Publication:

Assessment of physical literacy and its association with sleep disturbance among school-going children aged 8 to 15 years: a cross-sectional study

Background Physical literacy has emerged as a crucial element in supporting healthy growth, motor competence, and lifelong participation in physical activity. Sleep, similarly, is fundamental to cognitive, emotional, and physical development. Despite the importance of both, limited evidence exists regarding their interaction in Indian school-aged children. It was hypothesized that children with higher physical literacy would demonstrate fewer sleep disturbances. To test this, a cross-sectional study was conducted using validated questionnaires to assess physical literacy and sleep health among school-going children.

Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 children (53 boys, 47 girls). Physical literacy was evaluated using the physical literacy in children questionnaire (PLCQ), and sleep disturbances were assessed through the child and adolescent sleep checklist (CASC). Data were analyzed using SPSS 29.0 with independent t-tests and Pearson’s correlation.

Results The mean physical literacy score was 95.63±13.68, and the mean sleep disturbance score was 21.03±8.89. No gender differences were found in either variable. A significant negative correlation (r=–0.541, p<0.001) indicated that children with higher physical literacy experienced fewer sleep-related issues. Age showed a mild but significant positive correlation with sleep disturbance (p=0.040).

Conclusions Physical literacy appears to have a favorable association with sleep health. Children with higher physical literacy scores are less likely to experience sleep disturbances. Integrating structured physical literacy-based programs in schools may contribute to improved sleep quality and overall well-being.