Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions to minimize transmission of the virus affected the population worldwide. As a result of prolonged home confinement in Greece, changes in work schedules, disruptions of the educational process, the challenge of online learning, the constant need for self-protection, and the restrictions on social interaction, the family life was dramatically altered. In this study, sleep patterns of preschool children were recorded, and effects of screen time and diet were investigated in relation to quarantine due to COVID-19. Parents of 146 children provided data on their children’s night-time sleep habits, dietary habits, and screen time exposure. Children’s sleep problems were measured with the Children’s Sleep Questionnaire. Descriptive and qualitative analyses showed that most parents (54.1%) reported that children’s sleep habits changed during the imposed home confinement. Children with more sleep problems were more likely to have increased screen exposure. The present study provides evidence on the negative impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the sleep behavior of Greek preschoolers. Focused action is needed to safeguard and promote preschoolers’ physical and mental health during the lockdown and the recovery period.
Highlights
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Preschoolers’ sleep behavior has been highly influenced by the imposed lockdowns
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Prolonged screen exposure is associated with increased sleep difficulties
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Reasons for screen exposure were mainly related to education, entertainment, communication, familiarity with technology, and gaming
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Data Availability
The data that support the outcomes of the present study are available on demand from the corresponding author.
References
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Ethical approval was granted before the initiation of the study from the Papageorgiou General Hospital Review Board (105/339/19.02.21) and the Ethics Board of the Research Committee of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (6.401/6/23.03.2021). Informed consent prior to survey enrollment was a prerequisite for study inclusion. Confidentiality was assured and participants were able to withdraw consent or discontinue participation at any time.
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Tatsiopoulou, P., Holeva, V., Nikopoulou, V.A. et al. Changes in Sleep and Association with Screen Exposure and Diet among Preschool Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Study. J Child Fam Stud 33, 395–406 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-023-02732-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-023-02732-8