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Cited by 20Circadian rhythm and melatoninSleep and related disordersPhysical Activity and Health

Are children like werewolves? Full moon and its association with sleep and activity behaviors in an international sample of children

Open access
Chaput, Jean-Philippe, Weippert, Madyson, LeBlanc, Allana G., Hjorth, Mads F., Michaelsen, Kim F., Katzmarzyk, Peter T., Tremblay, Mark S., Barreira, Tiago V. +16 more·2016·Frontiers in Pediatrics
DOI 10.3389/fped.2016.00024PMC PMC4805596
Open this paper in CoChat — free accountOpen PDF

Abstract

In order to verify if the full moon is associated with sleep and activity behaviors, we used a 12-country study providing 33,710 24-h accelerometer recordings of sleep and activity. The present observational, cross-sectional study included 5812 children ages 9-11 years from study sites that represented all inhabited continents and wide ranges of human development (Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Finland, India, Kenya, Portugal, South Africa, United Kingdom, and United States). Three moon phases were used in this analysis: full moon (±4 days; reference), half moon (±5-9 days), and new moon (±10-14 days) from nearest full moon. Nocturnal sleep duration, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), light-intensity physical activity (LPA), and total sedentary time (SED) were monitored over seven consecutive days using a waist-worn accelerometer worn 24 h a day. Only sleep duration was found to significantly differ between moon phases (~5 min/night shorter during full moon compared to new moon). Differences in MVPA, LPA, and SED between moon phases were negligible and non-significant (<2 min/day difference). There was no difference in the associations between study sites. In conclusion, sleep duration was 1% shorter at full moon compared to new moon, while activity behaviors were not significantly associated with the lunar cycle in this global sample of children. Whether this seemingly minimal difference is clinically meaningful is questionable.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

In a 12-country sample of 5,812 children aged 9–11 with 33,710 24-h accelerometer observations, sleep duration was about 5 min/night shorter during full moon than new moon, while MVPA, LPA, and sedentary time did not differ significantly by moon phase. The authors conclude the sleep difference is statistically significant but of questionable clinical/public health importance.

Key findings

  • Sleep duration was 4.9 min/night shorter at full moon compared with new moon (P < 0.01), described as about 1% shorter; full moon vs half moon was −2.2 min/day (95% CI −4.9 to 0.5).
  • MVPA, LPA, and SED differences between moon phases were negligible and non-significant (<2 min/day difference); full moon vs new moon estimates were MVPA −0.9 min/day (95% CI −2.1 to 0.5), LPA 0.3 min/day (95% CI −2.0 to 2.0), and SED −0.9 min/day (95% CI −3.7 to 1.9).
  • Site-by-moon-phase interactions showed no difference between study sites, and there was no evidence of a difference between boys and girls (data not shown). Sleep efficiency comparisons were also non-significant (average sleep efficiency 96.2 ± 1.3%).
  • Descriptive characteristics included mean sleep duration 528 ± 53 min/day, MVPA 60 ± 25 min/day, LPA 315 ± 53 min/day, and SED 513 ± 69 min/day; 33% were overweight or obese, and 58% had at least one parent who completed high school or more.

Methods

  • ISCOLE multinational, cross-sectional study; 5,812 children ages 9–11 from 12 countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Finland, India, Kenya, Portugal, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States), providing 33,710 accelerometer observations collected September 2011–December 2013 across 28 lunar cycles.
  • Moon phases were classified as full moon (±4 days; reference), half moon (±5–9 days from nearest full moon), and new moon (±10–14 days from nearest full moon).
  • Sleep and activity were measured with a waist-worn Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometer worn 24 h/day for at least 7 days; valid data required ≥4 days with ≥10 h wear time and ≥3 valid sleep nights. Multilevel linear mixed models adjusted for age, sex, highest parental education, day of measurement, and BMI z-score, with days nested within individuals, schools, and sites.

Limitations

  • Stated: cross-sectional data cannot show causality, and residual confounding by unmeasured variables is possible in observational studies.
  • Stated: accelerometers are movement-based and may not distinguish sleeping from waking and do not provide sleep architecture; waist-worn accelerometers generally overestimate sleep duration and sleep efficiency compared with wrist-worn devices. Children were also assessed for only one week, not a whole lunar cycle.
  • Stated: children were likely woken at fixed times on weekdays for school, which may limit the strength of associations in children. Also stated in Methods: samples were not intended to be nationally representative, and participants excluded for missing data had significantly higher BMI z-scores than those included.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.3389/fped.2016.00024

Cites

19 of 19 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 31 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    Sleep duration was significantly shorter during full moon compared with new moon by approximately 4.9 min/night (P < 0.01) in this sample of 9-11 year old children from 12 countries.

