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NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 437 ■ June 2022
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Health Statistics
Regular Bedtimes Among Children Aged 5–17 Years:
United States, 2020
Amanda E. Ng, M.P.H., Dzifa Adjaye-Gbewonyo, Ph.D., and Lindsey I. Black, M.P.H.
Key findings
Data from the National
Health Interview Survey
●In 2020, 84.4% of children
aged 5–17 years had a regular
bedtime every day or most days
during a typical school week.
●Children aged 12–17 years
(78.9%) were less likely than
children aged 5–11 years
(89.6%) to have a regular
bedtime every day or most days
in a typical school week.
●Just over three-quarters
of children living in families
with a single parent and those
with incomes less than 100%
of the federal poverty level
had a regular bedtime every
day or most days in a typical
school week.
●Children with a regular
bedtime every day or most days
were about one-half as likely
(5.9%) to be tired during the
day every day or most days
compared with children with a
regular bedtime on some days
or never (13.0%).
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends 9–12 hours of sleep
for children aged 6–12 years and 8–10 hours for those aged 13–18 (1), yet only
two-thirds of children meet these recommendations (2). This report uses 2020
National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data to describe regular bedtimes,
defined as going to sleep at the same time most days or every day in a typical
school week, among children aged 5–17 years. Estimates are presented by
sociodemographic characteristics, family type, Social Vulnerability Index
(SVI), family income, and urbanicity of residence.
Overall, what percentage of children had a regular bedtime
in a typical school week?
●In 2020, among children aged 5–17 years, 47.1% had a regular bedtime
every day, 37.3% most days, 10.5% some days, and 5.0% never had a
regular bedtime during a typical school week (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Percent distribution of how often school-aged children (5–17 years) had a regular
bedtime in a typical school week: United States, 2020
NOTES: Estimates are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population. Figures may not
add to 100 due to rounding. Access data table for Figure 1 at:
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db437-tables.pdf#1.
SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey, 2020.
Never
5.0
Some days
10.5
Most days
37.3
Every day
47.1
NCHS reports can be downloaded from: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/index.htm.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 437 ■ June 2022
■ 2 ■
Did the percentage of children aged 5–17 years who had a regular bedtime
every day or most days in a typical school week vary by sociodemographic
characteristics?
●Boys (84.7%) were as likely as girls (84.2%) to have a regular bedtime every day or most
days in a typical school week (Figure 2).
●Children aged 12–17 years (78.9%) were less likely to have a regular bedtime every day or
most days compared with children aged 5–11 years (89.6%).
●Non-Hispanic Black children (77.3%) and Hispanic children (83.0%) were less likely
to have a regular bedtime every day or most days than non-Hispanic White (86.9%) and
non-Hispanic Asian (88.5%) children.
Figure 2. Percentage of children aged 5–17 years who had a regular bedtime every day or most days in a typical school
week, by sex, age group, and race and Hispanic origin: United States, 2020
1
Significantly different from children aged 12–17 years (p < 0.05).
2
Significantly different from Non-Hispanic White children (p < 0.05).
3
Significantly different from Non-Hispanic Asian children (p < 0.05).
NOTES: Estimates are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population. Access data table for Figure 2 at:
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db437-tables.pdf#2
.
SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey, 2020.
Percent
0 20 40 60 80
84.5
84.7
84.2
189.6
78.9
100
2,383.0
Hispanic
86.9
Non-Hispanic White
2,377.3
Non-Hispanic Black
88.5
Non-Hispanic Asian
12–17
5–11
Girls
Boys
Total
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 437 ■ June 2022
■ 3 ■
Were there differences in the percentage of children aged 5–17 years who
had a regular bedtime every day or most days in a typical school week by
family type, SVI, family income, or urbanicity?
●Children living in single-parent families were less likely to have a regular bedtime every day
or most days (77.7%) compared with children in two-parent families (86.8%) (Figure 3). The
observed difference in the percentage of children with a regular bedtime between single-parent
families and other types of families (82.3%) was not significant.
●The percentage of children who had a regular bedtime every day or most days was
higher among those living in areas of little to no social vulnerability (88.3%) compared
with children living in low (84.8%), medium (82.3%), and high (84.0%) areas of social
vulnerability.
●The percentage of children who had a regular bedtime every day or most days increased
with increasing family income, from 76.1% of children from families with incomes less than
100% of the federal poverty level (FPL) to 82.5% of children from families with incomes
between 100%–199% of FPL to 87.2% of children from families with incomes greater than
or equal to 200% of FPL.
