Preliminary Study of Children's Sleep Problems in an Elementary School in Daegu

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of sleep problems in Korean elementary school children and the differences in sleep problems related to their school grade and gender. METHODS: One public elementary school in Dae-gu, Korea was randomly selected. And, parents who agreed to participate this study were asked to complete a modified version of Tucson Children's Assessment of Sleep Apnea screening questionnaire (TuCASA). RESULTS: The most common sleep problem was 'falling asleep in a vehicle (44.2%)' and the prevalence rate of this problem differed by school grade. The prevalence rate of falling asleep while watching TV before 8 P.M. (8.0%), daytime fatigue (21.9%) and nocturnal enuresis during the past 6 months (5.3%) were significantly differed by school grade. The prevalence rate of falling asleep while doing home work, falling asleep during a lesson, snoring and bruxism were 12.6%, 1.0%, 26.7% and 13.2% respectively. Although these rates did not show any differences between grades, snoring was more in boys and daytime fatigue was more in girls.. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that many elementary school children may have various sleep problems. Lower grade elementary schoolers had sleep problems which related to neuro-developmental factors, whereas higher grade elementary schoolers had sleep problems related to sleep deprivation and stress. Finally, more female schooler showed signs of fatigue or sleepiness than male schoolers.