreme Bapukung tradition. The purpose of this research is to describe how to raise children with the Bapukung Tradition and why this tradition is used for child care. This research uses a qualitative method with an ethnographic approach (which describes the authentic views of participants objectively), data collection techniques using purposive sampling techniques using interviews, observation, and documentation. The participants were 15 caregivers from five TPA-PAUD in Tabalong Regency, South Kalimantan with the following characteristics: 1) professional babysitters; 2) aged 22–70 years; 3) junior high school education; and 4) Banjarese and non-Banjarese. Analysis of the data used through the Nvivo program The findings in this study are: 1) The bapukung tradition is the urang Bahari tradition (in the past), putting the child to sleep in a seated position, covered with a swing cloth, tied and rocked with the aim of overcoming a fussy child, regulating the child's sleep pattern, sleeping peacefully and For a long time, the child is safe as in a hug and comfort. The bapukung process is accompanied by a touch of love, hums of tauhid sentences, prayers, and advice, all recorded in the child's memory; 2) Children benefit from warm bodies, strong necks, backbones, and healthy bodies free of coughs, runny noses, and shortness of breath, while caregivers benefit from being able to work while being busy, not stressed, comfortable, and calm in parenting. The bapukung tradition has an impact on the psychology of children and caregivers and affects the child's physiology, so this tradition must be preserved by the people of South Kalimantan and can be adopted by the Indonesian people as a solution to child care Keywords : childcare; Bapukung tradition; parenting.

Foster Caregivers' Perceptions of Children's Sleep Patterns, Problems, and Environments.

The disparity of problems, impairments, and disorders among children in foster care is well-documented and spans virtually every domain of functioning. Sleep, however, has received minimal attention among this vulnerable group, which is concerning given the multitude of ways sleep affects children's development, health, and behavior. A total of 485 foster caregivers from across the United States completed a survey including quantitative items and qualitative, open-ended questions about sleep and related health and behavior for one child (M = 6.4 years, SD = 2.2; range 4-11 years) currently in their care. Overall, caregivers reported developmentally appropriate child sleep and wake times; however, difficulty falling asleep (avg. 46 min per night) and staying asleep (avg. 34 min awake overnight) were common. Additionally, a high prevalence of sleep-related problems was reported including moving to someone else's bed during the night (85.8%), nightmares (51.2%), sleep terrors (26.4%), snoring (32.8%), bedwetting (31.6%), and teeth grinding (21.8%). Qualitative responses indicated emotional and behavioral challenges at bedtime, particularly elevated fear, and anxiety. Findings are consistent with previous work finding significant health disparities among children placed in foster care. Results highlight a need for trauma-informed, behavioral sleep interventions for this pediatric population which might serve to reduce other health disparities.

Cross-country comparison of parental reports and objective measures of sleep patterns of typically developing children and autistic children between the UK and South Korea

Sleep duration and disturbances in typically developing (TD) children have been found to vary across countries. Given the impact of culture on sleep patterns in TD children, it is also necessary to examine the impact of culture on sleep patterns in children with atypical development. However, previous studies have often relied only on parent reports of children's sleep. Hence, the present study conducted a cross-cultural comparison of sleep duration and disturbances of school-aged TD children and autistic children in the UK and South Korea (hereafter Korea) using both subjective and objective sleep measurements. Cultural differences were observed in both actigraphy measures and parent reports of children's sleep duration and disturbances. Both TD children and autistic children in Korea had a later bedtime, later getting up time and shorter nocturnal sleep duration than their peers in the UK (p < .05). Furthermore, greater parent-reported sleep disturbances were reported in TD children in Korea compared to TD children in the UK and in autistic children in the UK compared to autistic children in Korea. Correlational analyses indicated that most parent-reported measures of children's sleep did not significantly correlate with objective measures and child reports, suggesting that studies on children's sleep can benefit by collecting data from multiple sources. Taken together, these findings suggest a cultural influence on sleep duration and disturbances of both TD children and autistic children. This study raises questions for further research to identify factors underlying cultural differences in children's sleep duration and disturbances.

