To Sleep or Not to Sleep: A Repeated Daily Challenge for African American Children

Abstract

Sleep is important for children, because of the impact on their development and well-being. Previous survey research suggested that poor sleep occurs more frequently in minorities. However, objective data characterizing their sleep patterns are lacking. Methods: Children enrolled in a 1-year cross-sectional sequence designed study centered on a 14-day objective sleep recording, which was repeated three times. Children lived on the South Side of Chicago and were self-defined as being African Americans. Results: Findings reflect data of 24 children with a mean age of 5.4 ± 1.7 years of which 54.2% were girls. They slept at night 6.51 h and during the day changeably 1.42 h, likely being noon naps during the week and afternoon naps on Saturday and Sunday. Variability in quality of sleep, and also nighttime sleep duration, especially on Friday and Saturday, was characteristic. The highest variability was noted in sleep onset and offset latency, and in the quality of napping. The interrelation of daytime and nighttime sleep changes was suggestive of "catch-up" daytime sleep. Conclusion: At nighttime children habitually obtained few hours of sleep with diurnal sleep fluctuations likely being "a need" and "a chance." Interventions might emphasize on creating optimal opportunities to sleep.