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Children’s Sleep Habits Changed During COVID-19 Lockdown
Home confinement during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with delayed bedtimes and wake times, increased sleep latency, and daytime sleepiness in children, according to a systematic review published in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews.
“The COVID-19 lockdown, due to lack of routines, led to ‘social jetlag’ as was reported on holidays or weekends prior to confinement, which can have negative effects on health,” researchers wrote.
The review focused on 8 studies that investigated the effects of COVID-19 confinement on the sleep of children aged 12 years and younger. Seven reported sleep routine changes, and 5 looked at sleep disturbances. Three studies were conducted in Italy, 1 in China, 1 in Israel, and 1 in Tunisia. The 2 remaining studies spanned a total 2 dozen countries, including Switzerland, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, the United States, and Canada.
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Studies that reported on total sleep duration showed an average increase of 1 hour and 36 minutes, according to the review. Those that considered bedtimes reported an average delay of 1 hour and 3 minutes (the mean bedtime was 10:59 PM), while wake times were delayed an average 1 hour and 16 minutes.
Studies reporting on time to fall asleep found a significant increase in minutes of latency, with averages as high as 1 hour.
Nocturnal awakenings, daytime sleepiness, and other sleep disturbances also increased. One study reported an average 1.28 nighttime awakenings during lockdown. Another study reported that daytime sleepiness increased 2.7% in 1 to 3 year olds, 4% in 4 to 5 year olds, and 5% in 6 to 12 year olds.
“These results suggested that sleep delay during confinement could lead to delayed sleep phase disorder,” researchers wrote. “However, whether or not the adverse changes to sleep patterns and bedtime routines seen during the home confinement period have any long-term consequences for children’s sleep and daytime functioning remains unknown.”
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