Development and Validation of the Sleep-Wake Disorders Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents

Background This study developed and validated the Sleep-Wake Disorders Questionnaire (SWDQ) for children and adolescents in Mexico, addressing the need for culturally tailored diagnostic tools. The SWDQ comprises 43 items divided into two sections: diagnostic questions and sleep habits. A cross-sectional study with 103 participants (aged 6-17 years) from psychiatric hospitals revealed moderate reliability. Exploratory factor analysis identified two key factors—dyssomnias and parasomnias—explaining one-third of the variance. Internal consistency scores were moderate for parasomnias (α=0.68) and low for dyssomnias (α=0.25). The SWDQ aligns with clinical observations, offering a culturally relevant instrument for evaluating pediatric sleep-wake disorders and associated habits.