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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Sleep Sci 2022; 15(S 02): 388-392
DOI: 10.5935/1984-0063.20210021
SHORT COMMUNICATIONS

Influence of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on sleep habits in a pediatric population

Sara Completo
1   Hospital Professor Doutor Fernando Fonseca, E.P.E., Pediatric Service, Child and Youth Department - Amadora - Amadora - Portugal
,
Andreia Fiúza Ribeiro
1   Hospital Professor Doutor Fernando Fonseca, E.P.E., Pediatric Service, Child and Youth Department - Amadora - Amadora - Portugal
,
Ana Rute Manuel
1   Hospital Professor Doutor Fernando Fonseca, E.P.E., Pediatric Service, Child and Youth Department - Amadora - Amadora - Portugal
,
Helena Cristina Loureiro
1   Hospital Professor Doutor Fernando Fonseca, E.P.E., Pediatric Service, Child and Youth Department - Amadora - Amadora - Portugal
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ABSTRACT

Objective: Assessment of changes in sleep habits at home in children during COVID-19 lockdown.

Methods: Retrospective, transversal study in a pediatric ward of a level II hospital. Questionnaires concerning sleep quality, patterns and its modifications during lockdown were distributed from June to August 2020. Comparison with a control sample from previous study (2019). Statistical analysis on SPSS Statistics23.

Results: Two groups were compared: during lockdown (n=36, mean age 9.3 years-old) and before lockdown (n=48, mean age 8.8 years-old). 55.6% stated changes in sleep patterns. There was an increase in sleep hours, specifically in school-aged children (p=0.05) and adolescents (p=0.03), with no impact in global subjective sleep quality. Significative increase in screen hours (p=0.02) and its use after dinner (p=0.04).

Discussion: Changes in sleep patterns during lockdown were frequent, alongside a higher use of screens. However, these did not affect the subjective sleep quality nor increased the occurrence of sleep disturbances.

Keywords:

COVID-19 Pandemic - SARS-CoV-2 - Sleep Habits - Electronic Devices - Lockdown


Publication History

Article published online:
01 December 2023

© 2023. Brazilian Sleep Association. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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