0856 Daytime Sleepiness Mediates The Associations Between Sleep Problems And Academic Achievement In Chinese Adolescents

Abstract

Introduction: Sleep insufficiency and daytime sleepiness in adolescents are a worldwide public health problem. Sleep problems and daytime sleepiness are associated with poor academic achievement in adolescents. However, limited data are available on the association between sleep problems and academic achievement in Chinese adolescents. The current study aimed to examine the mediating effect of daytime sleepiness on the association between sleep problems and academic achievement. Methods: Data used for the current study were derived from the baseline survey of the Shandong Adolescent Behavior and Health Cohort (SABHC) project. Participants were 7th-11th graders sampled from five middle schools and three high schools in 3 counties of Shandong Province, China. A total of 11,831 adolescents participated in the baseline survey (50.9% boys, mean age 15.0 years). A self-administered structured questionnaire was used to assess sleep time, insomnia symptoms, sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), daytime sleepiness, academic achievement on 3 major subjects (Chinese, Math, and English), mental health problems, and demographic characteristics. Structural equation modeling was performed to examine the mediating effects of daytime sleepiness on the association between sleep problems and academic achievement. Results: After controlling for family and adolescent demographic factors and mental health problems, insomnia symptoms (ß = .08), SDB (ß =.03), and sleep duration (ß = - .06) were all significantly associated with increased daytime sleepiness (p < .01). Daytime sleepiness had direct effects on academic achievement (ß = - .10, < .01). Conclusion: Daytime sleepiness mediated the association of sleep problems and short sleep duration with poor academic achievement. The results provide evidence that sleep intervention aimed to have a better night's sleep and reduce daytime sleepiness may improve academic performance in adolescents.