Effect of stress on sleep hygiene among school going adolescents in Chennai

Sleep hygiene measures combined with mindfulness meditation in the management of sleep bruxism in children: A randomized controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Sleep hygiene measures and meditation may reduce stress and improve sleep quality, but their effect on the occurrence of sleep bruxism in children has not yet been investigated.

AIM

To explore the effects of sleep hygiene measures combined with mindfulness meditation (relaxation audio) in the management of probable sleep bruxism (SB) in children.

DESIGN

This clinical trial (no. NCT04501237) randomized 36 children with 3-8 years of age. Probable SB detection was performed according to the criteria established by the International Consensus on The Assessment of Bruxism-2018. Intervention group was instructed to practice sleep hygiene measures and mindfulness meditation (i.e., the use of a digital app to broadcast audio relaxation) each night before bedtime for 5 weeks; control group did not receive guidance for therapies. Parents completed a bruxism diary for 5 weeks, and the outcome was the number of SB episodes-day reported in the week (ranging from 0 to 7) in each period. A multilevel mixed-effects Poisson regression model was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 32 children (mean age: 6.1 years) completed the study. The children who received the therapies related to sleep hygiene measures and mindfulness meditation had a reduction in the SB incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 46% (IRR = 0.54 [Confidence Interval 95%, 0.45-0.65]) during a 5-week observation period. The sensitivity analyses did not show relevant changes in the measure of the effect.

CONCLUSION

Sleep hygiene measures combined with mindfulness meditation reduced the SB in children.

Sleep Quality and its Daytime Effects among University Students in the UAE

Objectives

To determine the irregularity in the sleep schedule among university students in the UAE and determine its correlation with poor sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and fatigue.

Methods

This observational cross-sectional survey was electronically conducted among undergraduate students of Ajman University during the academic year 2022-2023. The participants were selected using a simple random sampling method. The instruments for data collection comprised of sleep schedule questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and Fatigue Severity Scale. Data was subjected to chi-square analysis, Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, and Spearman's correlation.

Results

Of the 537 participants, 353 (65.7%) were female. The majority (57.2%) kept highly irregular bedtimes. The cohort's mean global PSQI score was 8.9±3.0 indicating poor sleep quality. There was a positive correlation between the irregular bedtime frequency and the global PSQI score (r = 0.311; p < 0.010). Most (70.8%) participants had a total high Fatigue Severity Scale score of ≥ 36. The scores of women (41.0±10.5) were significantly higher than those of men (38.5±11.0) (p =0.006). Around 53.0% of the participants had high ESS scores indicating excessive daytime sleepiness. There was also a significant correlation between ESS score and irregular bedtime frequency (r = 0.113; p =0.009).

Conclusions

The students at Ajman University had a high prevalence of irregular bedtime and inadequate sleeping hours. This was affecting their sleep quality and causing excessive daytime sleepiness. The students, especially women, were suffering from fatigue, potentially affecting their normal functionality. It is crucial to encourage students to establish regular sleep patterns and improve sleep habits to promote their productivity and general well-being.

Sleep and Lifestyle Habits of Medical and Non-Medical Students during the COVID-19 Lockdown

It has been shown that the measures of social distancing and lockdown might have had negative effects on the physical and mental health of the population. We aim to investigate the sleep and lifestyle habits as well as the mood of Croatian medical (MS) and non-medical students (NMS) during the COVID-19 lockdown. The cross-sectional study included 1163 students (21.6% male), whose lifestyle and sleep habits and mood before and during the lockdown were assessed with an online questionnaire. The shift towards later bedtimes was more pronounced among NMS (~65 min) compared to MS (~38 min), while the shift toward later wake-up times was similar in both MS (~111 min) and NMS (~112 min). All students reported more frequent difficulty in falling asleep, night-time awakenings and insomnia (p < 0.001) during lockdown. A higher proportion of MS reported being less tired and less anxious during lockdown compared to pre-lockdown (p < 0.001). Both student groups experienced unpleasant moods and were less content during lockdown compared to the pre-lockdown period (p < 0.001). Our results emphasize the need for the promotion of healthy habits in the youth population. However, the co-appearance of prolonged and delayed sleep times along with decreased tiredness and anxiety among MS during lockdown reveals their significant workload during pre-lockdown and that even subtle changes in their day schedule might contribute to the well-being of MS.

