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Factors associated with shorter night-time sleep in toddlers: The Survey of Young Canadians

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Adequate sleep in childhood is important for healthy development. No information exists on the predictors of night-time sleep among toddlers in Canada. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of and to identify factors associated with sleeping <11 consecutive hours per night among children aged 1–2 years in Canada.

METHODS: Data from the cross sectional Survey of Young Canadians (SYC) 2010 were used. The biological mother reported on toddlers’ sleep duration at night. Based on cut-off values used in previous studies, shorter night-time sleep was defined as sleeping <11 hours per night. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to identify the associations between socio-demographic, maternal, sleep and child-related variables with shorter sleep at night.

RESULTS: Analysis of 3675 toddlers revealed that 57% slept <11 hours per night. Results of the regression analysis showed that being from an immigrant family was significantly associated with shorter night-time sleep. Being from a higher income household, having a mother aged between 25 and 34 years at the time of the survey, and napping ≥2 hours during the day were significantly related to sleeping ≥11 hours per night. Other socio-demographic, maternal and child-related variables were not associated with night-time sleep.

CONCLUSION: This was the first population-based, nationally representative study to examine factors related to shorter night-time sleep in Canadian toddlers. Socio-demographic factors and nap duration were associated with night-time sleep duration. More adequate early childhood sleep hygiene awareness efforts are recommended, especially in vulnerable populations.

Résumé

OBJECTIFS: Un sommeil suffisant est important pour le développement sain des enfants. Il n’existe aucune information sur les variables prédictives du sommeil nocturne chez les tout-petits au Canada. Notre étude visait à déterminer la prévalence du sommeil de <11 heures consécutives par nuit et à cerner les facteurs associés chez les enfants de 1 à 2 ans au Canada.

MÉTHODE: Nous avons utilisé les données d’une enquête transversale: l’Enquête sur les jeunes Canadiens (EJC) de 2010. La mère biologique y indique la durée du sommeil de son enfant pendant la nuit. D’après les valeurs limites utilisées dans des études antérieures, le sommeil nocturne de courte durée a été défini comme étant un sommeil de <11 heures par nuit. Nous avons mené une analyse de régression logistique multivariée pour cerner les associations entre, d’une part, les variables sociodémographiques, maternelles, et les variables liées au sommeil et à l’enfant, et d’autre part, le sommeil nocturne de courte durée.

RÉSULTATS: L’analyse de 3 675 tout-petits a révélé que 57 % d’entre eux dormaient <11 heures par nuit. Selon les résultats de l’analyse de régression, l’appartenance à une famille d’immigrants présentait une corrélation significative avec le sommeil nocturne de courte durée. L’appartenance à un ménage à revenu élevé, le fait d’avoir une mère âgée de 25 à 34 ans au moment de l’enquête et les siestes de ≥2 heures durant la journée présentaient des corrélations significatives avec le sommeil de ≥11 heures par nuit. Les autres variables sociodémographiques, maternelles et liées à l’enfant n’étaient pas associées au sommeil nocturne.

CONCLUSION: Il s’agit de la première étude populationnelle représentative à l’échelle nationale à avoir examiné les facteurs liés au sommeil nocturne de courte durée chez les tout-petits canadiens. Les facteurs sociodémographiques et la durée des siestes étaient associés à la durée du sommeil nocturne. Des efforts de sensibilisation plus poussés sur l’hygiène du sommeil durant la petite enfance sont recommandés, surtout auprès des populations vulnérables.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Kinesiology and Health Science, Bethune College, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada

    Christy Costanian MSc, Peri Abdullah MSc, Nita Sawh BSc, Ara Nagapatan BSc & Hala Tamim PhD

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  1. Christy Costanian MSc
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  2. Peri Abdullah MSc
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Correspondence to Christy Costanian MSc.

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Acknowledgements: The authors thank the Survey of Young Canadians (SYC) Study Group, and Statistics Canada who developed and implemented the SYC survey. Although the research and analysis are based on data from Statistics Canada, the opinions expressed in this paper do not represent the views of Statistics Canada.

Conflict of Interest: None to declare.

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Costanian, C., Abdullah, P., Sawh, N. et al. Factors associated with shorter night-time sleep in toddlers: The Survey of Young Canadians. Can J Public Health 108, e571–e577 (2017). https://doi.org/10.17269/CJPH.108.6236

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