    “Only sleep duration was found to significantly differ between moon phases (~5 min/night shorter during full moon compared to new moon).”
    • Also stated in: § Results · plain
      “Sleep duration was 4.9 min/night shorter (P < 0.01) at full moon compared with new moon (Table 2)”
    • Also stated in: § Conclusion · plain
      “nocturnal sleep duration is ~5 min shorter around full moon compared to new moon in this sample of children selected from around the world”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Light-intensity physical activity (LPA) did not differ significantly between moon phases.

    “Differences in MVPA, LPA, and SED between moon phases were negligible and non-significant (<2 min/day difference).”
    • Also stated in: § Results · plain
      “Differences in MVPA, LPA, and SED between moon phases were negligible and non-significant.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    There was no difference in the associations between study sites.

    “There was no difference in the associations between study sites.”
    • Also stated in: § Results · plain
      “Site by moon phase interactions showed no difference between study sites”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    There was no evidence of a difference between boys and girls in the associations.

    “there was no evidence of a difference between boys and girls (data not shown)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) did not differ significantly between moon phases.

    “Differences in MVPA, LPA, and SED between moon phases were negligible and non-significant (<2 min/day difference).”
    • Also stated in: § Results · plain
      “Differences in MVPA, LPA, and SED between moon phases were negligible and non-significant.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 31
  • May combine two claims. 13

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Other scientists have also found no influence of the lunar cycle on human sleep in small samples of adults (15-17).

    “Other scientists have also found no influence of the lunar cycle on human sleep in small samples of adults (15–17).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [15] Binkley, 1990, Human daily rhythms measured for one year, Physiol Behav source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [16] Cordi, 2014, Lunar cycle effects on sleep and the file drawer problem, Curr Biol source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [17] Pandey, 2005, Meteorologic factors and subjective sleep continuity: a preliminary evaluation, Int J Biometeorol source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Given the large sample size, finding a statistically significant shorter sleep duration around full moon is not surprising.

    “Given our large sample size, finding a statistically significant shorter sleep duration around full moon is not surprising.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    Cross-sectional data are limited in their ability to show causality.

    “First, cross-sectional data are limited in their ability to show causality.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    Exploratory analyses using different definitions of lunar phases provided very similar results and reinforced the findings.

    “Exploratory analyses using different definitions of lunar phases (e.g., the exact night of the full moon) provided very similar results and reinforced our findings.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationcitation

    The 5-min shorter sleep duration at full moon compared to new moon is consistent with Haba-Rubio et al. (6).

    “This 5-min shorter sleep duration during full moon compared to new moon is consistent with the finding by Haba-Rubio et al. (6).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [6] Haba-Rubio, 2015, Bad sleep? Don’t blame the moon! A population based study, Sleep Med source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductcitation

    Children were not assessed through a whole lunar cycle, but only a week, which may influence the comparisons reported.

    “Third, children were not assessed through a whole lunar cycle, but only a week. Although this approach has been used previously (7), it may influence the comparisons reported.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [7] Sjödin, 2015, Physical activity, sleep duration and metabolic health in children fluctuate with the lunar cycle: science behind the myth, Clin Obes source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Using only one device to assess both sleep and activity behaviors provides advantages and has been reported to give valid estimates of sleep-related behaviors in epidemiology (18).

    “However, using only one device to assess both sleep and activity behaviors certainly provides advantages (e.g., less cumbersome for children) and has been reported to give valid estimates of sleep-related behaviors in epidemiology (18).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [18] Hjorth, 2012, Measure of sleep and physical activity by a single accelerometer: can a waist-worn actigraph adequately measure sleep in children?, Sleep Biol Rhythms source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    Participants excluded due to missing data did not differ in their descriptive characteristics compared to those included, except for BMI z-scores, which were significantly higher.

    “Participants excluded due to missing data did not differ in their descriptive characteristics (except for BMI z-scores, which were significantly higher) compared to those included in the current analysis.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    Full moons can occur during school days, which may limit the strength of associations in children.

    “Considering that full moons can occur during school days, this is a limitation to keep in mind that may possibly limit the strength of associations in children.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductcitation

    Based on an a priori power calculation, the objective was to enroll a sex-balanced sample of at least 500 participants per site.

