Impacts of sleep disorders on the quality of life of children and adolescents
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14295/bjs.v5i2.834Keywords:
sleep, sleep disorders, children, adolescents, quality of lifeAbstract
Sleep is an essential physiological process for the proper physical, cognitive, and emotional development of children and adolescents. Sleep disorders, including insomnia, respiratory disturbances, and circadian rhythm dysregulation, are highly prevalent in this population and are associated with negative impacts on quality of life. To analyze factors associated with sleep disorders in children and adolescents and their effects on development and quality of life. This is an integrative literature review based on articles published between 2013 and 2025 in the SciELO, LILACS, Scopus, and MEDLINE databases, using the descriptors “sleep,” “sleep disorders,” “insomnia,” “sleep apnea,” “child health,” and “adolescent.” Studies published in Portuguese, Spanish, or English were included, totaling ten selected articles, of which four were literature reviews, and four were observational studies. The main factors associated with sleep disorders were excessive use of electronic devices, unhealthy dietary habits, unfavorable school schedules, sociogeographic factors, and secondary conditions, such as ASD. Persistent sleep disorders were associated with cognitive impairment, behavioral changes, emotional compromise, and an increased risk of chronic diseases, such as asthma. Sleep disorders in children and adolescents have a multifactorial etiology and can significantly compromise quality of life and overall development. Preventive strategies and multidisciplinary interventions, combined with public health policies aimed at promoting healthy sleep, are essential to reduce their impact.
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