Sleep Hygiene and Sleep Outcomes in a Sample of Urban Children With and Without Asthma

Abstract

Considering urban stressors when treating pediatric populations is important, as factors related to urban stress may influence sleep hygiene practices and sleep outcomes.

Internalizing symptoms and sleep outcomes in urban children with and without asthma

“…Results indicated children with higher levels of depressive and somatic symptoms tended to have more inconsistent sleep duration across monitored nights. Consistent with previous research, urban risk factors including neighborhood risk and poverty level were associated with more variability in sleep duration, 10 which may be related to inconsistent or poor sleep hygiene behaviors (eg, inconsistent bedtimes and waketimes). In addition to urban risk factors, internalizing symptoms such as depressive and somatic symptoms may also challenge implementing healthy sleep behaviors consistently (eg, a consistent bedtime routine and consistent sleep schedule) and should be further explored in the context of specific sleep hygiene behaviors.…”

“…8 Environmental conditions more prevalent in low-SES, urban areas (eg, increased noise during the night, uncomfortable bed, and uncomfortable room temperatures) have been linked to inconsistent and later sleep onset times, wake times, and daytime sleepiness, 9 as well a shorter and more variable sleep duration. 10 Other stressors more likely in urban environments, such as witnessing violence, have also been associated with adolescent self-reported sleep problems such as difficulties falling asleep and daytime sleepiness. 8 Studies focusing on sleep in ethnic minority children have found that compared to non-Latino white (NLW) children, ethnic minority children experienced shorter sleep duration 11 and more daytime sleepiness.…”

“…8 Studies focusing on sleep in ethnic minority children have found that compared to non-Latino white (NLW) children, ethnic minority children experienced shorter sleep duration 11 and more daytime sleepiness. 10 Given that a higher proportion of ethnic minority children live in urban areas, urban minority children may be at heightened risk for poor sleep outcomes (eg, shorter sleep, more variable sleep, later sleep onset). 12 Asthma and sleep outcomes in urban minority children A growing body of evidence has shown that urban minority children with asthma have been found to be particularly vulnerable to poor sleep.…”

“…Data were collected as part of a larger study (NAPS, or Nocturnal Asthma and Performance in School) 10,14,18 assessing the co-occurrence of asthma, sleep quality, and academic functioning in urban children with and without persistent asthma across one academic year. Children and their caregivers were recruited from the four largest urban school districts located in a Northeastern United States city, from hospital-based outpatient pediatric clinics, and from a hospital-based asthma education program.…”

Managing Asthma and Obesity Related Symptoms (MATADORS): An mHealth Intervention to Facilitate Symptom Self-Management among Youth

“…Youth with asthma and obesity experience increased respiratory symptoms and have decreased response to inhaled corticosteroids compared to youth with asthma with healthy body weight [ 3 ]. Inflammation, a key physiological factor seen in both asthma and obesity, has been linked to fatigue and poor sleep patterns [ 16 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ], resulting in difficulty maintaining cognitive focus in school [ 26 , 30 ]. Additionally, exercise intolerance and dyspnea can be triggers for youth with asthma and obesity, as they can cause or mimic symptoms of dyspnea, often resulting in activity avoidance [ 15 , 16 ].…”