    “Based on an a priori power calculation analysis (8), the objective was to enroll a sex-balanced sample of at least 500 participants per site.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [8] Katzmarzyk, 2013, The International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment (ISCOLE): design and methods, BMC Public Health source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductcitation

    Nocturnal sleep duration was estimated using a recently validated algorithm for 24-h waist-worn accelerometers (9).

    “Nocturnal sleep duration was estimated using 60-s epochs and using a recently validated algorithm for 24-h waist-worn accelerometers (9).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [9] Barreira, 2015, Identifying children’s nocturnal sleep using a 24-h waist accelerometry, Med Sci Sports Exerc source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Larger reductions in sleep duration in the study by Cajochen et al. can be explained by the ad libitum sleep protocol without external time cues, while children in our study were likely woken up at a fixed time on weekdays to attend school.

    “Larger reductions in sleep duration in the study by Cajochen et al. (4) can be explained by the ad libitum sleep protocol without external time cues, while children in our study were likely woken up at a fixed time on weekdays to attend school.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [4] Cajochen, 2013, Evidence that lunar cycle influences human sleep, Curr Biol source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    The algorithm provides more accurate sleep duration estimates than previous algorithms (9,10).

    “This new algorithm captures total sleep time from sleep onset to the end of sleep, including all epochs and wakefulness after onset, and provides more accurate sleep duration estimates than previous algorithms (9, 10).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [9] Barreira, 2015, Identifying children’s nocturnal sleep using a 24-h waist accelerometry, Med Sci Sports Exerc source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [10] Tudor-Locke, 2014, Fully automated waist-worn accelerometer algorithm for detecting children’s sleep-period time separate from 24-h physical activity or sedentary behaviors, Appl Physiol Nutr Metab source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Whether the ~5 min shorter sleep duration at full moon is clinically meaningful is questionable.

    “Whether this seemingly minimal difference is clinically meaningful is questionable.”
    • Also stated in: § Conclusion · hedged
      “However, whether this difference is clinically meaningful is questionable.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Evidence that the lunar cycle can modulate sleep in humans can be best demonstrated when measured under highly controlled conditions of a circadian laboratory study protocol without time cues.

    “Evidence that the lunar cycle can modulate sleep in humans can be best demonstrated when measured under highly controlled conditions (e.g., light, temperature, magnetic fields, and hormonal status) of a circadian laboratory study protocol without time cues.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Waist-worn accelerometers generally tend to overestimate sleep duration and sleep efficiency compared to devices worn on the wrist (18).

    “Moreover, waist-worn accelerometers generally tend to overestimate sleep duration and sleep efficiency compared to devices worn on the wrist (18).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [18] Hjorth, 2012, Measure of sleep and physical activity by a single accelerometer: can a waist-worn actigraph adequately measure sleep in children?, Sleep Biol Rhythms source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Study design and conductnone given

    There is always the possibility of residual confounding by unmeasured variables in observational studies.

    “Finally, there is always the possibility of residual confounding by unmeasured variables in observational studies.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    Accelerometers may be limited in their ability to distinguish between sleeping and waking and do not provide information on sleep architecture.

    “Second, accelerometers may be limited in their ability to distinguish between sleeping and waking (they are based on movement detection) and do not provide information on sleep architecture.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Day of measurement was included as a covariate because sleep and activity behaviors have been shown to differ between weekdays and weekend days (12).

    “Day of measurement (weekday or weekend day) was included as a covariate because sleep and activity behaviors have been shown to differ between weekdays and weekend days (12).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [12] Hjorth, 2013, Seasonal variation in objectively measured physical activity, sedentary time, cardio-respiratory fitness and sleep duration among 8-11 year-old Danish children: a repeated-measures study, BMC Public Health source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductcitation

    A standard protocol was used to collect data across all sites, and all study personnel underwent rigorous training and certification to ensure the quality of collected data (8).

    “A standard protocol was used to collect data across all sites, and all study personnel underwent rigorous training and certification to ensure the quality of collected data (8).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [8] Katzmarzyk, 2013, The International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment (ISCOLE): design and methods, BMC Public Health source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The present study is likely to provide robust evidence of any possible link between the lunar cycle and sleep and activity behaviors.

    “With such a large and diverse sample of children from around the world, the present study is likely to provide robust evidence of any possible link between the lunar cycle and sleep and activity behaviors.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    Biological maturity was not included as a covariate because age and weight are included in the maturity offset calculation, creating collinearity issues.

