Association between weekend catch-up sleep and executive functions in Chinese school-aged children

Abstract

Study objectives: Although weekend catch-up sleep is common among children, the association between weekend catch-up sleep and executive functions remains unclear. We aimed to determine whether weekend catch-up sleep was related to executive functions in school-aged children.

Methods: We analyzed data for 4,699 children (9.00 years ± 1.73 years old, 52.9% boys) from 5 primary schools in Guangzhou, China. Executive functions performance was examined by the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function Parent Form. Validated self-report questionnaires were used to assess sleep status, socioeconomic status, and health behaviors. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to assess the association of weekend catch-up sleep duration with executive functions.

Results: Weekday sleep was negatively associated with scores on three composite indices (Behavioral Regulation Index, Metacognition Index, Global Executive Composite), while weekend catch-up sleep was positively associated with them. Children with < 9 hours weekday sleep duration had higher scores in all indices, and there was no correlation between weekend catch-up sleep and scores of all indices (P > .05). For children who slept ≥ 9 hours on weekdays, weekend catch-up sleep of more than 1 hour was associated with increased scores of Behavioral Regulation Index, Metacognition Index, and Global Executive Composite (P < .05). There was no interaction between sex, age, and weekend catch-up sleep and executive functions (P > .05).

Conclusions: Weekend catch-up sleep could not restore the executive functions deficits related to short weekday sleep. Weekend catch-up sleep over 1 hour may have adverse effects on executive functions in school-aged children.

Clinical trial registration: Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; Title: Prospective Cohort Study on Cognition and Cardiovascular Disease of Sedentary Behaviors in Children; URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03582709; Identifier: NCT03582709.

Keywords: brief; children; executive functions; sleep duration.