Chinese youngsters ''not getting enough sleep''
25/08/2010
Chinese students from primary school age through to teens are not getting enough sleep in their beds at night, new research suggests.
Researchers from Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine found that children are getting as little as seven hours and nine minutes of sleep every night, according to the Xinhanet news agency.
Speaking to the newspaper, Xinhau Hospital's Yan Chonghuai explained: "Insufficient sleep will not only restrain children's all-around development, but will also lead to the decline of children's social adaptive capability.
"Insufficient sleep will also increase the likelihood of accidents, depression, suicide and hyperactivity."
Recent research carried out by scientists at Penn State University suggested that the emotional receptiveness of younger infants can determine the quality of sleep they get in their children's beds.
Parents that were found to respond appropriately to their child's cues were more likely to have success with getting their youngster to sleep.
Posted by Michael Ewing
