Napping Behaviors and Extracurricular Club Activities in Japanese High School Students: Associations with Daytime Sleep Problems

Abstract

Although engaging in evening naps and extracurricular activities are popular among Japanese high school students, the associations between these behaviors and daytime sleep problems were unclear. A questionnaire on daily life and sleeping habits was administered to 1314 high school students, aged between 15–17 years. The respondents were categorized by their after-school napping habits (did not nap, napped 1–2 days/week, napped ≥3 days/week), and their extracurricular activities (no activity, cultural club, athletic club). The mean nocturnal sleep duration on weekdays (± standard deviation (SD)) was 390 ± 56 min. This was significantly shorter in those students with a higher number of days/week spent napping (p < 0.001), and slightly longer for those in the athletic club (p < 0.001). Sleep problems—including subjective insufficient sleep, excessive sleepiness during class ≥3 days/week, and falling asleep during class ≥3 days/week—were reported by 64%, 55%, and 33% of respondents, respectively. A multiple logistic regression analysis showed significantly higher risks for excessive sleepiness among students taking naps ≥3 days/week, and who belonged to athletic clubs. In addition to those factors, students in cultural clubs revealed significantly higher risks for falling asleep during classes. Future studies are required to decrease daytime sleep problems associated with evening naps and extracurricular activities among high school students.