Parental perception of children sleep pattern changes during FIFA World Cup 2022

Journal Article

Published in: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12887-026-07425-x

Introduction

The circadian clock is an internal, ~ 24-hour biological timer that synchronizes physiology with the day-night cycle. Social jetlag.

(SJL) describes the misalignment between this internal clock and social schedules, a condition affecting approximately 70% of the population and linked to a spectrum of metabolic, mental, and cognitive health issues. This study examined how the 2022 FIFA World Cup disrupted normal children’s sleep routines and other associated factors from parents’ prospect.

Methods

An online, cross-sectional survey was distributed to parents (N = 848). The questionnaire collected sociodemographic data, children’s habitual sleep habits, and changes perceived during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. We operationalized a researcher-defined parent-reported (SJL) as a ≥ 1-hour delay in bedtime on weekends versus weekdays. Multivariable logistic regression analyses identified factors associated with perceived sleep changes and SJL.

Results

Over half (53.4%) of the children exhibited a bedtime-based SJL (≥ 1-hour later weekend vs. weekday bedtime). Significant predictors of baseline weekend (SJL) were, children aged 5–11 (84.7% more, p < 0.001), higher socioeconomic status (38.3%, p < 0.001), residency in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia time zone (284.5% times more, p < 0.001).

During the tournament, 33% and 17.8% of parents reported their children had delayed sleep timing (≥1 hour) on weekdays and weekends respectively. Regression analysis revealed that parental perceived FIFA impact on their children sleep was significantly associated with weekdays (SJL) 95.8% more, p=0.001 and weekends 78.4% more, p=0.009 during the FIFIA season.

Conclusion

Major sporting and social events might significantly disrupt children’s sleep schedules, compounding the public health issue of chronic SJL. Such periodic events expose the vulnerability in paediatric population by aggravating already existing SJL. Therefore, families need proactive guidance dealing with such events to protect their children of already existing SJL from baseline social and societal factors, and help them recover from their negative consequences on paediatric circadian biology.