Factors associated with sleep duration among pupils

Abstract

BackgroundSleep shortage has been pervasive among pupils.MethodsMultiple regression analysis was used to analyze 2,722 questionnaires obtained from grade 5 to 12 pupils, to determine factors associated with sleep duration.ResultsSignificant regression formulae for sleep duration were obtained for all school types: adjusted R2/ P value were 0.14/<0.001 for elementary school; 0.11/<0.001 for junior high school; 0.06/<0.001 for high school. Longer after‐school activities (standardized regression coefficient/ P value were −0.22/<0.001 for elementary school; −0.10/<0.01 for junior high school; −0.18/<0.001 for high school) and more sleepiness (−0.09/<0.001 for elementary school; −0.07/<0.05 for junior high school; −0.07/<0.05 for high school) were significantly associated with reduced sleep duration for all school types. In both elementary and junior high schools, the higher grade (−0.53/<0.001 for elementary school; −0.10/<0.01 for junior high school), and longer weekday screen time (−0.15/<0.001 for elementary school; −0.19/<0.001 for junior high school) were also significantly associated with sleep loss. In elementary school, irregular dinner (−0.07/<0.05), breakfast skipping (−0.11/<0.001), longer weekend screen time (−0.09/<0.05) and better self‐reported academic performance (0.07/<0.05) also revealed significant associations with sleep loss. In high school, reduction of sleep duration was also significantly associated with higher standardized body mass index (−0.08/<0.05).ConclusionsExcessive after‐school activity might be considered in association with pupils’ sleep reduction.

Lifestyle habits associated with screen time among pupils in Japan

“…Although preliminary, we reported significant associations between short screen time during non‐school days and better self‐reported academic performance, 7 and between short screen time during school days and longer sleep duration among JHS and HS pupils, 8 also among elementary school (ES) pupils 9 . It was not difficult to discover reports on a similar association between screen time and academic performance 10–12 or sleep duration 13–17 .…”

“…The current study was part of a survey conducted on grade 5−12 pupils between October 2016 and November 2018 to determine mutual associations among lifestyle factors and to clarify the effects of associations of lifestyle factors on pupils' health and academic performance. Parts of this survey have been published elsewhere 7–9 …”

“…Details of the survey have been described in a former article 9 . In short, the questionnaire was delivered to the students by their schoolteachers, with a letter to assure each student that his or her responses would be treated anonymously and confidentially and that participation was voluntary.…”

“…The questionnaire (Table 1) was original, made with reference to one used in a national survey 2 . The questionnaire 8,9 asked about grade, gender, body height and weight, academic performance (1. very good, 2. good, 3. not good, 4. poor), and lifestyle issues, such as bed and waking times, frequency of feeling sleepy during class (1. never, 2. sometimes, 3. often, 4. always), frequency of eating breakfast (1. always, 2. often, 3. sometimes, 4. never), dinner regularity, frequency of defecation (1. every day, 2. every other day, 3. once every two to three days, 4. twice a week or less), weekly hours of after‐school activity, number of days engaged in physical activity per week, and screen time. The questions asked about bed and waking times and screen time separately for school days and non‐school days.…”

Lifestyle Habits Associated with Poor Defecation Habit among Pupils in Japan

“…The current study was part of a survey conducted between October 2016 and November 2018 to determine the mutual associations among lifestyle factors, and to clarify the associations of lifestyle factors with pupils' health and academic performance. Details of the survey have been described in other studies [23,24]. The schoolteachers distributed the questionnaires to their students.…”