Sleeping habits of Finnish school children by sociodemographic background

This study investigated sleeping habits and sleep difficulties by selected sociodemographic background variables (age, sex, fathers occupation, urban v. rural environment and geographical region of Finland) among 11- to 16-year-old Finnish school children. The study is part of a larger, comparative, WHO-coordinated project on the health and life-style of school children (Health Behavior of School Aged Children—A WHO Cross-National Survey, the HBSC-Study). The Finnish research data represented the whole country. Using a standardized survey questionnaire the data were collected anonymously in schools in spring 19 Cleaned data were compiled from 2996 pupils. In general sleeping habits were healthy among adolescents but with increasing age unhealthy (irregular) sleeping habits as well as sleep difficulties emerged. Age and in some cases sex were important explanatory factors of sleeping habits and sleep difficulties. Other sociodemographic factors were far less correlated with sleep.

Environmental health · Life style · Rural area · Demography · Medicine · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Psychology · School Health and Nursing Education · Sleep and related disorders · Gerontology