The role of parental circadian preference in the onset of sleep difficulties in early childhood

Abstract

Background: Chronotype is a construct contributing to individual differences in sleep-wake timing. Previous studies with children have found that evening-types exhibit greater sleep difficulties. Infant sleep quality can be modulated by several factors, such as parental characteristics. We examined the association between parental circadian preference and sleep in early childhood. Methods: This study was based on a longitudinal birth cohort, with several measurement points. We used information regarding parental questionnaires during pregnancy and children's sleep measures at three, eight, 18 and 24 months. In total, 1220 mothers, 1116 fathers, 993 infants at three months, 990 infants at eight months, 958 children at 18 months, and 777 children at 24 months were analyzed. Parental circadian preference was measured using the Horne-€ Ostberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire. Concerning children's sleep, we used the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire (BISQ) and the Infant Sleep Questionnaire (ISQ) at each time point. Results: Maternal circadian preference was associated with infants' circadian rhythm development at three, eight, 18 and 24 months. Furthermore, increased maternal eveningness was also related to short sleep during daytime at three months, and nighttime at three and eight months, to long sleep-onset latency at three, 18 and 24 months, to late bedtime at three, eight and 18 months, and to sleep difficulties at eight and 24 months. Paternal circadian preference was not associated with any sleep variable at any time point. Conclusion: Maternal circadian preference is related to several sleep difficulties in early childhood, and it may be considered a potential risk factor for the onset of early sleeping problems.

Development of sleep–wake rhythms during the first year of age

“…Sleep problems have been found to be greater in evening types compared to morning types, both in toddlers (Simpkin et al., ) and preschool children (Jafar et al., ), and a change towards the circadian preference for evening hours appears to occur already in toddlers (Randler, Faßl, & Kalb, ). In addition, recent findings from our group suggest that maternal circadian preference is related to several sleep difficulties of infants in early childhood, and especially to increased risk of slower sleep–wake rhythm development (Morales‐Muñoz et al., ).…”

Chronodisruption: effects on reproduction, transgenerational health of offspring and epigenome

“…Moreover, this experimental design, does not identify if a specific period of gestation or postnatal development is more crucial for the development of metabolic syndrome. Maternal, but not paternal, circadian preference was found to be associated with infants' circadian rhythm development in early childhood (Morales-Munoz et al 2019). Recent studies also suggest that chronodisruption during the neonatal period, when synchronization of the infant's circadian rhythms occur, might have long and short-term health consequences, potentially causing chronic stress-associated disorders (Astiz & Oster 2018, McKenna & Reiss 2018.…”

Child Eveningness as a Predictor of Parental Sleep

“…In addition to studies with objective parameters, future studies should further examine the interaction between eveningness and morningness within the family, and whether maternal eveningness also impacts child sleep quality at preschool age, similar to the impact in infancy [ 19 ]. Conversely, paternal eveningness does not seem to impact infant sleep problems [ 19 ]. However, in this study, child eveningness also affected paternal sleep.…”

“…Understandably, the chronotypes of family members seem to interact: previous studies have shown that the maternal chronotype is highly correlated with that of the child and a male partner [ 18 ]. Maternal eveningness has been shown to increase infant sleeping problems [ 19 ], and eveningness of other family members seems to increase feelings of somnolence and even the caffeine and alcohol consumption of a morning-type adult member of the family [ 20 ].…”