Evaluation of bladder function and sleep patterns in children with primary mono-symptomatic nocturnal enuresis by polysomnography combined with ambulatory urodynamic monitoring

Objective: To evaluate the bladder function and sleep pattern in the children with primary mono-symptomatic nocturnal enuresis (PMNE) by the polysomnography (PSG) and ambulatory urodynamic monitoring (AUM). Methods: From October 2019 to October 2021, forty-three patients with PMNE were selected as PMNE group from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University and further subdivided into the severe PMNE group (enuresis>4 times/week) and the non-severe PMNE group (enuresis times 4 times/week) according to the severity. The conventional urodynamics (CUD), AUM, and PSG examinations and bladder diary were completed in the PMNE group. The control group consisted of 23 children with normal PSG findings and without the lower urinary tract symptoms. Results: The severe PMNE group included 9 males and 14 females, aged(12.1±3.2)years, and nocturnal enuresis number per week is 6.7±1.7. The non-severe PMNE group included 9 males and 11 females, aged(12.0±3.4)years, and nocturnal enuresis number per week is 2.3±1.0. The incidences of nocturnal polyuria and the reduction in maximum bladder capacity in the PMNE group was 34.9% and 11.6%, respectively. The incidence and frequency of detrusor overactivity (DO) in the severe PMNE group were significantly higher than those in the non-severe PMNE group [78.3% vs 45.0%, (5.5±1.8) times/h vs (3.4±1.0) times/h, respectively, all P<0.05]. It was found by the PSG that the severe PMNE group had significantly higher cortical arousal index, apnea hypopnea index (AHI), and percentage of N1+N2 phase in total sleep time, compared with the control group[(58.6±9.8)% vs (49.3±9.5)%, (9.4±4.4) times/h vs (3.1±1.5) times/h, (2.7±0.9) times/h vs (0.9±0.7) times/h] (all P<0.05). While the sleep efficiency of the severe PMNE group was substantially lower than that of the non-severe PMNE group [(86.4±4.3)% vs (91.0±3.9)%], the cortical arousal index and AHI were significantly greater than those of the non-severe PMNE group[(9.4±4.4) times/h vs (5.7±3.2) times/h, (2.7±0.9) times/h vs (1.9±0.7) times/h] (all P<0.05). In the PMNE group, there were positive correlations between cortical arousal index and nocturnal DO frequency or AHI (r=0.705, 0.765, P=0.001). Conclusions: Children with PMNE have nocturnal bladder dysfunction and abnormal sleep pattern, and there is a certain correlation between them. PSG and AUM are necessary for the evaluation and treatment of children with PMNE.

Sleep disturbances and sleep patterns in children with tic disorder: A case-control study.

Study objectivesTo characterize sleep disturbances and sleep patterns in children with Tic disorder (TD), and explore their association with TD severity and types.MethodsA case-control study was conducted in 271 children with TD recruited from a clinical setting and 271 non-TD children recruited from a primary school, matched by age (mean = 8.47 years, SD = 1.53 years) and gender (15.1% female). The Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) was used to assess sleep patterns and sleep disturbances. The TD types and severity were assessed with the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS).ResultsThe TD children scored higher on CSHQ total score than non-TD group (t = 29.50, p < 0.001) and demonstrated severer global sleep disturbance. Compared to non-TD children, TD children presented with increased risks for global sleep disturbance (aOR: 1.95; 95% CI = 1.20–3.06), and most specific sleep disturbances, including bedtime resistance (aOR: 3.15; 95% CI = 1.96–5.06), sleep onset delay (aOR: 3.43; 95% CI = 1.58–7.46), sleep anxiety (aOR: 2.83; 95%CI = 1.83–4.38), parasomnias (aOR: 3.68; 95% CI = 2.02–6.62), night waking (aOR: 9.29; 95% CI = 2.64–32.65), sleep disordered breathing (aOR: 1.72; 95% CI = 1.03-2.90) and daytime sleepiness (aOR: 1.72; 95% CI = 1.09–2.74). Children with mild and moderate tics, Provisional Tic Disorder (PTD), Chronic Tic Disorder (CTD) and Tourette Syndrome (TS) presented with more global and more specific sleep disturbances. In addition, combined ADHD, etc.ConclusionChildren with TD are major risks for increased sleep disturbances, especially for those with severe and chronic symptoms. Furthermore, comorbid ADHD increases risk in certain areas of sleep. These findings highlight the importance to consider sleep outcomes in the assessment and treatment for children with TD.

