Study Shows that Children Who Have Not Nap More Anxiety and Motivation
Research conducted in children aged two and three years shows that sleep deprivation affects emotions.
If your preschooler wakes up in a good mood after a nap of at least an hour and a half, it’s because it’s good for your health and emotional development. So says a study by the U. Colorado (USA), who showed how young children who do not have the habit of sleeping after lunch have more bad mood, anxiety and discouragement that surrounds those who do. “Sleep deprivation in children studied produced more anxiety and fewer signs of joy, interest and motivation,” he told La Tercera the study author Monique LeBourgeois.
The expert adds that while they did not study the brain mechanisms responsible for the observed effects in children, we do know from research done in adults when not sleeping through the night, people have a functional disconnection between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex , both being very important areas when it comes to expressing emotions.
Research has proven that adults sleep deprivation causes declines in mood, emotions and hypervigilance, as well as amplified sensitivity to negative stimuli. This study is the first to show that children between two and three sleep is a key factor in how they respond to their world. “When sleep is restricted, children are not able to make the most positive experiences or adapt to difficult environments,” says the study.
The nap
The researchers examined the expressions of emotional health of children in two scenarios: when carrying out their normal nap regime and another day being deprived of it. Then the children videotaped while performing two types of puzzles: in the first puzzles were all the pieces, allowing the child to arm itself and to experience positive emotions. The second, meanwhile, had a piece down, it was impossible to complete and, therefore, produced frustration.
The results revealed that children deprived of sleep had 34% fewer positive emotional responses when they completed the first puzzle, compared to those that napping. While 31% showed a negative response, such as sadness, anxiety and anger when he touched assemble the puzzle incomplete. Not only that: they had 39% less a feeling of “confusion” in the last year, which makes the child feel that something does not fit or work.
What is the recommended nap time at this age? LeBourgeois says that, in general, children require between 11 and 13 hours of sleep a day, including in this number 90-minute naps, “says the specialist.