The association between health behaviors and sleep patterns in youths has been tested using cross-sectional data, and prospective evidence is needed. The aim of this study was to investigate the cross-sectional and prospective associations between behavioral variables and sleep quality and duration. A secondary analysis was conducted using data that were collected in March and December 2006 from a random sample of high school students (aged 14-24 years) from Recife and Florianopolis, Brazil, for the "Saúde na Boa" intervention. Data on the perception of sleep quality and duration and lifestyle variables were obtained through self-reported questionnaires. Data were analyzed using crude and adjusted binary logistic regressions. The percentages of students reporting poor sleep quality and insufficient sleep duration were 45.7% and 76.7%, respectively, considering the cross-sectional data, and 45.8% and 77.5%, respectively, considering the longitudinal data. There was a cross-sectional association between lower physical activity (OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.55, 0.99) and higher snack consumption (OR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.18, 2.36) and negative sleep quality. Excessive TV watching (OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.30, 0.75) and higher levels of soft drink consumption (OR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.19, 2.84) were associated with insufficient sleep duration. However, no behavioral variables were associated with sleep quality and duration in the prospective analysis. The prevalence of self-reported poor sleep quality and duration were similar in the cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Some behaviors were associated with sleep patterns in the cross-sectional analyses, but these findings were not confirmed in the prospective analyses.
Adolescent; Adolescent behavior; Brazil; Prospective studies; Sleep
