Sleep problems in children with cerebral palsy and their relationship with maternal sleep and depression

Abstract Aim: To compare sleep problems in children with cerebral palsy to typically developing children. To study the relationship between sleep problems in children with cerebral palsy and maternal sleep quality and depression. Methods: Fifty‐seven children with cerebral palsy aged 4–12 years were identified from a UK disability database. Maternal sleep disturbance and mood were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Major Depression Inventory. Child sleep problems, assessed with the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire, but not maternal variables, were compared to 102 typically developing children. Results: Forty children (70%) were recruited with a mean age of 7.8 (SD 2.4). Sleep anxiety, night wakings, parasomnias and sleep‐disordered breathing sub‐scales indicated significantly more difficulties than in typically developing children. 40% of mothers of children with cerebral palsy had poor sleep quality of whom 44% had depressed mood. Child and maternal sleep disturbance were significantly correlated. Maternal sleep quality predicted 50% of the variance in maternal depression. Conclusions: Children with cerebral palsy have more sleep problems than typically developing peers. Their mothers also have disturbed sleep that correlates with maternal depression. Childhood sleep problems can be treated and should be identified in routine clinical practice.     

睡眠质量对注意缺陷多动障碍儿童症状的影响:工作记忆的中介作用北大核心CSCD

目的探讨注意缺陷多动障碍(attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,ADHD)儿童工作记忆在睡眠质量与症状之间的中介作用。方法采用随机整群抽样法从新疆维吾尔自治区喀什市2所小学3~5年级学生中筛选出符合条件的ADHD儿童(110例)及正常对照儿童(124例)为研究对象,采用SNAP-Ⅳ评估量表、匹兹堡睡眠质量指数量表(Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index,PSQI)、工作记忆任务测试进行调查并比较。结果ADHD组儿童主观睡眠质量、入睡时间、睡眠效率、睡眠障碍评分及PSQI总分高于正常对照组(P<0.001),睡眠质量问题的发生率也高于正常对照组(P<0.001);ADHD儿童工作记忆得分低于正常对照组(P<0.001)。ADHD组工作记忆得分与PSQI总分呈负相关(r_(s)=-0.271,P<0.001),与症状得分呈负相关(r_(s)=-0.439,P<0.001);ADHD组PSQI总分与症状得分呈正相关(r_(s)=0.540,P<0.001)。工作记忆在睡眠质量对ADHD儿童症状影响中起部分中介效应,占总效应的18.10%。结论部分ADHD儿童存在睡眠质量问题,且工作记忆在ADHD儿童睡眠质量与症状之间起中介作用。     

Transitioning a Research Protocol for Videosomnography to Assess Sleep and Nighttime Caregiving Activities in School-Aged Children With Developmental Disabilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected children with developmental disabilities (DDs)' sleep. Videosomnography is a noninvasive, portable time-lapse video recording system to objectively obtain a child's sleep-wake behaviors and parents' caregiving activities in a natural environment.MethodFrom September 2020 to February 2021, we conducted a feasibility study using actigraphy (in mothers) and videosomnography in children with DDs for seven consecutive nights to assess sleep and nighttime caregiving activities. Because of the pandemic, we developed and implemented alternative data collection strategies, such as delivering a “study package” with easy-to-follow written instructions and emailed video-recorded instructions on recording a child's sleep.ResultsWe aimed to enroll 10 mothers and 10 school-aged children with DDs and achieved this goal. Nine out of 10 mothers completed video recordings of their child's sleep, with only 10% missing data for videosomnography.DiscussionThis paper shared adaptations to our videosomnography protocol and lessons learned.     

Cosleeping in context: sleep practices and problems in young children in Japan and the United States

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between cosleeping and sleep problems in cultures with very different sleep practices. DESIGN: Interview study. SETTING: Families in urban Japan and the United States identified through pediatric and other professional contacts. PARTICIPANTS: Parents of healthy 6- to 48-month-old children (56 Japanese parents and 61 white US parents). All children had been breast-fed and lived in 2-parent, middleclass households. INTERVENTION: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Sleep practices and sleep problems. RESULTS: More Japanese than US children coslept 3 or more times per week (59% vs. 15%, P<.001). All cosleeping Japanese children regularly slept all night with their parents (vs. 11% of US cosleepers, P<.001). Japanese and US children did not differ in part-night cosleeping (7% vs. 13%, P = .37). Most Japanese children had adult company and body contact as they fell asleep, and fathers slept separately in 23% of families. A greater proportion of US children had regular bedtime struggles and night waking. Within the US sample, cosleeping was associated with more bedtime struggles (P<.001), night waking (P<.01), and overall stressful sleep problems (P<.01). In the Japanese sample, cosleeping was associated only with night waking (P<.05); however, the proportion of cosleeping Japanese children with frequent night waking was at the level reported for US children who slept alone (30% vs 23%, P = .47). CONCLUSIONS: Cultural differences seem to influence the relationship between sleep practices and sleep problems. The experience of the Japanese families indicates that cosleeping per se is not associated with increased sleep problems in early childhood.     

