Impact of Noise and Light Pollution on Sleep in Preschoolers

Abstract

Sleep is an important predictor of health and wellbeing. In preschool aged children, poor sleep is associated with poorer emotional regulation, future attentional problems, impaired growth, and higher risk of injury. Sleep problems in preschool aged children are also associated with sleep problems in parents, which in turn impact parent functioning and wellbeing. Noise pollution and light pollution are associated with altered circadian rhythms through increased stress hormone production and depressed melatonin; noise also interrupts sleep directly and causes annoyance, further impacting parental functioning. In this study, we examined the association of environmental noise and light with sleep outcomes in a sample of preschool aged children with sleep problems. Linear regression was performed. We found that levels of artificial light at night >16.76 nanoWatts/cm2/sr*10^9 were associated with increased sleep disruption at baseline: 1.29 (95% CI: 0.02, 2.51) additional percentage points wake after sleep onset compared to artificial light at night ≤9.52 nanoWatts/cm2/sr*10^9. This finding supports the need for management of light pollution to limit impacts on sleep. No other sleep outcomes at baseline or three months follow-up were associated with artificial light at night or transportation noise.