https://doi.org/10.24552/00002211 ©青森県立保健大学
Relationship of preschoolers’ chronotype with parental sleep habits and consideration of sleep behavior
Mitsuko Iwabuchi1）, Terumi Kogawa2）
1 ）School of Nursing, Iwate Medical University
2 ）Aomori University of Health and Welfare Graduate School of Health Sciences
（Recieved December 21, 2022; Accepted May 31, 2023）
ABSTRACT
［Objective］
Chronotypes reflect individual differences in circadian rhythm phases. Studies on children’s
chronotypes, health, and behavior exist; however, the relationship between children’s chronotypes and
parental sleep habits remains unknown. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the
chronotypes of preschool children and their parents’ sleep habits.
［Methods］
From October 2020 to November 2020, we conducted a survey on the sleep habits and sleep-
conscious behaviors of preschool children and their parents in Iwate Prefecture. We used the Japanese
version of the children’s chronotype questionnaire to investigate morning, intermediate, and evening chronotypes in parents of preschoolers aged 3-5 years. A sleep quality index evaluation sheet was used to
assess parents’ sleep patterns. We compared parental sleep habits and sleep-conscious behaviors among
the three chronotypes.
［Results］
The morning, intermediate, and evening chronotypes accounted for 24.8％ , 58.6％ , and 16.6％
of the children’s chronotypes, respectively. The weekday bedtime, sleep onset time, sleep center time, and
weekend wake-up time of parents were related to the central sleep duration on weekends. Parents of
evening-chronotype children demonstrated a post-phase sleep-wake rhythm. They experienced difficulties
in maintaining the motivation necessary to accomplish tasks Moreover, these parents practiced poor
sleeping habits, such as “opening the curtain and permitting light in the morning,” “no television in the
bedroom,” “not excited before bedtime at night,” and “fixed return time while going out with children” in
ensuring good sleep for their children.
［Conclusions］Medical staff should consider children’s chronotypes and parental lifestyles while providing
health guidance on optimizing sleep and reducing sleep problems in parents and children.
Key words:
chronotype, preschool children, parent-child relationship, parental sleep habits,
consideration of sleep behavior