Maternal characteristics and behavioural/emotional problems in preschoolers: how they relate to sleep rhythmic movements at sleep onset

Abstract

Sleep rhythmic movements have been speculated to be a form of self-soothing. While this sleep-related movement has been associated with lower socioeconomic status, psychopathologies and maternal characteristics, prospective studies with sizeable sample and objective measurements are lacking. The objectives were: (a) to identify maternal characteristics predicting sleep rhythmic movements in children; and (b) to document behavioural/emotional problems in preschoolers with sleep rhythmic movements. Participants were mother-child dyads (N = 529) from the Adversity: Maternal Adversity, Vulnerability and Neurodevelopment cohort. Questionnaires evaluating socioeconomic status (prenatal), maternal depressive symptoms (prenatal, 48 months), sleep rhythmic movements (12, 18, 24, 36, 48 months), maternal anxiety trait (24 months) and children's behavioural/emotional problems (48 months) were used. Maternal sensitivity (accuracy and appropriateness of mother's responses to her baby's needs) was assessed objectively with a filmed mother-infant interaction (6 months). Generalized estimating equation was used to investigate associations between sleep rhythmic movements and maternal characteristics (depression, anxiety and sensitivity). Linear regressions were used to assess associations between sleep rhythmic movements and behavioural/emotional problems in children. Lower maternal sensitivity, higher maternal depressive symptoms and lower socioeconomic status predicted sleep rhythmic movements in children (p < 0.05). To our knowledge, this is the first study showing that sleep rhythmic movements are associated with lower maternal sensitivity, measured objectively. This study also builds on previous reports, by documenting an association between sleep rhythmic movements and behavioural/emotional problems even in preschoolers. The presence of psychosocial factors in sleep rhythmic movements aetiology should be considered in treatment.

Towards A Socioeconomic Model of Sleep Health among the Canadian Population: A Systematic Review of the Relationship between Age, Income, Employment, Education, Social Class, Socioeconomic Status and Sleep Disparities

“…Nineteen studies [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ] were included and covered the last two decades, with the oldest published in 2001 [ 29 ] and the newest in 2020 [ 44 ]. As shown in Table 2 , among the 19 studies, 16 were cross-sectional studies [ 26 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 37 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ] and three were longitudinal studies [ 27 , 36 , 38 ]. Six studies [ 26 , 35 , 36 , 38 , 42 , 43 ] have only children and/or adolescents as participants, whereas 12 studies [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ,…”

“…As shown in Table 2 , among the 19 studies, 16 were cross-sectional studies [ 26 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 37 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ] and three were longitudinal studies [ 27 , 36 , 38 ]. Six studies [ 26 , 35 , 36 , 38 , 42 , 43 ] have only children and/or adolescents as participants, whereas 12 studies [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 44 ] have only adult participants and one study [ 37 ] has both types of participants. Ages ranged from 2 months [ 43 ] to 85 years old [ 40 ].…”

“…Sample size ranged from 177 participants [ 41 ] to 36,984 participants [ 30 ]. The most popular socioeconomic indicators used were education [ 29 , 30 , 32 , 35 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ], followed by income [ 29 , 30 , 32 , 33 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 44 ] and employment [ 29 , 35 , 37 , 40 , 41 ]. The main public health problems related to sleep health disparities were sleep duration [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 39 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ], insomnia [ 28 , 29 , 30 , 33 , 39 ] and sleep quality [ 41 , 42 ].…”

“…Sufficient sleep was more likely among students attending schools in areas classified in the highest SES group [ 36 ]. Lower SES predicted sleep rhythmic movements in children [ 38 ].…”

“…Exposure and health outcome : The main sleep health inequity investigated was sleep duration [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 42 , 43 ], followed by sleep quality [ 42 ], sleep disturbances [ 42 ] and sleep rhythmic movements [ 38 ]. Two specifics sleep disorders were studied: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) [ 26 ] and daytime sleepiness [ 42 ].…”