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School closure during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic - Impact on children's sleep.

Authors :
Lim, Michael Teik Chung
Ramamurthy, Mahesh Babu
Aishworiya, Ramkumar
Rajgor, Dimple D.
Tran, Anh Phuong
Hiriyur, Prerana
Kunaseelan, Shangari
Jabri, Majid
Goh, Daniel Yam Thiam
Source :
Sleep Medicine. Feb2021, Vol. 78, p108-114. 7p.
Publication Year :
2021

Abstract

<bold>Objective: </bold>To evaluate the sleep habits of school-going children before and during school closure in the national lockdown period (called 'Circuit Breaker' or CB in Singapore) due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<bold>Methods: </bold>Cross-sectional, anonymous, online, population-based survey questionnaire was administered to parents aged 21 years and above with children aged between 3 and 16 years attending pre-school, primary or secondary school (equivalent to kindergarten, middle and-high school) and residing in Singapore. Sleep duration in relation to various daily activities including academic activities, physical exercise, and screen time was evaluated pre-CB and during CB.<bold>Results: </bold>Data from 593 participants were analyzed. Pre-CB, the overall mean (SD) sleep duration of the study population was 9.01 (1.18) hours on weekdays and 9.99 (0.94) hours on weekends. During CB, mean (SD) sleep duration overall was 9.63 (1.18) hours. Although children generally went to bed later (mean 0.65 h later), they woke up even later during CB (mean 1.27 h later), resulting in longer sleep duration (mean increase of 0.35 h). This was most evident in secondary school children (mean increase of 0.70 h). Children attending private schools (which had later start times) had increased sleep duration (mean 10.01 (SD 0.89) hours pre-CB and 10.05 (SD 0.93) hours during CB) compared to public schools (mean 9.05 (SD 0.91) pre-CB and 9.49 (SD 1.22) hours during CB).<bold>Conclusions: </bold>School closure from the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in longer sleep duration in school-going children. Early school/academic activity start times had a significant impact on limiting children's sleep duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
13899457
Volume :
78
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Sleep Medicine
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
148731868
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2020.12.025