BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to characterize cross-cultural sleep patterns and sleep problems in a large sample of preschool children ages 3-6years in multiple predominantly Asian (P-A) and predominantly Caucasian (P-C) countries/regions. METHODS: Parents of 2590 preschool-aged children (P-A countries/regions: China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand; P-C countries: Australia-New Zealand, Canada, United Kingdom, United States) completed an Internet-based expanded version of the Brief Child Sleep Questionnaire (BCSQ). RESULTS: Overall, children from P-A countries had significantly later bedtimes, shorter nighttime sleep, and increased parental perception of sleep problems compared with those from P-C countries. Bedtimes varied from as early as 7:43pm in Australia and New Zealand to as late as 10:26pm in India, a span of almost 3h. There also were significant differences in daytime sleep with the majority of children in P-A countries continuing to nap, resulting in no differences in 24-h total sleep times (TST) across culture and minimal differences across specific countries. Bed sharing and room sharing are common in P-A countries, with no change across the preschool years. There also were a significant percentage of parents who perceived that their child had a sleep problem (15% in Korea to 44% in China). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our results indicate significant cross-cultural differences in sleep patterns, sleeping arrangements, and parent-reported sleep problems in preschool-aged children. Further studies are needed to understand the underlying bases for these differences and especially for contributors to parents' perceptions of sleep problems.
BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to characterize cross-cultural sleep patterns and sleep problems in a large sample of preschool children ages 3-6years in multiple predominantly Asian (P-A) and predominantly Caucasian (P-C) countries/regions. METHODS: Parents of 2590 preschool-aged children (P-A countries/regions: China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand; P-C countries: Australia-New Zealand, Canada, United Kingdom, United States) completed an Internet-based expanded version of the Brief Child Sleep Questionnaire (BCSQ). RESULTS: Overall, children from P-A countries had significantly later bedtimes, shorter nighttime sleep, and increased parental perception of sleep problems compared with those from P-C countries. Bedtimes varied from as early as 7:43pm in Australia and New Zealand to as late as 10:26pm in India, a span of almost 3h. There also were significant differences in daytime sleep with the majority of children in P-A countries continuing to nap, resulting in no differences in 24-h total sleep times (TST) across culture and minimal differences across specific countries. Bed sharing and room sharing are common in P-A countries, with no change across the preschool years. There also were a significant percentage of parents who perceived that their child had a sleep problem (15% in Korea to 44% in China). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our results indicate significant cross-cultural differences in sleep patterns, sleeping arrangements, and parent-reported sleep problems in preschool-aged children. Further studies are needed to understand the underlying bases for these differences and especially for contributors to parents' perceptions of sleep problems.
Authors: Philip Lambrechtse; Victoria C Ziesenitz; Adam Cohen; Johannes N van den Anker; Ernst Jan Bos Journal: Br J Clin Pharmacol Date: 2018-01-17 Impact factor: 4.335
Authors: Sarah N Biggs; Lisa J Meltzer; Ignacio E Tapia; Joel Traylor; Gillian M Nixon; Rosemary S C Horne; Lex W Doyle; Elizabeth Asztalos; Jodi A Mindell; Carole L Marcus Journal: J Clin Sleep Med Date: 2016-05-15 Impact factor: 4.062
Authors: Ariel A Williamson; Izabela Milaniak; Bethany Watson; Olivia Cicalese; Alexander G Fiks; Thomas J Power; Frances K Barg; Rinad S Beidas; Jodi A Mindell; Katharine A Rendle Journal: J Pediatr Psychol Date: 2020-09-01
Authors: Ariel A Williamson; Sonia L Rubens; Kristina E Patrick; Melisa Moore; Jodi A Mindell Journal: J Clin Sleep Med Date: 2017-11-15 Impact factor: 4.062