Sex differences in sleep hygiene in school age children

Abstract

Sleep hygiene is defined as a set of behaviors, environmental conditions and factors related to sleep that can be modified to promote the amount and quality of sleep (American Academy of Sleep Medicine [AASM], 2005) . In children it has been associated with the regulation of energy, metabolic control, endocrine, emotional regulation, consolidation of learning, memory, among others (Lam, Hiscock & Wake, 2003). In children, the impact of not having a good sleep quality is reflected in low academic achievement, impaired growth, behavioral problems, creating important risk factors for modifying health and quality of life of the family (Halal & Nunes, 2014). Despite the relevance of sleep hygiene, few studies focused on understanding and promote these behaviors, which are developed from childhood(Meltzer et al., 2014). The aim of this study was to determine the patterns of sleep hygiene and sex differences in school-age infants, using the Children's Sleep Patterns Report (CRSP) (Meltzer, et al., 2013). With a sample of 235 children from Hidalgo. Descriptive analysis was performed for differences between groups. The results are discussed in terms of gender differences in sleep hygiene behaviors in childhood.