Prospective Study of Insufficient Sleep and Neurobehavioral Functioning among School-Age Children.

View Abstract

OBJECTIVE

To examine associations between insufficient sleep and neurobehavioral functioning in childhood as reported by mothers and teachers.

METHODS

Participants were 1046 children in a pre-birth cohort study. Main exposures were insufficient sleep durations at three time points: 6 months to 2 years, defined as sleep < 11 hours/day, 11-<12 hours/day (v. ≥ 12); 3 to 4 years, defined as sleep < 10 hours/day, 10-<11 hours/day (v. ≥11); and 5 to 7 years, sleep < 9 hours/day, 9-<10 hours/day (v. ≥ 10). Outcomes at age 7 were executive function, behavior, and social-emotional functioning, assessed by the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Higher scores indicate poorer functioning. Mothers and teachers completed both instruments independently.

RESULTS

At age 7, mean (SD) mother and teacher report of the BRIEF global executive composite scale were 48.3 (7.9) and 50.7 (9.4) points, respectively, and of the SDQ total difficulties score was 6.5 (4.7) and 6.2 (5.7). In multivariable models, children who slept <10 hours/day at 3-4 years had worse maternal-reported scores for the BRIEF (2.11 points; 95% CI: 0.17, 4.05) and SDQ (1.91 points; 95% CI: 0.78, 3.05) than those with age-appropriate sleep. Children who slept <9 hours/day at 5-7 years also had worse scores. At both ages, associations with teacher-reported results were consistent with mothers'. Infants who slept 11-<12 hours/day had higher teacher- but not mother-reported scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Insufficient sleep in the preschool and early school years is associated with poorer mother- and teacher-reported neurobehavioral processes in mid-childhood.

Investigators
Abbreviation
Acad Pediatr
Publication Date
2017-02-08
Pubmed ID
28189692
Medium
Print-Electronic
Full Title
Prospective Study of Insufficient Sleep and Neurobehavioral Functioning among School-Age Children.
Authors
Taveras EM, Rifas-Shiman SL, Bub KL, Gillman MW, Oken E