Go to Bed! Irregular Bedtimes Linked to Behavioral Problems

(Ivanhoe Newswire) – A study out of UCL finds that children with an irregular bedtime will most likely develop behavior problems through adolescence.
"Not having fixed bedtimes, accompanied by a constant sense of flux, induces a state of body and mind akin to jet lag and this matters for healthy development and daily functioning,” Professor Yvonne Kelly, UCL Epidemiology & Public Health, was quoted as saying.
The study included over 10,000 children in the UK Millennium Cohort Study and gathered information from mothers and teachers regarding the child’s behavior problems. The study found a statistically significant tie between bedtimes and behavior. Researchers found that inconsistent bedtimes affect brain development due to the disruption of circadian rhythm.
The affects are reversible though, children who went to sleep at the same time on a regular basis showed improvements in behavior.
For more information, go to: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/1310/141013-bedtimes-linked-to-behavioral-problems-in-children
SOURCE: Pediatrics, October 2013