全国城市学龄儿童睡眠状况研究

目的 掌握全国城市学龄儿童的睡眠时间,分析这一年龄阶段儿童主要存在的睡眠问题及变化规律.方法 采用分级整群抽样,于2005年11-12月对我国9城市、55所小学的19 299名学龄儿童进行问卷调查,调查内容包括儿童个人基本情况(采用自制问卷)、睡眠习惯和睡眠问题(采用中文版儿童睡眠习惯问卷).结果 我国城市学龄儿童平均每日睡眠时间平时为9 h 10 min(标准差48 min),周末为9 h 48 min(标准差63 min),睡眠不足发生率平时为71.4%,周末为41.8%.各类型睡眠问题发生率波动于14.5%(睡眠呼吸障碍)～75.3%(白天嗜睡).男童与女童相比,睡眠焦虑的发生率略低(χ2=19.42,P＜0.01),但异态睡眠(χ2=13.76,P＜0.01)和睡眠呼吸障碍(χ2=119.83,P＜0.01)的发生率则高于女童.除夜醒问题外,其他类型睡眠问题均呈显著的年龄别差异.结论 我国城市学龄儿童睡眠状况值得忧虑,儿童睡眠健康问题应作为一重要"公共卫生问题",给予足够的重视.     

Sleep quality in children and adolescents with attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder

Sleep disturbances are associated with an increased risk of attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which can also lead to sleep problems. In this study we aimed to determine the variables that affect the relationship between ADHD and sleep quality. Moreover, we aimed to compare these variables in children and adolescents with ADHD and healthy controls. This cross-sectional study was conducted using a random sample of 122 ADHD patients and 100 healthy children in Turkey. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to assess sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The risk of impairment in sleep quality was associated with the presence of ADHD (OR: 13.3; 95% CI: 6.1–29.1), the presence of somatic disease (OR: 4.9; 95% CI: 1.9–12.2), and a family history of the psychiatric disorder (OR: 4.2; 95% CI: 1.3–13.1). The PSQI total score was higher in children with parental separation compared to those without parental separation (p=0.006). As the economic level of the participants decreased, the PSQI total score increased significantly (p=0.006). It was determined that combined-type ADHD was associated with impairment in sleep quality more than the other subtypes (p<0.001 and p=0.031, respectively). Our findings show that children with ADHD have significantly more sleep problems than healthy controls and that sociodemographic variables and familial characteristics affect sleep quality in healthy children and children with ADHD.     

Parent Perspectives on Sleep and Sleep Habits Among Young Children Living With Economic Adversity

ObjectiveTo examine the perspectives of ethnically diverse, low-income parents of young children regarding sleep, sleep habits, and preferences for sleep promotion for themselves and their children.MethodWe recruited a sample of mothers who had a 15- to 60-month-old child enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutritional Program for Women, Infants and Children in a Northeastern U.S. city. We used a convergent mixed-methods design to conduct semistructured interviews and questionnaires to measure parent sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), sleep apnea (Berlin Apnea Questionnaire), mood (Centers for Epidemiological Studies of Depression), children's sleep (Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire), and behavior (Child Behavior Checklist).ResultsThirty-two mothers (M age = 30.97 [SD 6.34] years; n = 21 [65%] African American) and children (N = 14 [44% female]; M age =38 [SD 12.63] months) participated. Children's average sleep duration was 10 hr, which is below the recommendation for this age group; overall sleep difficulty was high despite most mothers reporting that their children had normal sleep. Five children had abnormal Child Behavior Checklist scores, suggesting internalizing and externalizing behaviors. More than half of the mothers had poor sleep quality and 24 (75%) were at high risk for sleep apnea. Mothers viewed sleep as important for themselves and their children and identified both effective and ineffective practices to promote sleep, including practices learned from their own families.ConclusionsEthnically diverse mothers who are living with economic adversity value sleep for themselves and their children. The high value placed on sleep, despite misconceptions about normal sleep, suggest opportunities to promote sleep interventions. The content and delivery methods should be tailored to their knowledge, preferences, and cultural practices.     

