OBJECTIVE

To establish the psychometric properties of a self-report measure of daytime sleepiness for school-aged children.

METHODS

Three hundred eighty-eight children aged 8-12years (inclusive) from paediatrician's offices, sleep clinic/labs, children's hospitals, schools, and the general population were recruited. A multi-method approach was used to validate the Children's Report of Sleep Patterns--Sleepiness Scale (CRSP-S), including self-report measures (questions about typical sleep), parent-report measures (Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire [CSHQ], proxy version of CRSP-S, Children's Sleep Hygiene Scale [CSHS], morningness-eveningness) and objective measures (actigraphy and polysomnography [PSG]).

RESULTS

The CRSP-S was shown to be internally consistent (Cronbach's alpha = 0.77) and the scale's unidimensionality was supported by a one-factor confirmatory factor analysis. A Rasch-Masters Partial Credit model demonstrated that items cover a broad range of sleepiness experiences with minimal redundancy, gaps in coverage, or bias against age, gender, or clinical groups. Test-retest reliability was 0.82. Construct and convergent validity were demonstrated with actigraphy, parental reports of children's sleepiness, sleep disturbances, sleep hygiene, circadian preference, and comparison of groups of children (e.g., sleep clinic/lab vs. school children).

CONCLUSIONS

The CRSP-S is a reliable and valid self-report measure of sleepiness for school-aged children. As an adjunct to parental report measures and objective measures of sleep, the CRSP-S provides a brief and psychometrically robust measure of children's sleepiness. Children who endorse sleepiness should have a more detailed screening for underlying sleep disruptors or causes of insufficient sleep.