Prevalence and correlates of self-reported sleep problems among Chinese adolescents

Abstract

Study objectives: This study examined the prevalence and correlates of sleep problems in Chinese adolescents.

Design and setting: An epidemiological questionnaire survey was carried out in five high schools in Shandong Province of Mainland China.

Participants: A total of 1365 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18 years comprising 823 boys and 542 girls.

Measurements and interventions: The participants completed a self-administered questionnaire regarding sleep duration, sleep problems, stressful life events, lifestyles, and personal and family characteristics.

Results: Mean sleep duration at night was 7.64 hours (SD = 0.86) and decreased with increasing age. Of the sample, 16.9% (95% CI = 13.2-20.5%) reported insomnia symptoms including difficulty initiating sleep (10.8%), difficulty maintaining sleep (6.3%), and early morning awakening (2.1%). Nightmares were reported more frequently by girls (chi2=20.09, p<0.001). Only 2.3% of the sample had ever taken hypnotic medication during the past month. Almost 22% of the subjects went to bed later than 12:00 PM at least once a week. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that greater age, being at senior high school, doing no habitual physical exercise, poor physical health, self-selection of diet, longer distance from home to school, and life stress experienced during the past 12 months were significantly associated with an increased risk of insomnia.

Conclusions: Self-reported sleep problems in Chinese adolescents are common and associated with multiple factors. These findings suggest the need for comprehensive programs to prevent sleep problems in adolescents.