Cashew Yogurt sebagai Bahan Pangan Fungsional yang Menunjang Good Life Style pada Anak

Adequate toddler nutritional intake is a major contribution to nutritional status and health status. Yogurt is a nutrient-rich intake with more nutritional quality than milk because it is easily digested and has therapeutic. Cashews contain chemical compounds that are useful as antibacterial and antiseptic. From several research results there is a gradual increase in calcium, magnesium, sodium and manganese in cashew milk yogurt which can support Life Style. Descriptive research with a population of 25 children in Karanganyar village who are willing to eat samples of cashew yogurt given to them. The sampling technique was Total Sampling, Research Instruments and the instrument used in this study was a questionnaire to obtain organoleptics from cashew yogurt (taste, color, aroma, appearance, consistency), development and good life style. The Good Life Style studied in this study are Body Mass Index, children's sleep patterns, sports activities, consumption patterns of food/drinks containing 5P, use of gadgets,and health or growth checks of children. The results showed that respondents tended to have a normal body index,because during the pandemic, respondents were only at home.This research has several stages, namely making yogurt work starters, making cashew yogurt, ph test, and organoleptic test. In making yogurt stsrter we use purple cabbage for making cashew yogurt. The cashew yogurt application is used as a salad dressing (thick yogurt).The taste of cashew yogurt is delicious as much as 48%,while the taste of ordinary cow yogurt is 36% which can be used as functional food that supports a child's good life style.

Mother-child interactions and child anger proneness as antecedents of changes in sleep during the preschool period.

Age-related developments in sleep during the preschool years are normative and consequential. Yet, very few studies have examined the antecedents of individual differences in such developments, and most have used parental reports of child sleep. This study aimed to investigate the roles of mutual responsiveness in mother-child interactions and child temperamental anger proneness in the prediction of changes in sleep during the preschool period. The sample was comprised of 94 children (44 girls, 50 boys) of mostly White (93%) and college-educated (85%) mothers. Mother-child mutual responsiveness and child anger proneness were assessed at 2 years, and sleep was assessed using actigraphy at the ages of 2, 3, and 4 years. Multilevel growth models revealed that higher temperamental anger proneness was concurrently associated with lower sleep efficiency and shorter nighttime sleep duration at 2 years. In regard to changes in sleep, nighttime sleep duration decreased between 2 and 4 years among children exposed to lower mutual responsiveness in interactions with their mothers. High anger proneness was related to an increase in sleep efficiency from 2 to 4 years, whereas low anger proneness was associated with a decrease in nighttime duration during the same period. No interactive effect was found between anger proneness and mother-child mutual responsiveness. These results suggest that mother-child relationships and child temperament may play different roles, not only in children's concurrent sleep patterns but also in changes in sleep across the preschool period. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

0486 Sleep patterns of children with cri du chat syndrome and autism spectrum disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has subjected most of the world population to changes in daily life activities, mostly related to social isolation, family distancing and home confinement. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental syndromes, such as cri du chat syndrome (CDC) might be especially sensitive to the consequences of the pandemic, as they usually require a predefined and strictly controlled routine. Even before the pandemic, sleep disorders and complaints were more frequent in these children compared with neurotypical (NT) children. This study aimed to evaluate the sleep pattern of children with CDC and ASD before and during the pandemic, comparing it with NT children.MethodsChildren and adolescents between 0-18 years` parents or legal guardians were asked to answer the adapted Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire, related to both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.ResultsBefore quarantine, children with CDC and ASD had increased chances of sleeping in their parents’ bed, of needing parental assistance to fall asleep, of taking >30min to fall asleep and of having a wake after sleep onset time >30min compared to children with typical development. Being part of the CDC group significantly increased the odds of having awakenings during the night. After quarantine, there were a decrease in the proportion of children sleeping in their own bedrooms and an increase in the odds of awakening during the night in all groups. Children with CDC and ASD had increased chances of sleeping in their parents’ bed and had a significantly higher chance of taking more than 30min to fall asleep. Both the CDC and ASD group presented worse sleep patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic.ConclusionOur results indicated that the ASD and CDC groups usually have more sleep problems and complaints than NT children. The CDC group showed worse sleep parameters overall, even before quarantine.Support (If Any)Our studies are supported by Associação Fundo de Incentivo à Pesquisa (AFIP), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES Finance Code 001 to GLF) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico Tecnológico (CNPq – Grant #141445/2021-1 to GLF); S.T. and M.L.A. received CNPq fellowships.

