Association Between Exposure to Outdoor Artificial Light at Night and Sleep Disorders Among Children in China

Key Points Question Is artificial light at night (ALAN) associated with sleep disorders in Chinese children? Findings In this cross-sectional study including 201 994 participants from the National Chinese Children Health Study, children with high levels of outdoor ALAN exposure had increased sleep scores and increased odds of sleep disorder symptoms. Children’s age modified the associations of outdoor ALAN with sleep score and sleep disorders, and the associations were generally stronger in children younger than 12 years. Meaning These findings suggest that reducing the amount of outdoor light pollution in China could reduce the severity of sleep disorders among children.