Sleep Habits and Electronic Media Usage in Japanese Children: A Prospective Comparative Analysis of Preschoolers

Fumie Horiuchi, Yasunori Oka, Kentaro Kawabe and Shu-ichi Ueno
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Fumie Horiuchi: Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, Ehime University Hospital, Shitsukawa, 791-0295 Toon-City, Ehime prefecture, Japan
Yasunori Oka: Center for Sleep Medicine, Ehime University Hospital, Shitsukawa, 791-0295 Toon-City, Japan
Kentaro Kawabe: Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development, Ehime University Hospital, Shitsukawa, 791-0295 Toon-City, Ehime prefecture, Japan
Shu-ichi Ueno: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Shitsukawa, 791-0295 Toon-City, Japan

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-12

Abstract: Children are increasingly exposed to electronic media, which can potentially influence their sleep habits. However, few studies have investigated the effects of children’s life patterns on sleep habits and electronic media usage. This study investigated the differences in sleep habits and electronic media usage between 18- and 42-month-old children attending nursery schools, kindergartens, or staying at home, and respectively enrolled 183 (boys, n = 93; girls, n = 90) and 215 (boys, n = 104; girls, n = 111) 18- and 42-month-old children who underwent health check-ups. We found that 18-month-old children attending nursery school had significantly earlier wake times on weekdays and shorter sleep durations on weekends than children who stayed at home despite no differences in electronic media usage. There were no differences in sleep duration among 42-month-old children attending nursery schools, kindergartens, or staying at home; however, kindergarteners demonstrated a higher use of portable and home video games. Different life patterns affect electronic media usage in preschool children, especially those attending kindergarten. Particular attention should be paid to the higher usage of electronic media devices by kindergarteners, although they had the same sleep duration, as did other preschool children.

Keywords: electronic media; sleep habits; portable games; home video games; kindergarten preschool children (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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