Sleep Patterns and Disturbances in Children Aged 6-16 Years During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Türkiye
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the factors causing sleep patterns and disturbances in children during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Materials and Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study collected data from 408 mothers with children aged between 6 and 16 yea...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Galenos Yayinevi
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Türk Uyku Tıbbı Dergisi |
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| Online Access: | https://jtsm.org/articles/sleep-patterns-and-disturbances-in-children-aged-6-16-years-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-in-turkiye/doi/jtsm.galenos.2025.88588 |
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| author | Aysel Topan Özlem Öztürk Şahin Yeliz Taşdelen |
| author_facet | Aysel Topan Özlem Öztürk Şahin Yeliz Taşdelen |
| author_sort | Aysel Topan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the factors causing sleep patterns and disturbances in children during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study collected data from 408 mothers with children aged between 6 and 16 years. “The Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC)” was used to collect data.
Results: The study found the mean SDSC score was 46.25±16.34, with 11.8% of children showing symptoms of sleep disturbances. With increased sleep latency, significant bedtime and rise time delays were observed on weekdays and weekends. Children aged 6-12 slept less, whereas those aged 13-16 slept more (p<0.001). During the pandemic, irregular sleep, oversleeping, inability to sleep, and nightmares increased significantly (p<0.001). Late dinners, increased daytime sleep, and nighttime awakening were also significant (p<0.001). There was also a significant increase in the use of electronic devices before bedtime and during television viewing.
Conclusion: It was observed that approximately one in ten children experienced sleep disturbance symptoms during the pandemic. In addition, it was concluded that the sleeping/waking times of the children were negatively affected and that they had more frequent sleep disturbances. Based on these findings, it is crucial for pediatric nurses to identify and address sleep disturbances in children, particularly during situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which affects children’s daily routines. Based on these findings, it is crucial for pediatric nurses to identify and address sleep disturbances in children, particularly during situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which affects children’s daily routines. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cd9fcb2a70324f50804ca7be0dad42b8 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2148-1504 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Galenos Yayinevi |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Türk Uyku Tıbbı Dergisi |
| spelling | doaj-art-cd9fcb2a70324f50804ca7be0dad42b82025-08-20T02:09:12ZengGalenos YayineviTürk Uyku Tıbbı Dergisi2148-15042025-06-0112211612310.4274/jtsm.galenos.2025.88588Sleep Patterns and Disturbances in Children Aged 6-16 Years During the COVID-19 Pandemic in TürkiyeAysel Topan0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5883-0045Özlem Öztürk Şahin1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8781-3706Yeliz Taşdelen2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0444-3904Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Pediatric Nursing, Zonguldak, TürkiyeKarabük University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Pediatric Nursing, Karabük, TürkiyeKarabük University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Pediatric Nursing, Karabük, TürkiyeObjective: This study aimed to evaluate the factors causing sleep patterns and disturbances in children during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Materials and Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study collected data from 408 mothers with children aged between 6 and 16 years. “The Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC)” was used to collect data. Results: The study found the mean SDSC score was 46.25±16.34, with 11.8% of children showing symptoms of sleep disturbances. With increased sleep latency, significant bedtime and rise time delays were observed on weekdays and weekends. Children aged 6-12 slept less, whereas those aged 13-16 slept more (p<0.001). During the pandemic, irregular sleep, oversleeping, inability to sleep, and nightmares increased significantly (p<0.001). Late dinners, increased daytime sleep, and nighttime awakening were also significant (p<0.001). There was also a significant increase in the use of electronic devices before bedtime and during television viewing. Conclusion: It was observed that approximately one in ten children experienced sleep disturbance symptoms during the pandemic. In addition, it was concluded that the sleeping/waking times of the children were negatively affected and that they had more frequent sleep disturbances. Based on these findings, it is crucial for pediatric nurses to identify and address sleep disturbances in children, particularly during situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which affects children’s daily routines. Based on these findings, it is crucial for pediatric nurses to identify and address sleep disturbances in children, particularly during situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which affects children’s daily routines. https://jtsm.org/articles/sleep-patterns-and-disturbances-in-children-aged-6-16-years-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-in-turkiye/doi/jtsm.galenos.2025.88588pandemicsleepchildrensleep habits |
| spellingShingle | Aysel Topan Özlem Öztürk Şahin Yeliz Taşdelen Sleep Patterns and Disturbances in Children Aged 6-16 Years During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Türkiye Türk Uyku Tıbbı Dergisi pandemic sleep children sleep habits |
| title | Sleep Patterns and Disturbances in Children Aged 6-16 Years During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Türkiye |
| title_full | Sleep Patterns and Disturbances in Children Aged 6-16 Years During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Türkiye |
| title_fullStr | Sleep Patterns and Disturbances in Children Aged 6-16 Years During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Türkiye |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sleep Patterns and Disturbances in Children Aged 6-16 Years During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Türkiye |
| title_short | Sleep Patterns and Disturbances in Children Aged 6-16 Years During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Türkiye |
| title_sort | sleep patterns and disturbances in children aged 6 16 years during the covid 19 pandemic in turkiye |
| topic | pandemic sleep children sleep habits |
| url | https://jtsm.org/articles/sleep-patterns-and-disturbances-in-children-aged-6-16-years-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-in-turkiye/doi/jtsm.galenos.2025.88588 |
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