Cited by 707Sleep and related disordersSleep and Wakefulness ResearchSleep and Work-Related Fatigue

Sleep, cognition, and behavioral problems in school-age children: a century of research meta-analyzed.

Astill, Rebecca G., Van der Heijden, Kristiaan B., Van IJzendoorn, Marinus H., Van Someren, Eus J. W.·2012·Psychological Bulletin

Abstract

Clear associations of sleep, cognitive performance, and behavioral problems have been demonstrated in meta-analyses of studies in adults. This meta-analysis is the first to systematically summarize all relevant studies reporting on sleep, cognition, and behavioral problems in healthy school-age children (5-12 years old) and incorporates 86 studies on 35,936 children. Sleep duration shows a significant positive relation with cognitive performance (r = .08, confidence interval [CI] [.06, .10]). Subsequent analyses on cognitive subdomains indicate specific associations of sleep duration with executive functioning (r = .07, CI [.02, .13]), with performance on tasks that address multiple cognitive domains (r = .10, CI = [.05, .16]), and with school performance (r = .09, CI [.06, .12]), but not with intelligence. Quite unlike typical findings in adults, sleep duration was not associated with sustained attention and memory. Methodological issues and brain developmental immaturities are proposed to underlie the marked differences. Shorter sleep duration is associated with more behavioral problems (r = .09, CI [.07, .11]). Subsequent analyses on subdomains of behavioral problems showed that the relation holds for both internalizing (r = .09, CI [.06, .12]) and externalizing behavioral problems (r = .08, CI [.06, .11]). Ancillary moderator analyses identified practices recommended to increase sensitivity of assessments and designs in future studies. In practical terms, the findings suggest that insufficient sleep in children is associated with deficits in higher-order and complex cognitive functions and an increase in behavioral problems. This is particularly relevant given society's tendency towards sleep curtailment.

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Crossref · 10.1037/a0028204

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  • Nocturnal sleep disturbances affect daytime functioning, which is crucial for students' performance during waking hours, and sleep plays a key role in cognitive function.

    “Nocturnal sleep disturbances affect daytime functioning, which is crucial for students’ performance during waking hours, and sleep plays a key role in cognitive function [79].”
  • Several studies indicated that sleep disturbances and sleep loss impair learning and school performance in children.

    “Several studies indicated that sleep disturbances and sleep loss impairs learning and school performance in children (for reviews, see Refs.44,246,286,662,1178).”

    From About Sleep's Role in Memory (2013) · cites this paper as [44]

  • A recent systematic review and meta-analysis concluded that insufficient sleep was associated with deficits in higher-order and complex cognitive functions and an increase in behavioral problems in children.

    “Of note, a recent systematic review and meta-analysis concluded that insufficient sleep was associated with deficits in higher-order and complex cognitive functions and an increase in behavioral problems in children. 44”

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Authors
Astill, R. G., Van der Heijden, K. B., Van IJzendoorn, M. H., & Van Someren, E. J. W.
Affiliations
Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NL)
Venue
Psychological Bulletin
Published
2012
Volume
138
Issue
6
Pages
1109-1138
ISSN
  • 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1455
OpenAlex
W2151099567
Cited by
707
References
226
Citations by year
2026: 54 · 2025: 55 · 2024: 65 · 2023: 59 · 2022: 62 · 2021: 70 · 2020: 65 · 2019: 51 · 2018: 43 · 2017: 44 · 2016: 39 · 2015: 37 · 2014: 30 · 2013: 24 · 2012: 5
FWCI
41.18
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Pure Amsterdam UMC (publishedVersion)
  • Amsterdam UMC (VU Amsterdam) - Institutional Repository (publishedVersion)
  • KNAW research portal (Royal Academy of Art and Sciences (KNAW)) (publishedVersion)
  • VU Research Portal (publishedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
  • Digital Academic REpository of VU University Amsterdam (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Netherlands Organization of Scientific Research
  • The Hague (VICI Innovation Grant 453-07-001)
  • National Initiative Brain & Cognition Research Program (“Innovative Learning Materials and Methods” Grant 056-32-013)
  • Sponsor name not included
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
Keywords
sleep duration, elementary school students, cognitive performance, behavioral problems, executive function, academic performance, internalizing problems, externalizing problems, sustained attention, memory, sleep deprivation, brain development, intelligence
MeSH terms
Achievement, Child, Child Behavior Disorders, Child, Preschool, Cognition, Female, Humans, Male, Sleep, Sleep Wake Disorders, Time Factors

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