<p>Examining Sleep and Mood in Parents of Children with Sleep Disturbances</p>

Abstract

Objective The current study examined sleep and mood associations in parents of children with sleep disturbances across a sample of typically developing children and children with neurodevelopmental disorders. The mediating effect of children’s sleep on the relationship between parents’ sleep and mood was also assessed. The study explored differences in parents’ sleep based on whether 1) the child had a sleep disturbance, and 2) the child was typically developing or had a neurodevelopmental disorder. Methods A total of 293 parents of children aged 2–12 years completed an online questionnaire. Parental sleep was examined using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Glasgow Sleep Effort Scale and the Pre-sleep Arousal Scale, and mood was assessed using the Profile of Mood States-short form. Measures for children included the Child’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Results Across the overall sample, children’s sleep disturbances were associated with parents’ sleep disturbances, accounting for 22% of the change in parental sleep quality. Children’s sleep partially mediated parents’ sleep and mood. Significant differences were observed for sleep and mood outcomes in parents of children with sleep disturbances (CSHQ scores ≥41). However, no significant differences were reported for children’s sleep disturbances and parents’ sleep quality based on whether the child was typically developing or had a neurodevelopmental disorder. Conclusion Parents of children with sleep disturbances experience poor sleep and high pre-sleep arousal, indicative of insomnia. Given that these parents experience cognitive arousal and insomnia, it is recommended that parents’ sleep problems are addressed and treated in clinical settings.

Child perception and parent’s perception about child sleep quality

“…Parents with a poor quality of sleep reveal greater cognitive or somatic arousal before sleeping when their children have sleep difficulties. Poor quality sleep by parents can be associated with chronic insomnia problems, and their mood is also mediated by their children’s quality of sleep 29 . Authors such as Mazza et al (2020) 19 analyzed and compared children’s self-perception about their sleep and estimates of the quality of sleep made by their parents, concluded that there are discrepancies between the two denoting insufficient agreement on sleep duration and night wakefulness 19 .…”

Relating parental stress with sleep disorders in parents and children

“…For example, having a child with a sleep disorder can be a stressful event. Other research has shown that parents of children with sleep problems experience higher levels of insomnia [ 48 ]. Mothers and fathers with insomnia report children with sleeping disorders such as bedtime resistance, sleep duration, sleep anxiety, waking at night, and/or daytime sleepiness [ 49 ].…”

Marital Satisfaction, Maternal Depression, Attachment and Early Childhood Sleep Problems: A Descriptive Study

“…Sınırlı sayıda çalışma, ebeveynliğe geçişte ebeveynlerde uykusuzlukla birlikte evlilikten alınan doyumun azalabileceğini ve uyku sorunu olan çocukların ebeveynlerinin uyku kalitelerinin de bozulduğunu göstermiştir. 15,16 Çalışmamızda, çocuklarında uyku sorunu ifade eden annelerin evlilik doyumu, uyku sorunu ifade etmeyen annelerin evlilik doyumundan farklı olmamakla birlikte gece daha sık uyanan bebeklerin annelerinin evlilik doyumunda azalma izlenmiştir. Benzer şekilde, Bernier ve ark.…”