Translation and validation of the Thai Version of the Japanese Sleep Questionnaire for Preschoolers (JSQ-P)

Purpose

This study aimed to translate and validate the Japanese Sleep Questionnaire for Preschoolers (JSQ-P) into a Thai version and to evaluate factors associated with sleep problems in preschoolers.

Methods

The cross-cultural adaptation of JSQ-P into Thai version of JSQ-P (TH-JSQ-P) was performed including forward translation, reconciliation, backward translation, and final approval by the original creator. Children aged 2–6 years from community and clinical settings were enrolled. The TH-JSQ-P was completed by parents of preschool children twice within 10–14 days to assess its reliability and validity. Six validity tests including face validity, content validity, structural validity, construct validity, criterion validity and predictive validity were assessed. Demographic data, Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), medical and behavior problems, and socioeconomic status were collected for analysis.

Results

A total of 2613 participants completed the TH-JSQ-P, with 1207 completing it twice to assess test-retest reliability. The TH-JSQ-P had good internal consistency reliability and test-retest ability with Cronbach's alpha value of 0.898 and intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.814. The content validity was acceptable. The ESS had correlation with sleep problems in almost all subscales except for sleep habit.

Conclusions

The TH-JSQ-P is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating sleep problems in preschool children in Thailand. It has the potential to be extensively utilized to screen for sleep problems, thereby enabling healthcare professionals to identify them early and implement prompt management.