Sleep disorders in a sample of Lebanese children: the role of parental mental health and child nutrition and activity

Abstract

Background Sleep habits are an important component of a child’s health and it is affected by parent–child relationship. Also, child’s diet and nutrition appear to be an important factor affecting sleep health. Few studies have addressed the effect of parental emotional disturbance that can leave on children’s sleep. Therefore, the objective of our study was to assess the prevalence of sleep disorders in pre- and school-aged children and evaluate its relation with parental mental health and child’s nutrition and activity. Methods A cross-sectional study, conducted between October 2020 and January 2021, which enrolled 402 Lebanese parents from all over Lebanon. The questionnaire was distributed online using the snowball technique. The Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) was used to assess pediatric sleep behaviors and the Family Nutrition and physical activity questionnaire was used to assess parental behaviors that might predispose children for obesity. Results A total of 76 (19%) children had sleep disorders (PSQ scores of 8 or more). The multivariable analysis showed that higher paternal depression (Beta = 0.079, p = 0.010), maternal depression (Beta = 0.089, p = 0.001) and higher anxiety in the father (Beta = 0.064, p = 0.021) were significantly associated with higher PSQ scores (worse sleep) in the child. Higher Family Nutrition and Physical Activity Screening Tool scores in the child (Beta = -0.161, p < 0.001) was significantly associated with lower PSQ scores (better sleep). Conclusion Paternal anxiety and depression, as well as maternal depression, were factors associated with children’s sleeping disorders. Future studies are needed to assess parental influence on child’s development.

Mediating Effect of Emotional and Behaviors Symptoms on the Relationship Between Parenting Behaviors and Sleep problems in Preschool Children

“…Consistent with previous studies, we found an association between parenting behaviors and children's emotional and behavioral problems [13][14][15][16]. And in this study, parents' hostile/coercive strategies have a more signi cant impact on children.…”

“…Parenting plays an important role in improving children's sleep [10,11], which can directly or indirectly in uence their children's sleep condition through speci c parenting style (authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and uninvolved) [12]. Some studies have shown that parents' mood and parenting pressure can affect children's sleep quality [13][14][15]. Parental rearing behavior and poor sleep hygiene are also related to sleep di culties in normally developing children [16].…”

Okul Çocuklarında Uyku Bozukluğu Semptomları İle Sağlıklı Yaşam Davranışları Arasındaki İlişki

“…Ancak, Kanada'da 10-17 yaş arası çocuklarda yapılan çalışmada 24 Saatlik Aktivite Kılavuzu önerilerilerinden biri olan orta ila şiddetli fiziksel aktiviteye çocuk ve gençlerin ancak %35'inde ulaşıldığı raporlanmıştır (58). Sfeir ve arkadaşlarının Lübnan 'da yaptığı bir çalışmada, çocuklarda iyi uyku düzeyinin daha yüksek beslenme ve fiziksel aktivite puanları ile ilişkili olduğu bildirilmiştir (59)…”

Dissociative experiences among Lebanese university students: Association with mental health issues, the economic crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Beirut port explosion

“…The pandemic and the Beirut port explosion came on top of a crushing economic crisis with the highest inflation rate the country has seen in over thirty years [23]. The Lebanese people are facing several mental issues as demonstrated in the latest body of research conducted in the country [24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33].…”