Sleep Patterns of Middle & High School Students in Seoul and Their Perceptions of Their Own Sleep

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the sleep patterns of Korean adolescents and the subjective perception on their sleep pattern and daytime functioning related to sleep status. Methods: The questionnaire survey was done in 2007 for students in middle and high schools located in Mokdong region in Seoul. The questionnaire included sleep/wake schedules both on school days and weekends, various questions regarding sleepiness and other sleep complaints, and morningness-eveningness scale. Results: The third year of middle school, the first and second year of high school students were enrolled. A total of 1,252 students (boy: 65.3%) participated in the survey. The average bedtime was 12:46 AM and 1:13 AM, respectively and the wake up time was 6:24 AM and 8:35 AM, respectively on school days and weekends. Total sleep time was 6.6±1.1, 5.89±1.1, and 5.65±0.9 hours on school days for students in the third year of middle school, the first year and the second year of high school, respectively. While 57% of students answered that they have sufficient sleep, only 36.7% of students reported they sleep sufficiently almost always. High school students reported shorter optimal sleep duration than middle school students. One third of students had a problem of daily or school life due to sleepiness. Conclusions: This study showed sleep deprivation on school days and compensating catch-up sleep on weekends in middle & high school students in Seoul. The perception of their sleep seems to be affected not only by current sleep status but also by the school year probably related to academic pressure.