Sleep patterns and sleep disruptions in school-age children

This study assessed the sleep patterns, sleep disruptions, and sleepiness o f school-age children. Sleep patterns of 140 children (72 boys and 68 girls ; 2nd-, 4th-, and 6th-grade students) were evaluated with activity monitors (actigraphs). in addition, the children and their parents completed comple mentary sleep questionnaires and daily reports. The findings reflected sign ificant age differences, indicating that older children have more delayed s leep onset times and increased reported daytime sleepiness. Girls were foun d to spend more time in sleep and to have an increased percentage of motion less sleep. Fragmented sleep was found in 18% of the children. No age diffe rences were found in any of the sleep quality measures. Scores on objective sleep measures were associated with subjective reports of sleepiness. Fami ly stress, parental age, and parental education were related to the child's sleep-wake measures.