Psychometric Evaluation of the Polish Language Version of the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC)-A Pilot Study.

Sleep disorders in children and adolescents are common, affecting approximately 25-50% of children worldwide, yet they remain insufficiently researched. These sleep abnormalities, especially during developmental stages, can lead to various consequences, including emotional and behavioral disorders, academic challenges, mood disorders, and metabolic issues such as obesity. : The study aimed to psychometrically evaluate a tool for examining sleep disorders in Polish children. : The study involved a randomly selected sample of 42 children, all aged 10, from two primary schools in Poland: one located in a city with over 100,000 inhabitants and the other in a smaller town. Parents were asked to complete the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC) along with a sociodemographic survey. The study assessed reliability using Cronbach's alpha (α) and evaluated the correlation between individual domains using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (Rs). : The pilot group demonstrated very good internal consistency for the entire SDSC scale, with a Cronbach's α value of 0.89, and suitable values for the individual subscales (ranging from 0.69 to 0.83). Additionally, there was a positive correlation between the individual subscales. : While this pilot study requires validation with a larger patient group, the results suggest that the SDSC scale could be an effective tool for screening sleep disorders among Polish children.