Stress symptoms and associated factors among adolescents in Dhaka, Bangladesh: findings from a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Stress affects adolescents' daily lives by disrupting their working capacity and begets comorbidity. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of stress symptoms and the factors associated with these symptoms among secondary school-going adolescents in Bangladesh.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study using two-stage cluster sampling was conducted. A self-administered questionnaire was given to 2355 adolescents from nine secondary schools in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Of the respondents, 2313 completed the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Sociodemographic information, self-reported body image, a modified Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (LTEQ), and the WHO Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) were used to determine the sociodemographic and lifestyle factors associated with stress symptoms among adolescents.

RESULTS

Findings suggest that about 65% of adolescents experienced moderate stress symptoms, and about 9% experienced high-stress symptoms. Females (58.7%) suffered more from stress compared to males (41.3%). Age, grade, and residential setting were significantly associated with stress. Logistic regression estimates show that level of physical activity (AOR: 1.52; 95% CI:1.26-1.84), sleep dissatisfaction (AOR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.07-1.65), and perception of self as overweight/obese (AOR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.13-1.89) were significantly associated with stress symptoms among adolescents.

CONCLUSIONS

Stress symptoms are highly prevalent among secondary school adolescents in Bangladesh. Further exploratory investigations are needed on possible intervention strategies to reduce the burden of stress among adolescents.

Sleep problems, sleep duration, and use of digital devices among primary school students in Japan

BACKGROUND

There is growing concern that screen time and media use in school-age children can negatively affect children's sleep. These negative effects are explained by three main underlying mechanisms: reduced sleep, time allocated for more media consumption; increased mental, emotional, or psychological stimulation by media content; and the effects of light emitted by digital devices on circadian rhythms and sleep physiology and arousal. In this study, we focused not only on sleep duration, but also on sleep problems. We conducted a large-scale survey to examine the relationship between excessive use of digital devices, Internet addictive behaviour, sleep duration, and sleep problems.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study of children enrolled in 20 public primary schools in Nagoya City, Japan. Children's parents/guardians completed a questionnaire including the brief sleep questionnaire for Japanese children which is a shortened version of the 'Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire'. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify associations between sleep problems and grade, sex, weekday sleep time, weekend sleep time, ownership of digital devices, frequent checking of digital devices, use of digital devices for more than 4 hours per day, and Internet addiction.

RESULTS

In total, 8172 responses were received (91.6% response rate). After excluding incomplete responses, we analysed complete datasets for 6893 children with a mean age of 9.0 years. When adjusted for sex, grade, sleep duration on weekdays, and sleep duration on weekends, failure to control (odds ratio [OR] = 1.48; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29-1.70; p < .001), more use than intended (OR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.12-1.44; p < .001), and use to escape a dysphoric mood (OR = 1.30; 95% CI: 1.03-1.64; p = .027) were associated with children's sleep problems. A shorter weekday and a longer weekend sleep duration indicated a higher likelihood of sleep problems.

CONCLUSIONS

After adjusting for sleep duration, a relationship was found between the three Internet addictive behaviours and sleep problems, but not ownership of digital devices. Parents and teachers may need to address screen media-related sleep problems in children, as these problems may be influenced by psychological factors.

The Role of Technology and Social Media Use in Sleep-Onset Difficulties Among Italian Adolescents: Cross-sectional Study

Background

The use of technology and social media among adolescents is an increasingly prevalent phenomenon. However, there is a paucity of evidence on the relationship between frequency of use of electronic devices and social media and sleep-onset difficulties among the Italian population.

Objective

The aim of this study is to investigate the association between the use of technology and social media, including Facebook and YouTube, and sleep-onset difficulties among adolescents from Lombardy, the most populous region in Italy.

