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Schooltime subjective sleepiness and performance in Italian primary school children.

Abstract：

:Despite its clinical importance, the issue of the diurnal time course of sleepiness and performance in children remains largely unexplored. The objective of this study is to draw a profile of daytime subjective sleepiness and performance, at simple and complex tasks, in a cohort of Italian primary school children.To this aim, a sample of 316 children (age range: 5-11 years; mean 8.2 ± 1.5) was recruited and sub-divided into three groups, according to age: Group 1 (5-7 years; N = 127), Group 2 (8-9 years; N = 108), Group 3 (10-11 years; N = 81). Subjective sleepiness and simple performance were evaluated, respectively, through the Pictorial Sleepiness Scale and the Simple Reaction Time Task. Executive functions were addressed by means of the "Go/No-Go Task." Measurements were made in the children's class three times a day, one day a week over a 3-week period in order to reliably reflect the habitual time course of sleepiness and performance, within the following time intervals: a) 8:30 am-10:30 am; b) 11 am-1 pm; c) 2 pm-4 pm.For the global sample, a significant increase of subjective sleepiness was found at the end of school day (2-4 pm), although at relatively low levels. No significant differences were observed in reaction times across the day, whereas a significant worsening was detected in performance at complex task already since mid-morning. Significant correlations were found between subjective sleepiness and complex performance at all points.Slight age-related differences were found in the time courses of subjective sleepiness: in fact, a significant overday reduction of vigilance levels, from mid-morning onwards, was observed in children aged 5-9 years, but not in the older children (10-11 years). However, the daily time course of both simple and complex performances did not differ among children of the three age groups. Our results show changes in vigilance and cognitive functions across a typical school day in childhood, as well as age-related differences in sleepiness profile, that we suggest to thoroughly consider when conceiving chronopsychological interventions in the school context.

journal_name

Chronobiol Int

journal_title

Chronobiology international

authors

Cerasuolo M,Giganti F,Conte F,Costanzo LM,Della Monica C,Arzilli C,Marchesano R,Perrella A,Ficca G

doi

10.1080/07420528.2016.1178274

subject

Has Abstract

pub_date

2016-01-01 00:00:00

pages

883-92

issue

eissn

0742-0528

issn

1525-6073

journal_volume

pub_type

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Schooltime subjective sleepiness and performance in Italian primary school children.