S. Iwawaki et Is. Schuller, Cross-cultural (Japan-Slovakia) comparison of some aspects of sleeping patterns and anxiety, STUD PSYCHO, 43(3), 2001, pp. 215-224
We compared differences in sleeping habits and anxiety as a trait (real dur
ation of sleep, duration of necessary sleep, time of going to bed and regul
arity of sleeping habits) in 593 Japanese and 225 Slovak children aged 12-1
3 yrs. The results point to a statistically significant negative relationsh
ip between anxiety and the real duration of sleep in children from the enti
re combined sample (n = 818). Children who go to bed late have a significan
tly higher score in anxiety. Differences in the duration of real sleep and
the duration of necessary sleep (to feel refreshed) are significant - they
are significantly higher in Japanese children (boys and girls) than in Slov
ak children. In Japanese children this difference can reach 2.17 hrs., in t
he Slovak children it is 1.35 hrs. Furthermore, we found significant cross-
cultural differences in the time of going to bed (Japanese children go to b
ed later) and real duration of sleep (Japanese children sleep less). The re
sults are discussed with respect to the harmonization of biological and soc
ial rhythms and effects on anxiety and school success.