Sleep duration and behavioral correlates in middle and high school students: a cross-sectional study in Zhejiang province, China

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the sleep duration and correlates from lifestyle, dietary and weight control behaviors in Chinese adolescents.

Methods: Data were from 2017 Zhejiang Youth Risk Behavior Survey. A total of 17059 adolescents were included in this study and sleep duration and other behaviors information was collected via a self-reported questionnaire. Regression coefficients (β), calculated by multivariable linear regression, were used to assess the effects of related behaviors on sleep duration, adjusting for potential confounding factors.

Results: Overall, the mean sleep duration in adolescents was 7.99 h. Ever smoking, engaging in moderate physical activity and muscle strengthening activity, attending physical education classes, and watching television were significantly associated with longer sleep duration (P _trend ≦0.01 for all). Adolescents with breakfast, fruits, vegetables, milk and soft drinks intake were more likely to have longer sleep duration (P _trend <0.05 for all). Weight perception of overweight and weight control behaviors including exercising and eating less food, fewer calories were significantly associated with the short sleep duration (P _trend <0.05 for all).

Conclusion: Chinese adolescents slept less than the counterparts in Western countries. Various lifestyle, dietary and weight control behaviors were associated with sleep duration.

Keywords: Adolescent; Behavior; Correlates; Sleep.