Sleep Problems in Relation to Smoking and Alcohol Use in Chinese Adolescents

Abstract

This study examined sleep patterns and sleep problems in relation to smoking and alcohol use in Chinese adolescents. A questionnaire survey of 2090 adolescent students was conducted in Lijin County, Shandong, China. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. After adjustment for demographics and internalizing and externalizing problems, poor sleep quality was associated with increased risk of smoking (odds ratio [OR], 2.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24–5.40), alcohol use (OR, 2.65; 95% CI, 2.81–3.89), and getting drunk (OR, 2.81; 95% CI, 1.72–4.57); sleeping 7 hours (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.20–2.43) and sleeping 6 hours or less per night on weekdays (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.25–3.10) were significantly associated with increased risk for alcohol use, and sleeping 6 hours or less per night on weekends (OR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.18–3.70) were significantly associated with increased risk for getting drunk; and hypnotic medication use was significantly associated with ever smoking (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.08–2.99). These findings highlight the potential role of sleep intervention in the prevention of adolescent substance use.