Aronen, E. T., Paavonen, E. J., Fjällberg, M., Soininen, M., & Törrönen, J. (2000). Sleep and psychiatric symptoms in school-age children. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 39(4), 502-8.

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Abstract

Objective

To assess associations between the quantity and quality of children's sleep and parent- and teacher-reported psychiatric symptoms.

Method

Forty-nine physically healthy 7- to 12-year-old children from normal classes participated. They were monitored for 72 consecutive hours with belt-worn activity monitors (actigraphs) to obtain objective data on their daytime and nighttime activity and sleep. In addition, Child Behavior Checklists and Teacher's Report Forms were filled out by the parents and teachers, respectively.

Results

Quantity of sleep was significantly associated with total symptom score on the Teacher's Report Form. The highest associations were found between low true sleep time and teacher-reported externalizing symptoms such as aggressive and delinquent behavior and attention and social problems. Sleep parameters were not associated with parent-reported psychiatric symptoms, except for the association found between delayed sleep latency and aggressive, delinquent behavior.

Conclusions

The objectively measured amount of school-age children's sleep was associated with teacher-reported psychiatric symptoms. Parents may be unaware of their child's sleep deficiencies as the behavioral problems may be more evident at school than at home. Sensitive and objective measurements are needed to rule out the possibility of inadequate sleep underlying behavioral problems.

MeSH Terms
    Attention
    Child
    Child Behavior Disorders/diagnosis
    Child Behavior Disorders/etiology*
    Confounding Factors (Epidemiology)
    Faculty
    Female
    Humans
    Hyperkinesis
    Impulsive Behavior
    Male
    Observer Variation
    Parents
    Polysomnography
    Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
    Sleep Deprivation/psychology*
    Sleep Wake Disorders/diagnosis*
    Sleep Wake Disorders/psychology*