SLEEP HABITS OF SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN

The quality and quantity of sleep is mainly based on sleep habits. Improper sleep habits are hazardous for health and wellbeing even in adulthood and after that. So, to determine the prevalence of sleep habits and the relations between these habits and factors such as age, gender, parental education, stress and sleep disturbances, a cross sectional study was conducted with the participation of 900 children between the age of 6-11. The CSHQ questionnaire was the tool for data gathering and both mothers and children filled it up. According to the findings daytime sleepiness with the score of (13.67±2.77) was the most prevalent habit and the need to be awakened by the parents was the most prevalent behavior (86%). There were significant relations between some habits and age, gender, parental educational level, parentral interrelationship and their sleep disturbances (P<0.05). To sum up, it is recommended that the authorities deeply look at the sleep habits of children and the disturbances related to their sleep. And also, the researchers suggest similar studies on children of other ages.