Longitudinal associations between the quality of parent−child interactions and children's sleep at preschool age.

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the prospective longitudinal links between the quality of mother-child and father-child interactions and preschoolers' sleep. Three dimensions of maternal interactive behavior were considered using 70 mother-child dyads, while the quality of father-child interactions was assessed using 41 of these families. Maternal mind-mindedness was assessed at 12 months during a mother-infant free-play sequence, maternal sensitivity was rated at 12 months based on observations performed throughout a home visit, maternal autonomy support was assessed at 15 months with a 10-min problem-solving situation, and the quality of father-child interactions was scored at 18 months, during father-child free play. Children's sleep was assessed at 3 and 4 years using a sleep diary completed by mothers during 3 consecutive days. Results indicated that, after controlling for family socioeconomic status and daycare attendance, the quality of both mother-infant and father-infant interactions was positively related to children's percentage of night-time sleep at preschool age. These findings add to previous literature in suggesting that early caregiving behavior by both mothers and fathers is related to subsequent child sleep.

Development of comorbid crying, sleeping, feeding problems across infancy: Neurodevelopmental vulnerability and parenting

“…Surprisingly few longitudinal studies examined the relationship between sensitive parenting referring to mothers' ability to respond appropriately to infant cues [11] and infant regulatory problems. Some that focussed on single regulatory problems such as sleeping or crying showed one-directional associations between maternal sensitivity and child regulatory problems [12], others noted a bi-directional relationship between these variables [13], and still others revealed no significant link [14,15]. Thus, the verdict is still out whether lower maternal sensitivity increases regulatory problems or vice versa or whether parenting has little influence on the development of regulatory problems.…”

Family Functioning and Children's Sleep

“…Maternal sensitivity in infancy (mothers who responded to their infants’ cues in a timely and suitable manner) longitudinally predicted greater attachment security and executive functioning (34), as well as lower levels of internalizing and externalizing behaviors (35) among toddlers with more optimal sleep. Thus, illustrative of dual protection, more optimal sleep promotes well-being when it co-occurs with positive parenting.…”

Subjective – Objective Sleep Comparisons and Discrepancies Among Clinically-Anxious and Healthy Children

“…Sleep patterns characterized by appropriate and regimented bedtimes and wake times, positive parent-child interactions, and adequate total sleep duration contribute to healthy development in children (Bordeleau et al 2012;Iglowstein et al 2003;McDonald et al 2014). A considerable proportion of all children experience problems related to sleep but youth who struggle with anxiety are among the most affected (Gregory and O'Connor 2002;Ivanenko et al 2004;Johnson et al 2000).…”