Association between children's sleep patterns and problematic behaviors at age 5

Abstract

Background: Night-shift lifestyles affect children as well as adults, and are associated with sleep and behavioral problems among children. This study aimed to investigate associations among sleep patterns, individual/environmental factors, and problematic behaviors in children at age 5 years. Methods: Data for sleep patterns, individual / environmental factors, and problematic behaviors for 8,689 5-yearold children were collected from health-checkup records. Problematic behaviors investigated were anxious behavior (being afraid, difficulty being separated from the mother), developmental behavior (violence, restlessness, rebellious behavior, restrictive diet, stereotypic play), personal habits (thumb-sucking, nail-biting, tic, masturbation), and excretory problems. The relationships between sleep patterns (bedtime, sleep duration) and the presence of these behaviors were analyzed. Individual / environmental factors that affected problematic behaviors were statistically identified using a tree-form model. Results: Late bedtime and short sleep duration showed significant adverse effects on children's problematic behaviorsodds ratio (OR): 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03-1.11 and OR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.87-0.97, respectively. Long television watching time, abnormality at birth, and lack of father's support also showed significant adverse effects on problematic behaviors (OR: 2.34, 95% CI: 1.87-2.94), and significantly affected late bedtime and short sleep duration. Conclusions: There were significant associations among sleep patterns, individual / environmental factors, and problematic behaviors in 5-year-old children. Improving children's sleep patterns, reducing the duration of television watching, and improving support from fathers may reduce problematic behaviors.

Individual, Prenatal, Perinatal, and Family Factors for Anxiety Symptoms Among Preschool Children

“…One study among 2-to 6-year-old children has indicated that anxiety symptoms are associated with a higher score of dietary behavioural problems (45). Sleep disturbances (such as late bedtime and short sleep duration) affect problematic behaviours including anxious behaviour in 5-year-old children (47). A longitudinal study has shown that infant sleep disturbances at 2 and 24 months predict anxiety symptoms at 3 years, and a bidirectional association with anxiety symptoms preceding later sleep problems seems to exist (25).…”

Longitudinal association of nighttime sleep duration with emotional and behavioral problems among rural preschool children

“…In recent years, the relationship between sleep duration and EBPs has become a hot topic. Previous cross-sectional studies from different countries have consistently shown that preschool children who had insufficient sleep were likely to have more EBPs, such as aggressive behavior [ 8 ], total difficulties and prosocial problems [ 9 ], anxious and developmental behavior [ 10 ]. A previous longitudinal study in Norway showed that short sleep duration was significantly associated with an increased risk of concurrent EBPs at 18 months, and short sleep duration at 18 months could predict the EBPs at 5 years old [ 11 ].…”