Subjective daytime sleepiness and related predictors in Finnish schoolchildren

Abstract

The study objective was to find out the predictors which explain subjective daytime sleepiness (SDS) in schoolchildren. The questionnaire study included data on the child's sleeping habits, sleep disorders, daytime sleepiness, progress at school and TV/video watching. The corresponding parental data was also gathered. Bivariate cross-tabulations and multivariate log-linear modelling were used as statistical methods. The participants were 518 schoolchildren (9 to 17 years), 398 mothers and 345 fathers. SDS was reported in 21% of the children. The children with SDS slept less on weekdays and went to bed later on Saturday nights, reported a long sleep latency and more dreaming, night waking, insomnia, sleeptaking and video watching than the children without SDS. Their parents had more sleep disturbances than the parents of the alert children. This study shows that SDS in schoolchildren can be caused by poor sleeping habits and frequent sleep disorders, but that parental sleep problems may also have effect on the symptom.