Trends in Sleep Research: From Infancy Through Adolescence

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore research trends in sleep from infancy through to adolescence. To achieve this, an examination was conducted of sleep research published in Korea based on the publication year, developmental stages of the study participants, research designs, measurement tools, and research topics. A total of 362 academic journal articles and theses/dissertations published in Korea up until 2023 were selected. In terms of publication year, the first study was conducted in 1967 and the field became more active from 2010 onwards. The age group studied the most was adolescents, with cross-sectional research being the most common study design. Regarding sleep measurement tools, most scales measuring sleep in infants, preschoolers, children, and adolescents were developed abroad, then adapted or validated in Korea, or were modifications of adult scales tailored for specific studies. Lastly, in terms of research topics, the most common focus was the relationship between sleep and developmental characteristics, particularly its effects on emotional development. Based on these results, future research could focus on developing sleep-related intervention programs and measurement tools.