Cognitive, Behavioral, and Functional Consequences of Inadequate Sleep in Children and Adolescents

Overview

Journal Pediatr Clin North Am

Specialty Pediatrics

Date 2011 May 24

PMID 21600347

Citations 223

Authors

Dean W Beebe

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This article summarizes correlational, case-control, quasi-experimental, and experimental studies that have examined whether sleep during childhood and adolescence is related to daytime functioning. Published findings suggest that inadequate sleep quality and/or quantity can cause sleepiness, inattention and, very likely, other cognitive and behavioral deficits that significantly impact children and adolescents in functional settings. This article then integrates findings from longitudinal studies within a developmental psychopathology model. Important questions remain, but evidence supports the integration of sleep screening and interventions into routine clinical care and also supports advocacy for public policy changes to improve the sleep of children and adolescents.

Citing Articles

Assessing sleep habits in school-aged children with phenylketonuria: a comparative study.

Mete Yesil A, Akar H, Yildiz Y, Sivri S, Ozmert E Eur J Pediatr. 2025; 184(3):225.

PMID: 40042669 PMC: 11882617. DOI: 10.1007/s00431-025-06048-1.

Optimizing Attention and Sleep Intervention Study (OASIS): a protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial to compare parent behavioral interventions with and without sleep strategies delivered in pediatric primary care for preschool-aged....

Joseph H, Levenson J, Conlon R, Mannion K, Kipp H, Gradian A Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2025; 11(1):22.

PMID: 40001155 PMC: 11852881. DOI: 10.1186/s40814-025-01600-0.

Feasibility of an At-Home Experimental Circadian Misalignment Induction for Adolescents.

Beebe D, Fidler A, McLaughlin L, Grove S, Crowley S Clocks Sleep. 2025; 7(1).

PMID: 39982311 PMC: 11843903. DOI: 10.3390/clockssleep7010004.

Understanding the Association Between Neighborhoods and Adolescent Sleep: Evidence from Add Health.

Neally S, Rogers B, Deng Y, Moniruzzaman M, Xiao Q, Tamura K Sleep Epidemiol. 2025; 4.

PMID: 39877129 PMC: 11774510. DOI: 10.1016/j.sleepe.2024.100098.

Sleep and breathing in children with Joubert syndrome and a review of other rare congenital hindbrain malformations.

Ju-Wang J, Dempsey J, Zhang C, Doherty D, Witmans M, Tablizo M Ther Adv Respir Dis. 2025; 19():17534666241308405.

PMID: 39817683 PMC: 11748088. DOI: 10.1177/17534666241308405.

References

Paavonen E, Raikkonen K, Lahti J, Komsi N, Heinonen K, Pesonen A . Short sleep duration and behavioral symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in healthy 7- to 8-year-old children. Pediatrics. 2009; 123(5):e857-64. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2008-2164. View

Liu X, Hubbard J, Fabes R, Adam J . Sleep disturbances and correlates of children with autism spectrum disorders. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2006; 37(2):179-91. DOI: 10.1007/s10578-006-0028-3. View

Wolfson A, Carskadon M, Acebo C, Seifer R, Fallone G, Labyak S . Evidence for the validity of a sleep habits survey for adolescents. Sleep. 2003; 26(2):213-6. DOI: 10.1093/sleep/26.2.213. View

Quach J, Hiscock H, Canterford L, Wake M . Outcomes of child sleep problems over the school-transition period: Australian population longitudinal study. Pediatrics. 2009; 123(5):1287-92. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2008-1860. View

Sadeh A, Gruber R, Raviv A . Sleep, neurobehavioral functioning, and behavior problems in school-age children. Child Dev. 2002; 73(2):405-17. DOI: 10.1111/1467-8624.00414. View

Carskadon M, Harvey K, Dement W . Sleep loss in young adolescents. Sleep. 1981; 4(3):299-312. DOI: 10.1093/sleep/4.3.299. View

Gregory A, Caspi A, Moffitt T, Poulton R . Sleep problems in childhood predict neuropsychological functioning in adolescence. Pediatrics. 2009; 123(4):1171-6. PMC: 3826614. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2008-0825. View

OBrien E, Mindell J . Sleep and risk-taking behavior in adolescents. Behav Sleep Med. 2005; 3(3):113-33. DOI: 10.1207/s15402010bsm0303_1. View

Dexter D, Bijwadia J, Schilling D, Applebaugh G . Sleep, sleepiness and school start times: a preliminary study. WMJ. 2003; 102(1):44-6. View

10.

Garetz S . Behavior, cognition, and quality of life after adenotonsillectomy for pediatric sleep-disordered breathing: summary of the literature. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2008; 138(1 Suppl):S19-26. DOI: 10.1016/j.otohns.2007.06.738. View

11.

Buckhalt J, El-Sheikh M, Keller P, Kelly R . Concurrent and longitudinal relations between children's sleep and cognitive functioning: the moderating role of parent education. Child Dev. 2009; 80(3):875-92. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2009.01303.x. View

12.

Liu X, Buysse D, Gentzler A, Kiss E, Mayer L, Kapornai K . Insomnia and hypersomnia associated with depressive phenomenology and comorbidity in childhood depression. Sleep. 2007; 30(1):83-90. DOI: 10.1093/sleep/30.1.83. View

13.

Harrison Y, Horne J . The impact of sleep deprivation on decision making: a review. J Exp Psychol Appl. 2000; 6(3):236-49. DOI: 10.1037//1076-898x.6.3.236. View

14.

Kheirandish-Gozal L, de Jong M, Spruyt K, Chamuleau S, Gozal D . Obstructive sleep apnoea is associated with impaired pictorial memory task acquisition and retention in children. Eur Respir J. 2010; 36(1):164-9. DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00114209. View

15.

Gregory A, Eley T, OConnor T, Plomin R . Etiologies of associations between childhood sleep and behavioral problems in a large twin sample. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2004; 43(6):744-51. DOI: 10.1097/01.chi/0000122798.47863.a5. View

16.

Koulouglioti C, Cole R, Kitzman H . Inadequate sleep and unintentional injuries in young children. Public Health Nurs. 2008; 25(2):106-14. DOI: 10.1111/j.1525-1446.2008.00687.x. View

17.

Randazzo A, Muehlbach M, Schweitzer P, Walsh J . Cognitive function following acute sleep restriction in children ages 10-14. Sleep. 1999; 21(8):861-8. View

18.

Stallones L, Beseler C, Chen P . Sleep patterns and risk of injury among adolescent farm residents. Am J Prev Med. 2006; 30(4):300-4. DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2005.11.010. View

19.

Guzman-Marin R, Ying Z, Suntsova N, Methippara M, Bashir T, Szymusiak R . Suppression of hippocampal plasticity-related gene expression by sleep deprivation in rats. J Physiol. 2006; 575(Pt 3):807-19. PMC: 1995680. DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2006.115287. View

20.

Touchette E, Petit D, Seguin J, Boivin M, Tremblay R, Montplaisir J . Associations between sleep duration patterns and behavioral/cognitive functioning at school entry. Sleep. 2007; 30(9):1213-9. PMC: 1978413. DOI: 10.1093/sleep/30.9.1213. View