Sleep disorders are associated with impulsivity in school children aged 8 to 10 years.
BACKGROUND
Sleep has an important function in the physical and emotional development of children. Some studies suggest an association between impulsivity and sleep disorders. However, little is known about this association in schoolchildren aged 8 to 10 years.


METHODS
We studied 1180 children, 547 with sleep disorders (SD) and 633 without SD (control group), classified with SD questionnaires. Within the SD group, 53 children with sleep-related respiratory disorders (SRRD) and 521 children with non-respiratory sleep disorders (NRSD) were analyzed. We assessed emotional indicators of impulsivity with Bender test.


RESULTS
More SD children presented impulsivity than control group (p<0.05). More NRSD and 10 years old children presented impulsivity than control group of the same age (p=0.001). Impulsivity and SRRD were associated with 8 years old children (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Children with SD, 8 years old children with SRRD, and 10 years old children with NRSD presented higher proportion of impulsivity than control children.
Medeiros
Marilaine
M
Sleep Laboratory, Hospital São Paulo, Department of Neurology-Neurosurgery, Federal University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Carvalho
Luciane B C
LB
Silva
Tatiana A
TA
Prado
Lucila B F
LB
Prado
Gilmar F
GF
D000367:Age Factors; D001538:Bender-Gestalt Test; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*