Effect of Sleep Changes on Health-Related Quality of Life in Healthy Children
Authors: Taylor Rachael W. , Haszard Jillian J. , Jackson Rosie , Morrison Silke , Beebe Dean W. , Meredith-Jones Kim A. , Elder Dawn E. , Galland Barbara C. 
Published: March 2023

Importance

Little is known regarding the effect of poor sleep on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in healthy children.

Objective

To determine the effect of induced mild sleep deprivation on HRQOL in children without major sleep issues.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This prespecified secondary analysis focused on HRQOL, a secondary outcome of the Daily Rest, Eating, and Activity Monitoring (DREAM) randomized crossover trial of children who underwent alternating weeks of sleep restriction and sleep extension and a 1-week washout in between. The DREAM trial intervention was administered at participants’ homes between October 2018 and March 2020. Participants were 100 children aged 8 to 12 years who lived in Dunedin, New Zealand; had no underlying medical conditions; and had parent- or guardian-reported normal sleep (8-11 hours/night). Data were analyzed between July 4 and September 1, 2022.

Interventions

Bedtimes were manipulated to be 1 hour later (sleep restriction) and 1 hour earlier (sleep extension) than usual for 1 week each. Wake times were unchanged.

Main Outcomes and Measures

All outcome measures were assessed during both intervention weeks. Sleep timing and duration were assessed using 7-night actigraphy. Children and parents rated the child’s sleep disturbances (night) and impairment (day) using the 8-item Pediatric Sleep Disturbance and 8-item Sleep-Related Impairment scales of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System questionnaire. Child-reported HRQOL was assessed using the 27-item KIDSCREEN questionnaire with 5 subscale scores and a total score. Both questionnaires assessed the past 7 days at the end of each intervention week. Data were presented as mean differences and 95% CIs between the sleep restriction and extension weeks and were analyzed using intention to treat and an a priori difference in sleep of at least 30 minutes per night.

Results

The final sample comprised 100 children (52 girls [52%]; mean [SD] age, 10.3 [1.4] years). During the sleep restriction week, children went to sleep 64 (95% CI, 58-70) minutes later, and sleep offset (wake time) was 18 (95% CI, 13-24) minutes later, meaning that children received 39 (95% CI, 32-46) minutes less of total sleep per night compared with the sleep extension week in which the total sleep time was 71 (95% CI, 64-78) minutes less in the per-protocol sample analysis. Both parents and children reported significantly less sleep disturbance at night but greater sleep impairment during the day with sleep restriction. Significant standardized reductions in physical well-being (standardized mean difference [SMD], −0.28; 95% CI, −0.49 to −0.08), coping in a school environment (SMD, −0.26; 95% CI, −0.42 to −0.09), and total HRQOL score (SMD, −0.21; 95% CI, −0.34 to −0.08) were reported by children during sleep restriction, with an additional reduction in social and peer support (SMD, −0.24; 95% CI, −0.47 to −0.01) in the per-protocol sample analysis.

Conclusions and Relevance

Results of this secondary analysis of the DREAM trial indicated that even 39 minutes less of sleep per night for 1 week significantly reduced several facets of HRQOL in children. This finding shows that ensuring children receive sufficient good-quality sleep is an important child health issue.

Trial Registration

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12618001671257