●The observed difference between the percentage of children who had a regular bedtime
every day or most days in rural areas (86.7%) and urban areas (84.0%) was not significant.
Figure 3. Percentage of children aged 5–17 years who had a regular bedtime every day or most days in a typical school
week, by family type, social vulnerability, family income, and urbanicity: United States, 2020
1
Significantly different from children in a two-parent family (p < 0.05).
2
Significant linear trend by Social Vulnerability Index score (p < 0.05).
3
Significant linear trend by family income (p < 0.05).
NOTES: SV is social vulnerability. FPL is federal poverty level. Estimates are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized
population. Access data table for Figure 3 at:
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db437-tables.pdf#3.
SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey, 2020.
Percent
0 20 40 60 80 100
177.7
86.8
84.8
82.3
84.0
82.3
288.3
376.1
82.5
87.2
84.0
86.7
Rural
Urban
200% or more FPL
100%–199% FPL
Less than 100% FPL
High SV
Medium SV
Low SV
Little to no SV
Other
Two parents
Single parent
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 437 ■ June 2022
■ 4 ■
Were there differences in the percentage of children aged 5–17 years who
were tired during the day either most days or every day in a typical school
week by regular bedtime status?
●Children who had a regular bedtime every day or most days were less likely (5.9%) to be
tired during the day most days or every day compared with children who had a regular
bedtime on some days or never (13.0%) (Figure 4).
Figure 4. Percentage of children aged 5–17 years who were tired during the day most days or every day in a typical
school week, by regular bedtime status: United States, 2020
1
Significantly different from children with a regular bedtime on some days or never (p < 0.05).
NOTES: Estimates are based on household interviews of a sample of the civilian noninstitutionalized population. Access data table for Figure 4 at:
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db437-tables.pdf#4
.
SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey, 2020.
Percent
0
3
6
15.9
13.0
9
12
15
Some days or neverEvery day or most days
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 437 ■ June 2022
■ 5 ■
Summary
This report uses data from the 2020 NHIS to describe regular bedtimes among U.S. children
aged 5–17 years. Overall, 84.4% of children aged 5–17 had a regular bedtime every day or most
days in a typical school week. However, this percentage varied by selected characteristics. The
percentage of children with a regular bedtime was similar among boys and girls but varied by
age, with older children less likely to have a regular bedtime compared with younger children.
Children who were non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, living in single-parent families, living in
communities with higher social vulnerability, and living in families with lower incomes were
also less likely to have a regular bedtime. Children with a regular bedtime every day or most
days were less likely to be tired during the day than children who had a regular bedtime on some
days or never.
Previous research has documented disparities for short sleep duration and regular bedtime by race
and ethnicity and age (2,3). This report expands the understanding of children’s bedtime routines
by describing differences by a broad range of indicators and social determinants of health.
Implementing a consistent bedtime has been shown to help ensure sufficient sleep duration for
children (4).
Definitions
Being tired: Based on responses to the question, “In a typical school week, how often does
(sample child) complain about being tired during the day? Would you say never, some days, most
days, or every day?”
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Social Vulnerability Index: Developed at
CDC by the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry’s Geospatial Research, Analysis,
and Services Program (GRASP), SVI uses U.S. Census Bureau data to determine the social
vulnerability of every census tract. SVI ranks each tract on 15 social factors. The factors are then
grouped into four related themes: socioeconomic status, household composition and disability,
racial and ethnic minority status and language, and housing type and transportation, as well as an
overall ranking. SVI indicates the relative vulnerability of every U.S. census tract as a percentile
ranking ranging from 0 to 1, with higher values indicating greater vulnerability. The overall tract
summary ranking variable for 2018 was used to categorize four quartiles of vulnerability: Scores
from 0 to 0.2500 are categorized as little to no social vulnerability; from 0.2501 to 0.5000, low
social vulnerability; from 0.5001 to 0.7500, medium social vulnerability; and from 0.7501 to 1.0,
high social vulnerability. For more information on SVI, please visit the
CDC/ATSDR’s GRASP website.
Family income as a percentage of FPL: Based on the federal poverty level, which was calculated
from the family’s income in the previous calendar year and family size using the U.S. Census
Bureau’s poverty thresholds (5). Family income was imputed when missing (6).
