Short Sleep Duration and Irregular Bedtime Are Associated with Increased Behavioral Problems among Japanese Preschool-Age Children

Abstract

Sleep problems are known to be risk factors for subsequent emotional and behavioral difficulties in childhood and adolescence. To date, there has been no study investigating the relationships between sleep habits and behavioral problems in a large nonclinical sample of preschool age children. The aim of this study was to examine these relationships and factors associated with the sleep habits of preschool age (2 to 5 year old) children. Their mothers (n = 1,746) completed a multiple-choice questionnaire about the sleep habits and behavior problems of their children, as well as their own sleep habits and working hours at Tokyo metropolitan public nursery schools. The short sleep duration group showed significantly higher aggressive scores than the long sleep duration group among 2-to 3-year-old children, and the irregular bedtime group showed significantly higher aggressive and attention problem scores than the regular bedtime group among 4-to 5-year-old children. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that children's late bedtime was associated with their mother's late waking-up time, and late schedule of both the mother's leaving and returning home. This study recognized an association between behavioral problems and poor sleep habits among preschool-age children. It is important for children to sleep regularly and adequately in order to decrease their behavior problems. In conclusion, appropriate management of children's sleep by their mothers is necessary for promoting sleep-related health of children.

Sleep duration in relation to behavioral problems among Japanese preschool children

“…The findings obtained in our study are, however, in line with those of other studies; Komada et al [13] reported that attention and aggressive behavioral problems were not associated with sleep duration, but rather with bedtime irregularity in 4-5-year-old Japanese nursery school children. In Komada's study, parent-reported sleep duration was divided into short and long sleep groups by the median value (9.3 h), and behavioral problems were assessed using the Children's Behavioral Check List (CBCL).…”

Relationship between Sleep Habits and Daytime Sleepiness, Inattention, and Aggressive Behavior among Taiwanese Kindergarten Children

“…We found that a sleep duration ≥10.01 hours was the most crucial factor in attention performance among preschool children, compared with bedtime, television-viewing time, caregiver education level and children's age. Short sleep duration and irregular bedtime are associated with increased attention problems among Japanese preschool children [1]. Vriend et al [3] and Scharf et al [30] indicated similar findings that manipulating sleep duration alters attention performance in children.…”

“…Sleep plays a critical role in child neurobehavioral development [1][2][3]. Poor sleep habits, such as delayed bedtimes and insufficient sleep durations, are risk factors for subsequent daytime sleepiness, reduced attention, and aggressive behavior in childhood [1,[4][5][6].…”

“…Poor sleep habits, such as delayed bedtimes and insufficient sleep durations, are risk factors for subsequent daytime sleepiness, reduced attention, and aggressive behavior in childhood [1,[4][5][6]. In a Canadian experimental study, healthy students were randomly assigned to a long sleep duration group or a short sleep duration group.…”

“…Several cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have indicated different causes for delayed bedtimes and reduced sleep durations, such as increased television viewing among children [7][8][9]. Poor sleep habits (e.g., watched television before bed or irregular bedtime) are associated with increased sleep problems, aggressive or attention problems among preschool children [1,10]. A longitudinal study of kindergarten students in Hong Kong found that children who used electronics for more than three hours per day did not get adequate sleep at night [11].…”