Abstract

BOSCOLO, Rita A. et al. Assessment of sleep patterns, physical activity and cognitive functions in scholar adolescents . Rev. Port. Cien. Desp. [online]. 2007, vol.7, n.1, pp.18-25. ISSN 1645-0523.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the parameters related with quality of sleep, level of habitual physical activity (LHPA) and cognitive functions of adolescents. The sample comprised 45 Brazilian students from one public school (A) and two private schools (B and C). Questionnaires concerning sleep patterns, level of habitual physical activity, logical memory, general knowledge, and short-term memory and long-term memory. The results showed differences between school "A" and "B" in the LHPA index of leisure time. Regarding their quality of sleep, 73.3% of the students in school "A" reported a wish for changes, and 40% referred episodes of awakening in panic and crying. In the cognitive evaluation we observed significant differences between the three schools in the Free Word Recall. The data suggest that students with fewer sleep complaints had a better performance in the recall of words, while the students in the morning period presented a reduction in the duration of sleep and an increase of daytime sleepiness. These findings suggest that probably the school period and the sleeping habits are correlated and might possibly influence teenage students’ performance at school.

Keywords : adolescents; physical activity; sleep; memory.

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