Background: Sleep is a vital aspect of a child's development, impacting physical health, emotional well-being, and academic performance. This study delves into the prevalence of sleep problems among children, their association with demographic factors and sleep-related habits, and the potential influence on academic performance.
Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 198 boys and girls between the ages of 2 and 16 was conducted in Riyadh, the Western and Eastern Provinces. An online questionnaire, divided into six parts focusing on personal data, the quality of sleep, the relationship between trouble sleeping or resisting normal sleeping and the regularity of sleeping, sleeping and resting hours during weekdays and weekends, and the educational level, was administered. The data were analyzed using SPSS, with statistical significance tests used for data analysis.
Results: The findings revealed that bedtime resistance was the most prevalent sleep issue, affecting over half of the participants, followed by sleep-onset delay and bedtime fears. Notably, a significant percentage of children reported not getting enough sleep and experiencing daytime fatigue, indicating potential sleep-related challenges within the cohort. Factors such as interrupted sleep, sleep talking, and difficulty waking up on weekdays and weekends exhibited significant age-related differences. Co-sleeping with parents was most common among the youngest children.. The study found that children who reported sleeping a lot due to various sleep-related issues tended to have lower academic performance. Sleep duration on both weekdays and weekends also correlated with academic outcomes.
Conclusion: The study highlights the prevalence of sleep problems among children and their potential consequences for academic performance. The findings emphasize the importance of addressing these sleep-related challenges to support better educational outcomes in this demographic.
Key words: Sleep problems,Children,Sleep habits,Bed-time resistance
|