Methods

The relationship between use of technology and social media and sleep-onset difficulties was investigated. Data came from the 2013-2014 wave of the Health Behavior in School-aged Children survey, a school-based cross-sectional study conducted on 3172 adolescents aged 11 to 15 years in Northern Italy. Information was collected on difficulties in falling asleep over the last 6 months. We estimated the odds ratios (ORs) for sleep-onset difficulties and corresponding 95% CIs using logistic regression models after adjustment for major potential confounders.

Results

The percentage of adolescents with sleep-onset difficulties was 34.3% (1081/3151) overall, 29.7% (483/1625) in boys and 39.2% (598/1526) in girls. It was 30.3% (356/1176) in 11-year-olds, 36.2% (389/1074) in 13-year-olds, and 37.3% (336/901) in 15-year-olds. Sleep-onset difficulties were more frequent among adolescents with higher use of electronic devices, for general use (OR 1.50 for highest vs lowest tertile of use; 95% CI 1.21-1.85), use for playing games (OR 1.35; 95% CI 1.11-1.64), use of online social networks (OR 1.40 for always vs never or rarely; 95% CI 1.09-1.81), and YouTube (OR 2.00; 95% CI 1.50-2.66).

Conclusions

This study adds novel information about the relationship between sleep-onset difficulties and technology and social media in a representative sample of school-aged children from a geographical location that has not been included in studies of this type previously. Exposure to screen-based devices and online social media is significantly associated with adolescent sleep-onset difficulties. Interventions to create a well-coordinated parent- and school-centered strategy, thereby increasing awareness on the unfavorable effect of evolving technologies on sleep among adolescents, are needed.

Association between Sleep Timing and Weight Status among 14- to 19-Year-Old Adolescents in Wuhan, China

This study examined the cross-sectional and longitudinal association of sleep timing with weight status in 14- to 19-year-old adolescents in Wuhan, China. A prospective school-based study was conducted in Wuhan, China between 28 May and 29 September 2019. Data on sociodemographic information, academic performance, diet, mental health status, physical activity, sleep characteristics, body weight, and height were collected. A linear regression model and binary logistic regression model were performed. A total of 1194 adolescents were included in the analysis. Adolescents who woke up before 05:45 had higher body mass index (BMI) Z-score (odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.28 (1.05, 1.57), p = 0.02) and higher odds of overweight/obesity (odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.74 (1.10, 2.76), p = 0.02) at baseline after fully adjustment for covariates, compared with those who woke up after 05:45. Longitudinal data showed a nonsignificant association between waking up time and change in BMI Z-score (p = 0.18). No association of bedtime with weight status was observed in this sample after full adjustment (p > 0.1). Earlier waking up time might contribute to overweight and obesity in adolescents; however, more data are needed to test and elucidate this relationship.

Perception and simplified question for assessing problems sleeping among university students at a primary care unit

Introduction:

Students entering university undergo various lifestyle changes, many of which may affect their sleeping habits. This study aimed to evaluate 1) individual perception of the problems sleeping, 2) “actual“ problems sleeping as detected using a simplified questionnaire, 3) the relationship between individual perceptions and actual problems sleeping, and 4) the factors affecting the problems sleeping.

Methods and Material:

This was a descriptive study of 240 university students who attended the “123 Primary Care Unit“ for no sleep-related problems between March and June 2019. The tool was a self-response questionnaire that assessed the respondent's demographic data and sleep patterns over the past year. All parameters and problems sleeping were analyzed for their association.

Results:

Most of the students (51.3%) perceived themselves as having problems sleeping. Actual problems sleeping was found in 174 (72.5%) students. Individual perception was significantly related to the presence of all four of the problems sleeping assessed, which included difficulty in initiating sleep, waking up at night and being unable fall back to sleep, the need for daytime napping, and the feeling that one is sleep deprived (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

This study provides a simplified method for assessing problems sleeping among university students at a primary care facility. Most of the students had problems sleeping and accurate perceptions of those problems sleeping, but the problems sleeping were often ignored. Further improvements to the system for screening and treating problems sleeping are required.