Hyperactivity and Sleep

Hyperactive boys are short sleepers

Hyperactive boys don’t get enough sleep, which can worsen their condition according to new study published in the November issue of Pediatrics. The study is the first to examine a large sample of children and to show a positive correlation between lack of sleep and hyperactivity.

Canadian researchers analyzed information regarding sleep duration and hyperactivity collected from more than 2,057 children. The researchers identified a strong link between hyperactivity and short sleep duration, but they weren’t able to explain which problem typically comes first. While hyperactivity can interfere with night-time sleep, short or fragmented sleep can promote hyperactivity, especially in boys. Children who slept for at least eleven hours a night had low hyperactivity scores.