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. 2016 Aug 30:242:218-225.
doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.05.017. Epub 2016 May 24.

Sleep disordered breathing symptoms and daytime sleepiness are associated with emotional problems and poor school performance in children

Jianghong Liu  1 , Xianchen Liu  2 , Xiaopeng Ji  3 , Yingjie Wang  3 , Guoping Zhou  4 , Xinyin Chen  5
Affiliations

Sleep disordered breathing symptoms and daytime sleepiness are associated with emotional problems and poor school performance in children

Jianghong Liu et al. Psychiatry Res. .

Abstract

This study examined the prevalence of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) symptoms and their associations with daytime sleepiness, emotional problems, and school performance in Chinese children. Participants included 3979 children (10.99±0.99 years old) from four elementary schools in Jintan City, Jiangsu Province, China. Children completed a self-administered questionnaire on sleep behavior and emotional problems, while parents completed the Child Sleep Habit Questionnaire (CSHQ). SDB symptoms included 3 items: loud snoring, stopped breathing, and snorting/gasping during sleep. Teachers rated the children's school performance. The prevalence rates of parent- and self-reported SDB symptoms were 17.2% and 10.1% for "sometimes" and 8.9% and 5.6% for "usually". SDB symptoms, more prevalent in boys than in girls, increased the risks for depression, loneliness, and poor school performance. Daytime sleepiness mediated the relationship between SDB symptoms and depression, loneliness, and poor school performance. This study suggests the importance of early screening and intervention of SDB and daytime sleepiness in child behavioral and cognitive development.

Keywords: Behavior outcomes; Chinese children; Daytime sleepiness; Emotional problems; School performance; Sleep disordered breathing.

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