Sleep in middle childhood--a longitudinal study of sleep problems in a large sample of Dunedin children aged 5-9 years.

Complaints of sleeping difficulties in a large group of New Zealand children were studied prospectively over four years from 5 to 9 years of age. No association was found between sleeping difficulties and the sex, intelligence, or educational attainments of the child. Mothers who described their child as anxious or who were poor sleepers themselves tended to report sleeping problems in their child more frequently. There was no association between sleeping problems and teacher ratings of behaviour problems. Children who reported sleep problems also tended to report other problems. There was low agreement between parents and children. Only 0.3% of the total sample had a problem which persisted over the whole period.