Cross-cultural (Japan-Slovakia) comparison of some aspects of sleeping patterns and anxiety

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.