Relationship between maternal socioeconomic status and infant children's sleep and breakfast habits

Background and objectives: In Japan in recent years, there is concern that differences in regional and socioeconomic environments are causing significant health disparities. Parents' education level and socioeconomic status (SES) has an effect on children's sleep habits, and can lead to disparity in infants' lifestyle habits. This study investigated the relationship between maternal SES and their infant children's breakfast and sleep habits, as well as their lifestyle rhythm. Methods: An online survey was conducted in June 2019, targeting mothers aged 20-49 with children aged 3-5. The questionnaire surveyed the mother and children's breakfast habits, sleep habits, circadian typology (CT), household income for the previous year, and the mother's level of education. 1,529 responses (average age 36.2 ± 5.0 years), were targeted for analysis. Responders were divided into two groups: the first included mothers with a high school education and below (23.8%) and those with a junior college education and above (76.2%); the second group included mothers with an annual household income of less than 4 million yen (24.3%) and those with an annual household income of 4 million yen or more (75.7%). Results were examined using the Χ2 test, Mann-Whitney U test, using logistic regression analysis (variable increase method). Results: Children of higher-educated mothers were more likely to consume breakfast daily at a regular time. Children also slept earlier (p=0.003) and woke up earlier (p