Normative data on the sleep habits of Australian children and adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To provide normative sleep data on 9-18 year old Australians.


METHODS
Cohort study.


METHODS
Participants' homes.


METHODS
4032 Australians aged 9-18 years.


METHODS
N/A.


RESULTS
Participants completed a 48h use of time recall, comprising sleep data for one complete night. Sleep duration, bedtime and wake time were compared across age groups, between genders, and between school and non-school days using ANOVA. Sleep duration declined with age (P < 0.0001) at the rate of 12 min/night per year of age on school days, and 4 min on non-school days. Girls slept slightly longer than boys (5 min/night; P = 0.03). Non-school day sleep was 16 min longer than school day sleep (P < 0.0001), with the difference increasing with age. Bedtimes got later with age (P < 0.0001), however there were no differences in bedtimes between boys and girls. Bedtimes occurred 34 min later on non-school days (P < 0.0001). Wake times were very similar across age groups on school days, but increased at the rate of 10 min/year of age on non-school days. Wake times were similar for boys and girls, and occurred on average 82 min later on non-school days (P < 0.0001). Overall, 17% of school days and 20% of non-school days failed to meet the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sleep duration guidelines.


CONCLUSIONS
Normative sleep data will provide a valuable yardstick for health and education professionals when dealing with sleep-related issues.
Sansom Institute, Division of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
Tim
T
Olds
Carol
C
Maher
Sarah
S
Blunden
Lisa
L
Matricciani
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D017677:Age Distribution; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors