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TV exposure associated with sleep disturbances in 5- to 6-year-old children

  1. E. JUULIA PAAVONEN1,
  2. MARJO PENNONEN2,
  3. MIRA ROINE2,
  4. SATU VALKONEN2,
  5. ANJA RIITTA LAHIKAINEN2

Article first published online: 16 MAY 2006

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2869.2006.00525.x

Issue

Journal of Sleep Research

Journal of Sleep Research

Volume 15, Issue 2, pages 154–161, June 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

PAAVONEN, E. J., PENNONEN, M., ROINE, M., VALKONEN, S. and LAHIKAINEN, A. R. (2006), TV exposure associated with sleep disturbances in 5- to 6-year-old children. Journal of Sleep Research, 15: 154–161. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2869.2006.00525.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki

  2. 2

    Department of Sociology and Social Psychology, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland

*Dr E. J. Paavonen, Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Helsinki, Lastenlinnantie 2, 00029 HUS, Helsinki, Finland. Tel.: +358-40-8306123; fax: +358-9-47180288; e-mail: juulia.paavonen@helsinki.fi

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 16 MAY 2006
  2. Article first published online: 16 MAY 2006
  3. Accepted in revised form 15 March 2006; received 1 December 2005

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Keywords:

  • children;
  • passive TV viewing;
  • sleep disturbances;
  • TV exposure;
  • TV viewing

Summary

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of various forms of TV exposure on the quality of children's sleep. In this randomized population-based survey questionnaires concerning TV viewing, sleep disturbances, and psychiatric symptoms were administered to 321 parents of children aged 5–6 years. Sleep disturbance scores were the main outcome measures. Active TV viewing and passive TV exposure were related to sleeping difficulties, especially sleep–wake transition disorders and overall sleep disturbances. Particularly, passive TV exposure and viewing adult-targeted TV programs were strongly related to sleep disturbances. The association remained significant when socioeconomic status, family income, family conflicts, the father's work schedule, and the child's psychiatric symptoms were controlled statistically. The adjusted odds ratios were 2.91 (95% CI 1.03–8.17) and 3.01 (95% CI 1.13–8.05), respectively. TV viewing and particularly passive TV exposure and viewing adult-targeted programs significantly increase the risk of sleeping difficulties. The results suggest that health-care professionals should be aware of the association between TV exposure and sleep disturbances.

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