    “However, age and weight are included in the maturity offset calculation, creating collinearity issues, and therefore biological maturity was not included as a covariate in our analyses.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    This finding is consistent with previous observations in adults measured under controlled laboratory conditions (4,5); however, the magnitude of this difference is much smaller in the present study (~5 vs. 20-25 min).

    “This finding is consistent with previous observations in adults measured under controlled laboratory conditions (4, 5); however, the magnitude of this difference is much smaller in the present study (~5 vs. 20–25 min).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [4] Cajochen, 2013, Evidence that lunar cycle influences human sleep, Curr Biol source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [5] Smith, 2014, Human sleep and cortical reactivity are influenced by lunar phase, Curr Biol source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Cajochen et al. reported that around full moon, sleep duration was reduced by 20 min and sleep quality was decreased in 33 adults measured under controlled laboratory conditions using polysomnography.

    “However, Cajochen et al. (4) reported that around full moon, sleep duration was reduced by 20 min and sleep quality was decreased in 33 adults measured under controlled laboratory conditions using polysomnography.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [4] Cajochen, 2013, Evidence that lunar cycle influences human sleep, Curr Biol source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductreasoning

    By design, the samples were not intended to be nationally representative.

    “By design, the samples were not intended to be nationally representative.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    A recent population-based study of adults from Switzerland (n = 2125) provided no evidence of a significant influence of lunar phases on human sleep (6).

    “By contrast, a recent population-based study of adults from Switzerland (n = 2125) provided no evidence of a significant influence of lunar phases on human sleep (6).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [6] Haba-Rubio, 2015, Bad sleep? Don’t blame the moon! A population based study, Sleep Med source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductcitation

    BMI z-scores were computed according to the World Health Organization's reference data (13).

    “BMI z-scores were computed according to the World Health Organization’s reference data (13).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [13] de Onis, 2007, Development of a WHO growth reference for school-aged children and adolescents, Bull World Health Organ source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductcitation

    MVPA, LPA, and SED were defined using cutoffs consistent with the widely used Evenson cutoffs (11).

    “MVPA was defined as ≥574 counts per 15 s, light-intensity physical activity (LPA) as between 26 and 573 counts per 15 s, and total SED as ≤25 counts per 15 s, consistent with the widely used Evenson cutoffs (11).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [11] Evenson, 2008, Calibration of two objective measures of physical activity for children, J Sports Sci source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Smith et al. reported a reduction of 25 min/night in sleep duration around full moon in 47 healthy adults tested in the laboratory.

    “These findings were later supported by those of Smith et al. (5) who reported a reduction of 25 min/night in sleep duration around full moon in 47 healthy adults tested in the laboratory.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [5] Smith, 2014, Human sleep and cortical reactivity are influenced by lunar phase, Curr Biol source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    Multilevel modeling analyses were used to properly account for the hierarchical nature of data (four levels).

    “Multilevel modeling analyses were used to properly account for the hierarchical nature of data (four levels; days nested within individuals nested within schools nested within sites).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductown data

    Multilevel linear mixed model analysis was used to examine associations between moon phases and sleep/activity behaviors.

    “Multilevel linear mixed model analysis (PROC MIXED) was used to examine the associations between moon phases and sleep/activity behaviors (sleep duration, MVPA, LPA, and SED).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductcitation

    The classifications of lunar phases are identical to those used in recently published papers (4-7).

    “These classifications of lunar phases are identical to those used in recently published papers (4–7).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [4] Cajochen, 2013, Evidence that lunar cycle influences human sleep, Curr Biol source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [5] Smith, 2014, Human sleep and cortical reactivity are influenced by lunar phase, Curr Biol source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [6] Haba-Rubio, 2015, Bad sleep? Don’t blame the moon! A population based study, Sleep Med source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [7] Sjödin, 2015, Physical activity, sleep duration and metabolic health in children fluctuate with the lunar cycle: science behind the myth, Clin Obes source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    The clinical relevance of these seemingly small differences in children is questionable.

    “However, the clinical relevance of these seemingly small differences in children is questionable.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Sjödin et al. were the only one to study this issue in children and reported that variations in sleep duration and physical activity measured with accelerometry were significantly associated with the lunar cycle.

    “Sjödin et al. (7) were the only one to study this issue in children and reported that variations in sleep duration and physical activity measured with accelerometry (i.e., a device detecting acceleration) were significantly associated with the lunar cycle.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [7] Sjödin, 2015, Physical activity, sleep duration and metabolic health in children fluctuate with the lunar cycle: science behind the myth, Clin Obes source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Sjödin et al. observed that children (n = 795 Danish children) slept significantly longer on average (~3 min/day) around full moon and were less physically active [~4 min/day of MVPA].

