Sleep Patterns and Disturbances in Children Aged 6-16 Years During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Türkiye

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the factors causing sleep patterns and disturbances in children during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.Materials and Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study collected data from 408 mothers with children aged between 6 and 16 years."The Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC)" was used to collect data. Results:The study found the mean SDSC score was 46.2516.34,with 11.8% of children showing symptoms of sleep disturbances.With increased sleep latency, significant bedtime and rise time delays were observed on weekdays and weekends.Children aged 6-12 slept less, whereas those aged 13-16 slept more (p<0.001).During the pandemic, irregular sleep, oversleeping, inability to sleep, and nightmares increased significantly (p<0.001).Late dinners, increased daytime sleep, and nighttime awakening were also significant (p<0.001).There was also a significant increase in the use of electronic devices before bedtime and during television viewing.Conclusion: It was observed that approximately one in ten children experienced sleep disturbance symptoms during the pandemic.In addition, it was concluded that the sleeping/waking times of the children were negatively affected and that they had more frequent sleep disturbances.Based on these findings, it is crucial for pediatric nurses to identify and address sleep disturbances in children, particularly during situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which affects children's daily routines.Based on these findings, it is crucial for pediatric nurses to identify and address sleep disturbances in children, particularly during situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which affects children's daily routines.