Health and Behavioral Problems Associated with Symptoms of Pediatric Sleep Disorders

The purpose of this study was to examine prevalence rates of symptoms of several sleep disorders in young children, and the relationship between symptoms of pediatric sleep disorders and other childhood problems. Two-hundred-seventy-six children aged 2 to 5 years were studied through examination of a pre-existing database. Children rated as high risk for having a sleep disorder displayed significantly more aggressive behavior and attention problems, as compared to children whose sleep was rated in the normal range. However, no relationship was found between symptoms of sleep disorders and body mass index, asthma, or allergies. In addition, no relationship was found between symptoms of sleep disorders and social skills. Twenty-six percent of children in this sample were at high risk for having at least one type of sleep disorder. Results are discussed with regard to implications for prevention and early identification of students who are at-risk for developing sleep disorders, as well as direct interventions for those students who have a diagnosed sleep disorder