Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this project was to evaluate the frequency of sleep disorders  in primary school students in the city of Tehran.

Method: In a descriptive cross-sectional study, parents of 692 primary school children completed a questionnaire binding child demographics,family structure, and sleep behaviors. Data were ana- lyzed by descriptive statistical methods, t-test, and c² test.

Findings: Sleep disorders were reported in 41.6% of primary school children. The most common disorder reportedly was bedtime resistance (20.7%). The occurrence of bedwetting was the only sleep disorder that was more frequent in boys than girls. Sleep disorder  was reported more frequent- ly in children of housewife mothers than working mothers. The frequency of parasomnia was less in children of college-educated fathers. College education of mothers was negatively correlated with frequency of sleep terror disorder and nightmares.Sharing a bed,fear and worry before asleep, and having no specific bedtime were correlated with more sleep disorders.

Results: Sleep disorders are prevalent in primary school children in Tehran. The most common dis- order was bedtime resistance, which was mostly related with having no specific bedtime.