Perceived Determinants of Children’s Inadequate Sleep Health. A Concept Mapping Study among Professionals

Abstract

An increasing number of children experience inadequate sleep, which negatively effects their health. To promote healthy sleep among children, it is essential to understand the underlying determinants. This online concept mapping study therefore explores potential determinants of children’s inadequate sleep as perceived by professionals with expertise in the sleep health of children aged 4–12 years. Participants (n = 27) were divided in three groups: (1) doctors (n = 9); (2) nurses (n = 11); (3) sleep experts (n = 7). Participants generated potential determinants (i.e., ideas) of children’s inadequate sleep. Subsequently, they sorted all ideas by relatedness and rated their importance. These data were analysed using multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis. The results of all three groups were combined and validated by an additional group of professionals (n = 16). A large variety of perceived determinants were identified. The most important determinants perceived by all groups belonged to the categories psychosocial determinants (i.e., worrying, a change in daily life), daytime and evening activities (i.e., screen use before bedtime, stimulating game play before bedtime, inadequate amount of daytime physical activity), and pedagogical determinants (i.e., inconsistent sleep schedule, lack of a bedtime routine). These perspectives are valuable for future longitudinal studies on the determinants of children’s sleep and the development of future healthy sleep interventions.

Correlates of inadequate sleep health among primary school children

“…Other domains of the CFPQ were not included as these were less relevant to the purpose of this study. The items of the domains of the original questionnaire were adapted and translated into sleep practices, based on findings in the scientific literature (Adam et al, 2007; Belmon, Brasser, et al, 2020; Belmon, Busch, et al, 2020; Gruber et al, 2014). Parents answered the questions on a 5‐point Likert scale, ranging from (1) “never” to (5) “always”.…”

“…fear, affective state) and evening activities (e.g. playing stimulating games before sleeping) as important factors of children’s sleep health (Belmon, Brasser, et al, 2020; Belmon, Busch, et al, 2020). For social and community network factors, previous research indicated that parental pre‐sleep emotional support (e.g.…”

Promoting children's sleep health: Intervention Mapping meets Health in All Policies

“…We conducted a systematic review to summarize the longitudinal evidence for factors related to children's sleep health (i.e., sleep duration, sleep quality, and sleep timing) ( 20 ). Next, two concept mapping studies were performed with different stakeholder groups (i.e., children aged 9-12 years, parents of children aged 4-12 years, and professionals) from various cultural backgrounds to explore the perceived determinants of children's inadequate sleep health ( 21 , 22 ). These mixed-method studies were supplemented with a cross-sectional study among a culturally diverse group of children and their parents in Amsterdam ( n = 382) to explore potential factors related to children's sleep (i.e., sleep duration, sleep quality, and sleep timing).…”