Sleep beliefs and chronotype among adolescents: the effect of a sleep education program

Abstract

Knowledge of the sleep beliefs among adolescents is relevant in order to promote primary prevention of unhealthy lifestyles related to sleep hygiene. In study 1, sleep beliefs among 11–16-years-old adolescents were explored according to gender, age, and chronotype. Adolescents completed the Sleep Beliefs Scale (SBS; Adan A, Fabbri M, Natale V, Pratt G. 2006. SBS and circadian typology. J Sleep Res. 15:125–132) and the Morningness–Eveningness Scale for Children (MESC; Carskadon MA, Vieira C, Acebo C. 1993. Association between puberty and delayed phase preference. Sleep. 16:258–262) during normal school schedule. Results indicated incorrect sleep beliefs among boys and evening-types. In study 2, the effect of a sleep education program on sleep beliefs was analyzed. Results showed an increase of mean scores and percentage of correct responses of SBS after a sleep education program, especially among evening-type adolescents.

Keywords:

• sleep beliefs
• morningness–eveningness
• chronotype
• education program
• adolescents

Acknowledgment

This study was supported by both research grants of Innovation and Science Ministry of Spain (Ref: PSI2008-04086/PSIC) and Complutense University of Madrid (Ref. CCG08-UCM/HUM-3854). Authors express their gratitude to Dr. A. Adan for having provided the SBS and authorized its use.