Family type: Children were categorized as living in single-parent families if they had a 1) single
parent, never married or 2) single parent, ever married. Children were categorized as living in
two-parent families if they had married parents living in the same household as the child, or
cohabitating parents living in the same household as the child. Children categorized as other
family type include those who had at least one related or unrelated adult (not a parent) in the same
household as the child.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 437 ■ June 2022
■ 6 ■
Race and Hispanic origin: Children categorized as Hispanic may be of any race or combination of
races. Children categorized as non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, or non-Hispanic Asian
indicated one race only. Estimates for non-Hispanic children of other races or multiple races are
not shown.
Regular bedtime: Based on responses to the question, “In a typical school week, how often
does (sample child) go to bed at the same time? Would you say never, some days, most days, or
every day?”
Urbanization level: Counties were classified according to their metropolitan status using the
National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Urban–Rural Classification Scheme (7). Urban
counties include large central counties (inner cities); the fringes of large counties (suburbs); and
medium and small counties. Rural counties include micropolitan statistical areas and noncore
areas, including open countryside, rural towns (populations of less than 2,500), and areas with
populations of 2,500–49,999 that are not part of larger labor market areas (urban areas).
Data source and methods
NHIS is a nationally representative household survey of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S.
population. It is conducted continuously throughout the year by NCHS. Interviews are typically
conducted in respondents’ homes, but follow-ups to complete interviews may be conducted
over the telephone. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, data collection procedures in 2020 were
disrupted. From April through June all interviews were conducted by telephone only, and from
July through December interviews were attempted by telephone first with follow-ups to complete
interviews by personal visit. For more information about NHIS, visit
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm.
Point estimates and the corresponding confidence intervals for this analysis were calculated using
SAS-callable SUDAAN software (8) to account for the complex sample design of NHIS. All
estimates are based on parent or guardian report and meet NCHS data presentation standards for
proportions (9). Differences between percentages were evaluated using two-sided significance
tests at the 0.05 level. Linear and quadratic trends by age group, family income, and SVI quartile
were evaluated using Proc Descript, poly option.
About the authors
Amanda E. Ng, Dzifa Adjaye-Gbewonyo, and Lindsey I. Black are with NCHS’ Division of
Health Interview Statistics.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 437 ■ June 2022
■ 7 ■
References
1. Paruthi S, Brooks LJ, D’Ambrosio C, Hall WA, Kotagal S, Lloyd RM, et al. Recommended
amount of sleep for pediatric populations: A consensus statement of the American Academy of
Sleep Medicine. J Clin Sleep Med 12(6):785–6. 2016.
2. Wheaton AG, Claussen AH. Short sleep duration among infants, children, and adolescents
aged 4 months–17 years—United States, 2016–2018. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep
70(38):1315–21. 2021.
3. Smith JP, Hardy ST, Hale LE, Gazmararian JA. Racial disparities and sleep among preschool
aged children: A systematic review. Sleep Health 5(1):49–57. 2019.
4. Pyper E, Harrington D, Manson H. Do parents’ support behaviours predict whether or not
their children get sufficient sleep? A cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 17(1):432. 2017.
5. United States Census Bureau. Poverty thresholds. 2021. Available from: https://www.census.
gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/income-poverty/historical-poverty-thresholds.html.
6. National Center for Health Statistics. Multiple imputation of family income in 2020 National
Health Interview Survey: Methods. 2021. Available from: https://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Health_
Statistics/NCHS/Dataset_Documentation/NHIS/2020/NHIS2020-imputation-techdoc-508.pdf.
7. Ingram DD, Franco SJ. 2013 NCHS urban–rural classification scheme for counties. National
Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 2(166). 2014.
8. RTI International. SUDAAN (Release 11.0.3) [computer software]. 2018.
9. Parker JD, Talih M, Malec DJ, Beresovsky V, Carroll M, Gonzalez Jr JF, et al. National
Center for Health Statistics data presentation standards for proportions. National Center for
Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 2(175). 2017.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 437 ■ June 2022
Keywords: sleep routine • health behavior • pediatric • National Health
Interview Survey
Suggested citation
Ng AE, Adjaye-Gbewonyo D, Black LI.
Regular bedtimes among children aged 5–17
years: United States, 2020. NCHS Data
Brief, no 437. Hyattsville, MD: National
Center for Health Statistics. 2022. DOI:
https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:117489.
Copyright information
All material appearing in this report is in
the public domain and may be reproduced
or copied without permission; citation as to
source, however, is appreciated.
National Center for Health
Statistics
Brian C. Moyer, Ph.D., Director
Amy M. Branum, Ph.D., Associate Director
for Science
Division of Health Interview Statistics
Stephen J. Blumberg, Ph.D., Director
Anjel Vahratian, Ph.D., M.P.H., Associate
Director for Science
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