The Association Between Frequent Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake and Sleep Duration in School Children: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BackgroundHigher consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) maybe association with children's sleep pattern. However, few studies have considered this association in Asia, especially in school children. This study investigated the relationship between children's consumption frequency of such beverages and their sleep duration.MethodsParticipants aged 6–12 years were analyzed from two survey data in 2012 and 2013–2016 Nutrition and Health Surveys in Taiwan. A total of 2,628 participants were included in the analysis (2012, N = 1,267; 2013–2016, N = 1,361). Beverages weekly consumption were divided into low and high intake groups by medians cut-off points. The sleep variables were the sleep duration at night (including school days and weekends) and sleep debt. After controlling the confounders, the correlation between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and sleep duration was examined using multinomial logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe students slept for an average of 8.8 h on school days and 9.7 h on weekends. Relative to the low SSB intake group, the high intake group exhibited shorter sleep durations on school days (P < 0.001), greater sleep debt (P = 0.049). In logistic regression, high intake group were more likely to sleep for <8.5 h on school days (OR = 1.67, P = 0.002) and exhibit >2 h of sleep debt than low intake group (OR = 1.41, P = 0.022).ConclusionsChildren who had consumed sugar-sweetened beverages frequently slept for shorter durations at night on school days and exhibited greater sleep debt. The causal relationship was not clear. Nonetheless, these two factors are important in promoting children health.

Lower-Income Predicts Increased Smartphone Use and Problematic Behaviors Among Schoolchildren During COVID-19 Related School Modification: A Longitudinal Study.

BackgroundAs the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has continued for a couple of years, the long-term effects of the pandemic and the subsequent school curriculum modification on the mental health of children and parents need to be investigated. To clarify the changes that can occur during one school year and to predict the risk factors for vulnerable groups, this study identified parameters relative to children’s screen time, their problematic behavior, and parental depression.MethodsA total of 186 participants were analyzed who were parents of elementary schoolchildren in South Korea. These parents were required to complete a web-based questionnaire twice. The questionnaires were conducted in June 2020 and September 2021. Participants’ general demographics including family income, children’s screen time, sleep patterns, problematic behavior, and parental depression were assessed via the parental questionnaire that included various measurement tools.ResultsChildren’s body mass index (BMI) increased significantly in 2021 (18.94 ± 3.75 vs. 18.14 ± 3.30, P < 0.001). Smartphone frequency of use per week (5.35 vs. 4.54, P < 0.001) and screen time per day (3.52 vs. 3.16, P < 0.001) significantly increased during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. The television screen time (2.88 vs. 3.26, P < 0.001), frequency of viewing (3.77 vs. 4.77, P < 0.001), and children’s problematic behaviors significantly decreased (9.15 vs. 11.85, P < 0.001). A lower income household was a key predictor of increased smartphone frequency (B = 1.840, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.923–2.757, P < 0.001) and smartphone screen time (B = 1.992, 95% CI, 1.458–2.525, P < 0.001). The results showed that the lower income household (B = 5.624, 95% CI, 2.927–8.320, P < 0.001) and a child’s psychiatric treatment history (B = 7.579, 95% CI, 5.666–9.492, P < 0.001) was the most significant predictor of problematic behaviors of children and parental depression (B = 3.476, 95% CI, 1.628–5.325, P < 0.001; B = 3.138, 95% CI, 1.827–4.450, P < 0.001).ConclusionThis study suggested that children’s smartphone screen time and BMI increased during COVID-19 because of the school curriculum modification following school closures in South Korea. The increased children’s problematic behaviors and parental depression were predicted by lower-income households and the previous psychiatric history of children. These results indicate that multiple social support systems to the vulnerable group are needed during the ongoing pandemic and that a modified school setting is required.

24 hour movement behaviours and the health and development of pre-school children from Zimbabwean settings: the SUNRISE pilot study.

In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) released global guidelines for physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for the early years. The International Study of Movement Behaviours in the Early Years, SUNRISE, aimed to assess the extent to which children aged three and four years meet the WHO global guidelines and its association with health and development. To assess movement behaviours in pre-school children from low-income settings in Zimbabwe and to establish associations between these movement behaviours and adiposity, motor skills and executive function. Pre-school children/caregivers were recruited from two urban and two rural public schools respectively in Zimbabwe. The caregivers answered questions on the children's physical activity, screen time, sedentary behaviour and sleep patterns. Children's movement behaviours were objectively measured using accelerometers. Gross and fine motor skills and executive function were assessed using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire-3 and Early Years Toolbox, respectively. Focus group discussions were carried out with caregivers and teachers on the acceptability and feasibility of the study. Eighty-one children participated in the study. The proportions of children meeting the guidelines were physical activity 92%, sedentary behaviour 70%, and sleep 86%, and all guidelines combined 24%. Boys and girls were similar (p>0.05 for all variables) for all executive function variables, but rural children had significantly lower inhibition scores (p=0.026) than urban children. The study adds to the growing literature on movement behaviours and associated risk factors in low-resourced settings. Further investigations of movement behaviours in this age group in Zimbabwe are recommended.