Why Do Children in Asia Sleep Less?
Study Indicates Strong Cultural-Based Values Such as Room-Sharing
Jun 4, 2009
A recent study by the Asia Pacific Pediatric Sleep Alliance (APPSA), involving more than 29,000 infants and toddlers, of which 1,001are from Singapore, concluded that Singaporean children receive less sleep than children in predominantly-Caucasian countries. Japanese children received the lowest amount of sleep during the night, according to the 2008 study entitled "Cross-Cultural Differences in Infant and Toddler Sleep" in press with Sleep Medicine, by Dr. Jodi Mindell of Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia and other researchers.
Reasons for Less Sleep
A major factor relevant to the results in Asia include bed-sharing and room-sharing. "It is interesting to note that although room-sharing was practiced by most families living in predominantly-Asian countries/regions, there are greater differences in bed-sharing, with countries such as Hong Kong and Singapore, much more likely to place their child on a separate sleeping surface within the same room," according to the 2008 study. Interestingly, the study also shows that sleep locations play only a minimal role with sleep problems in Asia. One factor that may contributes to room-sharing is the relatively small housing in Singapore.
However, Dr. Chng Seo Yi of National University Hospital (NUH) in Singapore, concluded in a 2008 Annals Academy of Medicine review article that co-sleeping was not connected to serious sleep problems. His conclusion in the review comes from a 2006 study conducted in Singapore entitled "Co-Sleeping and Clinical Correlates in Children Seen at a Child Guidance Clinic."
Regarding the APPSA study, Dr Chng went on to state that most local mothers work full-time and adjust the sleep time of their children to accommodate their busy schedules. The study, which included children up to the age of three, revealed the average bedtime for children in Singapore is 9:38 p.m., with a wake-up time of 6:00 a.m. , according to Health Plus, Today. Surprisingly, the study also reflects that 44 percent of Singapore parents believe their children do have a sleep problem.
Chronic Health Problems May Persist
According to NUH Associate Professor Daniel YT Goh, co-researcher for the APPSA study, and Dr. Li Ling Lim, sleep disorders are linked to many health problems. "Increased risk of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, depression, myocardial infraction, and stroke. Collectively, therefore, they represent a large and generally under-recognized public health burden," stated in an August 2008 Annals Academy of Medicine editorial entitled "Sleep Disorders: Sleepless in Singapore."
Dr. Chng, in his 2008 review article linked above, does affirm the importance of sleep for children. Cognitive and behavioral growth are affected, along with school performance. "The knowledge and attitudes . . . . towards sleep disorders are inadequate and there is an urgent need for increased education in this area given the importance of good sleep in children," states Dr. Chng.
Sleep 2009 Conference
The APPSA study was released at the Sleep 2008 conference. This year's Sleep 2009 conference, the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, will be held in Seattle, Washington. " We continue to analyze the data and [are] looking at different angles," stated Dr. Mindell in a personal communication dated June 2, 2009. She, along with other researchers, will be presenting additional information on co-sleeping at this year's conference.
The APPSA study admits that more questions have been created than answered when it comes to cross-cultural differences. Room-sharing is culturally accepted in Singapore, with mixed results on how much it actually affects sleep. Children do need proper sleep during the night to function and develop appropriately.
Another conference on sleep disorders, the 6th Congress of Asian Sleep Research Society, will be held in October, 2009 in Osaka, Japan. This joint conference includes the 34th Annual Meeting of Japanese Society of Sleep Research and the 16th Annual Meeting of Japanese Society of Chronobiology.
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