Comparative Analysis of Sleep Hygiene and Patterns among Adolescents in Two Russian Arctic Regions: A Pilot Study

• Published in: Children
• Main Authors: Sergey N. Kolomeichuk, Lyudmila S. Korostovtseva, Artem V. Morozov, Michail V. Bochkarev, Yury V. Sviryaev, Dina A. Petrashova, Victoria V. Pozharskaya, Alexander A. Markov, Michail G. Poluektov, Denis G. Gubin
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2024
• Subjects: children; sleep hygiene; daytime sleepiness; sleep duration; Arctic; Pediatrics; RJ1-570; Apatity; Murmansk; Republic of Karelia
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3390/children11030279; https://doaj.org/article/3ee4feb863ff4d25bfc0786212a3bc3f

Purpose: The circumpolar habitat stands as one of the most vulnerable environments for human activity and health. The primary study objective was to compare sleep-related factors, light exposure, social cues, and potential confounding variables among schoolchildren residing in the European Arctic region from two settlements situated below and above the Polar Circle using validated self-reported questionnaires. Materials and Methods: We recruited 94 children aged 13–15 years (40.4% males), matched by sex and age, from public educational institutions in two circumpolar settlements located below (Kem’, Republic of Karelia; 64.6 NL) and above the Polar Circle (Apatity, Murmansk Region; 67.3 NL). Participants completed several surveys, including the Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale, the Insomnia Severity Index, the Adolescent Sleep Hygiene Scale, and the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire, to evaluate sleep parameters and chronotype. The χ 2 test was used to test for differences between proportions. Linear regression and multiple regression models with co-factors were applied to assess the relationship between studied indicators. Results: A noteworthy increase in physical activity was observed in children residing in Kem’ compared to those in Apatity. Children from Apatity showed higher alcohol consumption than their counterparts from Kem’. The overall rate of excessive daytime sleepiness in the sample was 17.1%. Moderate insomnia symptoms were reported in 18.4% of adolescents living in Kem’ and in 25% of respondents living in Apatity, respectively. Notably, participants from Kem’ attained higher academic scores and had longer exposure to sunlight on schooldays. On the other hand, children from Apatity tended to have later bedtimes and sleep-onset times on schooldays. According to the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire data, a reliance on alarm clocks on schooldays, and a higher Sleep Stability Factor based on the Adolescent Sleep Hygiene Scale. Discussion: Our study indicating that higher physical activity and longer ...