Citation

Simola P, Liukkonen K, Pitkäranta A, Pirinen T, Aronen ET. Child Care Health Dev. 2014; 40(1): 60-67.

Affiliation

Department of Child Psychiatry, Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Psychology, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1365-2214.2012.01412.x

PMID

22774762

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Inadequate sleep in children relates to medical and psychosocial problems. However, not much is known about the effects of sleep problems persisting from pre-school to school age on somatic and psychosocial symptoms. OBJECTIVES: To examine the associations between sleep disturbances and psychosocial symptoms, somatic complaints, medical problems at school age. METHODS: This was a population-based 4-year follow-up study of sleep problems in Finnish children (n = 470). Parents filled in Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children during pre-school and school years. Children were categorized into four groups: no sleep problems, sleep problems only at pre-school or only at school age, and persistent sleep problems. At follow-up the parents filled in Child Behavior Checklist and a background questionnaire. RESULTS: The children with persistent sleep problems (9%) had a 16-fold risk of having psychosocial symptoms on subclinical/clinical range compared with the children without sleep problems. The psychosocial symptoms that were related strongest to prolonged sleep problems were aggression, social and attention problems, and anxious/depressed mood. Also, somatic complaints (ninefold risk) and medical problems (P < 0.001) were typical for children with persistent sleep problems. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent sleep problems in children associate with high levels of psychosocial, somatic and medical problems. In paediatric health care more attention should be paid to recognizing, monitoring of the persistence and treatment of sleep problems before school transition period.

Language: en