Research ArticleOriginal Article
Open Access

Prevalence of sleep problems and habits among children in Saudi Arabia

A cross-sectional study

Ahmed AlEidan, Mohammad Al-Shamrani, Mazen AlGhofaily, Najlaa AlDraiweesh, Basem AlGhamdi, Hattan AlHabshan, Summayah Kobeisy, Saleh Alharbi and Abdullah Al-Shamrani
Saudi Medical Journal March 2023, 44 (3) 289-295; DOI: https://doi.org/10.15537/smj.2023.44.3.20220894

Article Figures & Data

Tables

  • Table 1

    - Demographics.

    Characteristicsn (%)
    Gender
    Male345 (58.9)
    Female241 (41.1)
    Age group (years)
    2-5207 (35.3)
    6-9195 (33.3)
    10-14207 (31.4)
    Nationality
    Saudi533 (91.0)
    Non-Saudi53 (9.0)

    • Values are presented as numbers and precentages (%).

  • Table 2

    - Sleep problems prevalence.

    Sleep problemsn (%)
    Bed-time resistance411 (70.1)
    Sleep-onset delay340 (58.0)
    Fear at bed-time181 (30.9)
    Interrupted sleep187 (31.9)
    Nightmares156 (26.6)
    Night terrors121 (20.6)
    Nocturnal enuresis97 (16.6)
    Sleep talking167 (28.5)
    Sleep walking20 (3.4)
    Difficulty waking up in the morning (WD)241 (41.1)
    Difficulty waking up in the morning (WE)218 (37.2)
    Snoring87 (14.8)
    Witnessed apnoea23 (3.9)
    Daytime napping59 (10.1)
    Sleep in class52 (11.8)
    My child is not getting enough sleep153 (26.1)
    Daytime fatigue154 (26.3)
    Hyperactivity245 (41.8)
    Inability to concentrate175 (29.9)
    My child is aggressive during the day247 (42.2)
    Co-sleeping with parents210 (35.8)

    • Values are presented as numbers and precentages (%). WD: weekdays, WE: weekend

  • Table 3

    - Association between sleep problems and age groups.

    Associated variablesAge groups (years)P-values
    2-56-910-14
    Bed-time resistance139 (34.7)140 (34.9)122 (30.4)0.292
    Sleep-onset delay105 (31.6)119 (35.8)108 (32.5)0.121
    Fear at bed-time52 (29.9)81 (46.6)41 (23.6)0.000
    Interrupted sleep72 (40.7)49 (27.7)56 (31.6)0.091
    Nightmares57 (38.3)55 (36.9)37 (24.8)0.089
    Night terrors50 (43.1)36 (31.0)30 (25.9)0.092
    Nocturnal enuresis37 (38.1)32 (33.0)28 (28.9)0.693
    Sleep talking55 (34.0)54 (33.3)53 (32.7)0.957
    Sleep walking3 (15.0)6 (30.0)11 (55.0)0.055
    Difficulty waking up in the morning (WD)34 (14.4)93 (39.4)109 (46.2)0.000
    Difficulty waking up in the morning (WE)40 (18.4)77 (35.5)100 (46.1)0.000
    Snoring24 (28.2)23 (27.1)38 (44.7)0.025
    Witnessed apnoea7 (30.4)6 (26.1)10 (43.5)0.480
    My child is not getting enough sleep35 (23.8)45 (30.6)67 (45.6)0.000
    Co-sleeping with parents28 (62.1)56 (27.2)22 (10.7)0.000

    • Values are presented as numbers and precentages (%). WD: weekdays, WE: weekend

  • Table 4

    - Association between bed-time resistance and sleep habits with age group.

    Associated variablesAge groups (years)P-values
    2-56-910-14
    My child resists sleep when:
    Sleeping regularly70 (33.7)69 (33.2)69 (33.2)0.876
    Co-sleeping with parents65 (53.7)32 (26.4)24 (19.8)0.000
    Using gadgets (smartphones, tablets, TV, etc.)126 (30.9)137 (33.6)145 (35.5)0.002
    Using gadgets (smartphones, tablets, TV, etc.) for <2 hours94 (43.3)71 (32.7)52 (24.0)0.000
    Using gadgets (smartphones, tablets, TV, etc.) for >2 hours52 (20.5)91 (35.8)111 (43.7)0.000
    Consuming caffeinated or energy drinks (coffee, tea, soda, etc.)51 (29.3)48 (27.6)75 (43.1)0.001
    Lights on112 (37.5)92 (30.8)95 (31.8)0.322
    Consuming late dinner37 (27.4)48 (35.6)50 (37.0)0.105
    Napping during day-time162 (35.2)149 (32.4)149 (32.4)0.765

    • Values are presented as numbers and precentages (%).

  • Table 5

    - Association between sleep-onset delay and sleep habits with age group.

    Associated variablesAge groups (years)P-values
    2-56-910-14
    My child has difficulty entering sleep when:
    Sleeping regularly54 (34.4)47 (29.9)56 (35.7)0.460
    Co-sleeping with parents52 (46.8)30 (27.0)29 (26.1)0.013
    Using gadgets (smartphones, tablets, TV, etc.)110 (28.8)131 (34.3)141 (36.9)0.000
    Using gadgets (smartphones, tablets, TV, etc.) for <2 hours86 (41.3)72 (34.6)50 (24.0)0.000
    Using gadgets (smartphones, tablets, TV, etc.) for >2 hours54 (21.5)85 (33.9)112 (44.6)0.000
    Consuming caffeinated or energy drinks (coffee, tea, soda, etc.)54 (29.0)56 (30.1)76 (40.9)0.006
    Lights on106 (35.5)97 (32.4)96 (32.1)0.929
    Consuming late dinner38 (27.7)45 (32.8)54 (39.4)0.059
    Napping during daytime146 (34.5)145 (34.3)132 (31.2)0.577

    • Values are presented as numbers and precentages (%).

  • Table 6

    - Association between sleep problems and sleep habits.

    Associated variablesSleep problems
    SnoringP-valuesWitnessed apnoeaP-values
    Difficulty waking from sleep during weekdays49 (20.8)0.00115 (6.4)0.018
    Difficulty waking from sleep during weekends44 (20.3)0.00514 (6.5)0.021
    Frequent dosing during the day16 (27.6)0.0047 (12.1)0.001
    My child struggles during classes16 (30.8)0.0036 (11.5)0.008
    My child is not getting enough sleep56 (13.2)0.05616 (3.8)0.599
    Daytime fatigue32 (21.1)0.0139 (5.9)0.166
    Hyperactivity42 (17.6)0.12617 (7.1)0.001
    Inability to concentrate42 (24.4)0.00012 (7.0)0.019
    My child is aggressive during the day48 (19.8)0.00413 (5.4)0.161

    • Values are presented as numbers and precentages (%).

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