Publications

Abstract

Background: Sleep hygiene is defined as "the controlling of all behavioral and environmental factors that precede sleep and may interfere with sleep". Sleep hygiene is very important for predicting the quality and quantity of sleep in adolescents. Lack of sleep in adolescents can affect academic achievement and can cause decreased alertness and concentration.Objective: To assess sleep hygiene practice and its associated factors among rural school going adolescents aged 10 to 19 years. Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted at a government high school in Solur, Ramanagara District of Karnataka during March to April 2014, after obtaining necessary permission. A pretested semi structured questionnaire was administered to the students of class V to X, which included Adolescent Sleep Hygiene Scale (ASHS), socio- demographic details and beliefs and attitudes about sleep hygiene. Results: Of the 135 adolescents who participated in the study, majority 104 (77%) were mid adolescents (14 -16 years). 12 (8.9%) were found to have systemic illness. The study revealed that 98.5% of the adolescents had good sleep hygiene. Sleep hygiene was found to be significantly higher with increasing age of the subject and parent’s education. The Sleep Environment Factor Score among adolescents with educated parents was found to be significantly higher (p<0.05). Conclusion: The adolescents in this study were found to have adequate sleep hygiene. School curriculum should include information about the importance of sleep and sleep hygiene to improve attitudes towards sleep hygiene.