    “They observed that children (n = 795 Danish children) slept significantly longer on average (~3 min/day) around full moon and were less physically active [~4 min/day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA)].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [7] Sjödin, 2015, Physical activity, sleep duration and metabolic health in children fluctuate with the lunar cycle: science behind the myth, Clin Obes source

      Not checked in the free run.

35 of 35

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The present study was the first to examine the associations between moon phases and sleep and activity behaviors in children across five major geographic regions.

    “The present study was the first to examine the associations between moon phases and sleep and activity behaviors in children across five major geographic regions of the world (Europe, Africa, the Americas, South-East Asia, and the Western Pacific) representing a wide range of sociocultural variability.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Children are more amenable to behavior change than adults and their sleep needs are greater than adults.

    “This issue may be particularly relevant to children because they are more amenable to behavior change than adults and their sleep needs are greater than adults.”
2 of 2

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • A large study on children in 12 different countries whose activity patterns were monitored by accelerometers reported a significant shortening of sleep around full moon by about 5 min.

    “This study reported a significant shortening of sleep around full moon by about 5 min (79).”

    From An Overview of Monthly Rhythms and Clocks (2017) · cites this paper as [79]

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

  • LPA full-moon-new-moon estimate is not centered in its confidence interval

    Minor

    The midpoint of the stated 95% confidence limits is 0 min/day, rather than the reported unstandardized coefficient of 0.3 min/day. This difference exceeds rounding to one decimal place.

    Reported 0.3 · recomputed 0

  • LPA full-moon-half-moon estimate is not centered in its confidence interval

    Minor

    For the reported unstandardized linear-model coefficient, the midpoint of the stated 95% confidence limits is −0.25 min/day, not −0.5 min/day. The gap exceeds rounding to one decimal place.

    Reported -0.5 · recomputed -0.25

2 of 2

Cites

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Authors
Chaput, J.-P., Weippert, M., LeBlanc, A. G., Hjorth, M. F., Michaelsen, K. F., Katzmarzyk, P. T., Tremblay, M. S., Barreira, T. V., Broyles, S. T., Fogelholm, M., Hu, G., Kuriyan, R., Kurpad, A., Lambert, E. V., Maher, C., Maia, J., Matsudo, V., Olds, T., Onywera, V., Sarmiento, O. L., Standage, M., Tudor-Locke, C., Zhao, P., & Sjödin, A. M.
Affiliations
  • Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CA)
  • ParticipACTION (CA)
  • University of Copenhagen (DK)
  • Pennington Biomedical Research Center (US)
  • University of Helsinki (FI)
  • St. John's Research Institute (IN)
  • University of Cape Town (ZA)
  • University of South Australia (AU)
  • Centro de Estudos do Laboratório de Aptidão Física de São Caetano do Sul (BR)
  • Kenyatta University (KE)
  • Universidad de Los Andes (CO)
  • University of Bath (GB)
  • Tianjin Women's and Children's Health Center (CN)
Corresponding author
Chaput, Jean-Philippe
ORCID
Venue
Frontiers in Pediatrics
Publisher
Frontiers Media SA
Published
2016-03-24
Volume
4
Pages
24-24
ISSN
2296-2360 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3389/fped.2016.00024
PMC
PMC4805596
OpenAlex
W2313594312
Semantic Scholar
f07b85b9028e7f2b47e44341446d510dce0a3739
Cited by
19
References
19
Citations by year
2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2
FWCI
2.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Frontiers in Pediatrics (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • UniSA Research Outputs Repository (University of South Australia) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
  • Strathprints: The University of Strathclyde institutional repository (University of Strathclyde) (acceptedVersion)
  • Adelaide Research & Scholarship (AR&S) (University of Adelaide) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja (submittedVersion)
  • Kenyatta University Institutional Repository (Kenyatta University) (submittedVersion)
  • Greater South Information System
Funders
  • Coca-Cola Foundation
  • Wake Forest University
  • Helsingin Yliopisto
  • Teesside University
  • University of Bath
  • University of South Australia
  • Universidade do Porto
  • Università degli Studi di Verona
  • University of Cape Town
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • University of California, San Diego
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
Keywords
full moon, lunar cycle, lunar phases, sleep duration, physical activity, sedentary behavior, children, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, light physical activity, nocturnal sleep

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-09.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-09.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

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