Sleep problems and injury risk among juveniles: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

Sleep characteristics and adolescent physical activity-related injuries in sports clubs, leisure time and schools

OBJECTIVE

Sleep has been identified as an important factor in relation to physical activity-related injury (PARI) in adolescents. The study aimed to explore associations between sleep duration, sleep problems and PARI among Slovak adolescents in three different settings: sports clubs, leisure time and schools.

METHODS

We analysed data from the cross-sectional Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study conducted in 2022 on a representative sample of 10 163 Slovak adolescents aged from 10.5 to 18.3 (mean age 13.4 (SD=1.5); 50.9% boys). Data were collected through self-administered online questionnaires completed by respondents in schools during the classes. Multiple logistic regression models were used to assess associations between sleep duration during schooldays and weekends, sleep problems and PARI in sports clubs, leisure time and schools.

RESULTS

Adolescents with normal sleep duration during schooldays and those who reported no problems with falling asleep, waking up at night and day sleepiness had a higher chance of not being injured during PA in sports clubs, leisure time and schools compared with adolescents with short sleep duration and sleep problems. Sufficient sleep duration during the weekend increased the probability of not having PARI in leisure time and schools, with the strongest association between long sleep duration and PARI in leisure time.

CONCLUSION

Good sleep quality and sufficient sleep duration were found to play a protective role in relation to PARI in adolescents. The findings suggest implementing sleep interventions in PARI prevention programmes, which must be considered a key component of adolescent PA promotion.

Relationship Between Poor Sleep Quality and Injury Experience in Korea

To develop preventive policies to reduce injuries, the responsible factors should be identified. In this study, causative factors were identified by analyzing data from the Korean Community Health Survey. Logistic regression was used to analyze the data of 192 480 individuals in the survey. Correlations were found between the injury experience and the following socioeconomic factors: age, sex, monthly income, smoking status, education, marital status, and neuropsychiatric factors: depressive symptoms, cognitive decline, and stress. The study subjects were divided into two groups based on sleep quality, as determined by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Indices of ≤5 or >5. Logistic regression analysis adjusted for potential confounders revealed a correlation between sleep quality and injury experience. The odds ratio (OR) of poor sleep quality was associated with higher odds of injury (OR: 1.26, 95% confidence interval [1.19, 1.34]), and it was also associated with higher odds of severe injury (OR: 1.23, 95% confidence interval [1.15, 1.32]), even in the adjustment of socioeconomic factors only as well as in the adjustment of socioeconomic and neuropsychiatric factors. Poor sleep quality was associated with higher odds of several injury mechanisms of severe injury, such as slipping, poisoning, and falling into water.

Unintentional Injury Burden in Hong Kong: Results from a Representative Population-Based Survey

Unintentional injuries are major causes of mortality and morbidity. Although generally perceived as accidents, it is possible to identify those at higher risk and implement appropriate prevention measures. This study aims to investigate the common causes of unintentional injuries and their associated risk factors among a large representative sample. Data of 12,022 individuals who completed the Hong Kong Population Health Survey 2014/15 were extracted. The primary outcome was the prevalence of having unintentional injury(-ies) in the previous 12 months that was severe enough to limit daily activities. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify associations between injuries and sociodemographic, clinical and lifestyle factors. 14.5% of respondents reported episode(s) of unintentional injury in the past 12 months in the population level. The main causes of top three most severe unintentional injuries were sprains (24.0%), falls (19.9%) and being hit/struck (19.6%). 13.2% injury episodes were work-related among the most severe episode. Factors independently associated with significantly higher risks of injury included currently employed, homemaker or student, born in Hong Kong (as compared with immigrants), doctor-diagnosed chronic conditions, harmful alcohol consumption, insufficient sleep, and disturbed sleep. To summarize, unintentional injuries are highly prevalent and associated with harmful drinking, insufficient sleep, and disturbed sleep, which are potential modifiable risk factors for prevention.

The effects of sleep deprivation and text messaging on pedestrian safety in university students

STUDY OBJECTIVES

This study assesses the impact of sleep deprivation and text messaging on pedestrian injury risk.

METHODS

A total of 36 university students engaged in a virtual reality pedestrian environment in two conditions: sleep deprived (no sleep previous night) and normal sleep (normal sleep routine). Sleep was assessed using actigraphy and pedestrian behavior via four outcomes: time to initiate crossing, time before contact with oncoming vehicle, hits/close calls, and looks left/right. During each condition, participants made half the crossings while text messaging. Participants also completed the Useful Field of View test, the Psychomotor Vigilance Test, and Conners' Continuous Performance Test in both conditions.

RESULTS

While sleep deprived, students crossed significantly closer to oncoming vehicles compared with after normal sleep. While text messaging, crossed closer to vehicles and took longer to initiate crossings. Safety risks were amplified through combined sleep deprivation plus text messaging, leading to more virtual hits and close calls and shorter time before vehicle contact while crossing. Sleep-deprived students demonstrated impairments in functioning on cognitive tests.

CONCLUSIONS

University students' pedestrian behavior was generally riskier, and their cognitive functioning was impaired, when sleep deprived compared with after normal sleep. This effect was exacerbated when distracted by text messaging.