Association between sleep habits and height in children from low socioeconomic backgrounds: A cross-sectional study

Background and aim: Good sleep habits, including adequate sleep duration and appropriate sleep onset, are crucial for supporting optimal growth and development. The literature suggests that insufficient sleep duration is associated with an increased risk of overweight and obesity in children. However, the relationship between sleep duration and sleep onset and height in children from low socioeconomic background has not been explored. This study aims to investigate the association between sleep duration, sleep onset, and height in children from low-income families. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October to November 2023 across five primary schools in Surabaya, involving second-and third-grade students. Participants’ weight and height were measured, and they answered structured questionnaires. If children were unsure of their answers, the forms were taken home for parental assistance. Inclusion criteria included students from households earning below the regional minimum wage, while those with incomplete data or chronic illnesses were excluded. Results: Among the 264 participants (47.7% boys, 52.3% girls, average age 108.7 ± 7.9 months), significant associations were observed between sleep duration and height (r=0.205, P=0.004) as well as sleep onset and height (r=0.397, P<0.0001). No significant links were found between sleep and weight. However, sleep duration and onset were significantly associated with screen time (P=0.025 and P<0.0001, respectively). Conclusions: Insufficient sleep duration and late bedtimes are strongly linked to shorter height in children from low-income families. Beyond duration, sleep timing also emerges as a critical factor in supporting optimal growth. (www.actabiomedica.it).