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Abstract Introduction Social jetlag (SJL), defined as the weekend-weekday discrepancy in the midpoint of the nocturnal sleep episode, is indicative of circadian misalignment. In adolescents, SJL is associated with poor sleep quality and impaired daytime and academic functioning. However, data on the prevalence and impact of SJL in preschoolers is limited. The present study examines the prevalence of SJL in preschoolers and its association with sleep, sleepiness, and developmental outcomes. Methods Data consisted of a cross-sectional sample of 841 children aged 2-5 years (M = 3.6 years, 50.3% female, 27.7% Black) in Mississippi between 2001-2003. Parents completed a questionnaire about child demographics, sleep habits, and developmental history. In a sub-sample of preschoolers, linear regression was used to examine the relationship between SJL and (i) measures of sleep quality (Children’s Sleep Wake Scale (CSWS)); (ii) daytime sleepiness (propensity to fall asleep), (iii) school readiness (Bracken School Readiness Assessment (BSRA)), and (iv) social skills (Social Skills Rating System (SSRS)). Results Following exploratory analysis, the prevalence of SJL within the sample was categorized as: no SJL (25.1%), 90 mins of SJL (58.6%), and 90 mins of SJL (13.6%). Compared to no SJL and 90 mins of SJL, 90 mins of SJL was associated with greater problems “going to bed” (R² = 0.012, F = 3.5, p = 0.031) and “returning to wakefulness” (R² = 0.092, F = 21.0, p 0.001) on the CSWS. Additionally, 90 mins of SJL was associated with greater daytime sleepiness (R² = 0.097, F = 22.0, p 0.001), relatively lower school readiness (R² = 0.075, F = 4.1, p = 0.020), and poorer social skills (R² = 0.054, F = 8.2, p 0.001). Conclusion Social jetlag is highly prevalent among preschool children. Greater than 90 mins of SJL may be a risk factor for impaired daytime functioning and poor developmental outcomes. Future research is needed to identify moderators and mediators of these relationships. These findings could inform health intervention programs targeting sleep in early childhood. Support (if any) NSF-BSC0079435, UH3-0D023313
Abbas et al. (Sat,) studied this question.