Childhood Insomnia may Predict Functional Capacity as an Adult

Childhood Insomnia may predict Functional Capacity As A Adult

We all know that sleep is very important for a child. Did you know lack of sleep might affect them as an adult? Do not feel bad not many people did until a recent study was done.

The recent study done allowed for an estimation of the impact of chronic insomnia on the future functioning of children. Children with insomnia especially of the chronic nature have a greater risk of psychological problems as an adult.

At the University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston Professor Robert E. Roberts of behavioral science, lead the study. Data was collected from 4,175 adolescents age ranging between 11 – 17 years – old with a history of chronic insomnia and the frequency and duration. They then examined the selected risk, protective factors and their ability to predict the incidence of insomnia over one year focusing on specifically age, sex, family income, ethnicity, physical and mental problems.

A year later, the study consisted of 3,134 of the youths in the study. The results showed 13.9 percent for one or more symptoms of insomnia, 5.5 percent for one or more symptoms including daytime fatigue and drowsiness, and 5.3 percent for insomnia caseness. The rates of chronic insomnia were 45.8 percent for one or more symptoms of insomnia, 34.7 percent with chronic fatigue and drowsiness during the day and 22.8 for insomnia caseness. No effects of age, sex, or family income was found predicting the incidence of chronic insomnia. The study did find an association of both psychological and somatic dysfunction with a strong prediction for psychological dysfunction.

The data from the study suggests insomnia among youths is comparable to that of other major psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression and possible substance abuse, with these results it is suggested that health care providers should place a greater emphasis on detecting and treating insomnia among children. A recommendation of nine or more hours nightly is needed for teenagers.

By: Allen Bell
Published: 02/04/08