Sleep changes in Taiwanese first graders before and after school closure during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Abstract

Purpose The objective of this study was (1) to examine sleep changes in first graders before and after school closure and (2) to examine the association between parental work rearrangement and children's sleep change during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. Design and Methods This was an observational study. The children's sleep habit questionnaire was completed by 103 parents of first‐graders before and after school closure. Paired t‐test and the general linear model were applied to data analysis. Results Children delayed their bedtime and rising time, but total sleep duration increased. Moreover, parents who rearranged their work during the pandemic perceived more child parasomnia symptoms (p = .029) and less delayed sleep‐wake patterns in their children. Practical Implication Sleep is an indicator that reflects children's behavioral changes in response to the COVID‐19 pandemic. As routine changes, parents should be aware of child's parasomnia symptoms. Nursing interventions could aim at promoting sufficient external cues in the daytime during home confinement.