Contributory Factors for Teen Insomnia Symptoms: A Prospective Cohort Study in Sweden

Objectives: Insufficient sleep is a public health problem that impacts the mental
and physical health of children and adolescents. Complaints of insomnia are
particularly pervasive among adolescents. This longitudinal study investigates factors that contribute to teen insomnia symptoms.
Design: Five-year prospective follow-up study.
Setting: School-based.
Participants: A total of 522 children (49.8% girls) aged 9.4 ± 1.3 years at baseline;14.4 ± 0.7 years at follow-up. 
Measurements: The dependent variable of insomnia symptoms at follow-up wasassessed with the Minimal Insomnia Symptom Scale-Revised. The independentvariables at baseline were the perceived family financial situation, tiredness at school,problems waking up, short sleep duration, sleeping difficulties, having a bedroomTelevision (TV), and time spent with a TV/computer. Multivariate binary logistic regressionanalyses were used to examine whether the independent variables at baseline predictedinsomnia symptoms at follow-up.
Results: Perceived quite bad/very bad family financial situation (OR 3.1; CI 1.4–6.7)and short sleep duration (<10 h) (OR 2.3; CI 1.0–5.3) among girls at baseline wereassociated with insomnia symptoms at follow-up. Having problems waking up amongboys at baseline was associated with insomnia symptoms at follow-up (OR 4.9; CI 1.6–14.4).
Conclusion: Short sleep duration, problems waking up, and perceived bad familyfinancial situation during childhood were linked with adolescent insomnia symptoms.The sex-based differences in these associations warrant further investigation toeffectively mitigate adolescent insomnia.