Infant and toddler sleep in Australia and New Zealand

Aims: To characterize sleep patterns and sleep problems in a large sample of young children (birth to 36 months) in Australia (AU) and New Zealand (NZ). Methods: Parents and caregivers of 2154 infants and toddlers in AU and NZ completed an expanded version of the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire. Results: Overall, young children in AU and NZ go to bed relatively early (19:35), awaken on average 1.08 times per night for an average of 23 min, have a low likelihood of bed‐sharing with parents (7.2%) and obtain an average of 13.24 h total sleep. However, a significant percentage of parents perceive that their child has a sleep problem (30.69%). Sleep patterns in these children demonstrate clear developmental changes, including a decrease in daytime sleep and total sleep time, as well as consolidation of sleep during the night (decrease in night wakings and nocturnal wakefulness). Parents in AU and NZ are also highly likely to encourage independence and self‐soothing, especially after the age of 3 months. Conclusions: These findings provide parents and professionals reference data for assessing sleep in young children, as well as common parenting practices related to sleep behaviours.     

Sleep problems in young infants and maternal mental and physical health

AIM: Sleep problems in the second 6 months of life are common and associated with maternal depression. This paper extends previous research to (i) establish the prevalence of sleep problems in younger infants from a broader socio-economic spectrum, (ii) examine the relationship between infant sleep problems and maternal physical, as well as mental, health, and (iii) explore mothers' sleep quality as a potential mediator of this relationship. METHODS: Design: Cross-sectional, community survey in Melbourne, Australia. Sample: Mothers of 3- to 6-month-old infants (mean 4.6 months) recruited from well-child clinics in six sociodemographically diverse metropolitan local government areas. Outcome measures: Maternal mental and physical health; standardised questionnaire on infant sleep patterns; maternal report of an infant sleep problem (yes/no). RESULTS: The survey was completed by 692 mothers; 237 (34%) reported an infant sleep problem, of whom 73 (31%) rated the problem as severe. Sleep patterns characterising a problem included the infant waking seven nights per week, nursing the infant to sleep at the beginning of the night, the infant sleeping in the parent's room, and parental disagreement regarding managing infant sleep. There was no relationship between sleep problems and socio-economic levels. Mothers reporting infant sleep problems had poorer mental and physical health compared with those not reporting sleep problems. CONCLUSION: Sleep problems are common in early infancy across metropolitan socio-economic levels and are associated with poorer maternal health and well-being. Preventive strategies for infant sleep problems need to begin early in primary care to improve mothers' health.     

Sleep disturbance in preschool-aged hyperactive and nonhyperactive children

In spite of inadequate laboratory demonstrations of sleep problems in children with attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, the belief persists that such problems exist. Sleep restlessness is, in fact, one of the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, ed 3, definition of attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, and sleep problems are listed on two major checklists often used for describing the symptoms of this disorder. In a series of three studies, sleep problems were investigated in preschool-aged children with attention deficit disorder relative to control children without the disorder. Results of the first two studies demonstrated clearly that parents of hyperactive children considered their children to have many more sleep problems than did parents of the control children. Parental daily documentation, which is less likely to be affected by reporting bias, was used in the third study. Although the results of the third study supported the finding of increased frequency of night wakings in these children, there was no difference in total sleep time or sleep onset latency between the two groups. Two other significant group differences (enuresis and night sweats) were primarily due to subgroups of children with attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity. The greater number of sleep wakings, which disrupt parents' sleep, may be responsible for the clinical reports that these children are poor sleepers.     

Sleep, performance and behaviour in Australian indigenous and non-indigenous children: An exploratory comparison

Aims:   Sleep problems in Australian children are common and consequential but have not been investigated in Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander (indigenous) children. This study compares sleep in indigenous and non-indigenous children and investigates potential effects on school performance and daytime behaviour.
Methods:   Subjects included 25 indigenous and 25 non-indigenous children (mean standard deviation (SD) age = 8.8 (1.4 years), range 7–11.11 years), in six Northern Territory primary schools. Parents completed the Sleep Disorders Scale for Children which produces a T-score (mean = 50 (SD = 10)) for behavioural sleep disorders, sleep disordered breathing, parasomnias, excessive daytime sleepiness and night sweating. Behaviour and school grades were assessed with the parent-reported Child Behaviour Checklist.
Results:   Behavioural sleep problems of initiating and maintaining sleep, or parasomnias were commonly reported by both groups (24–40%), with indigenous children under 9 years reporting the most problems. No between-group differences were found in school performance. Significant relationships between sleep quality and behaviours were found, particularly for indigenous children.
Conclusions:   These data suggest that substantial numbers of Australian children – more than one third in this pilot sample – may suffer from significant sleep problems. To the extent that sleep problems may impair prefrontal cortical function, emotional regulation, and control of behaviour, confirmation of current findings could have particular import for indigenous children.     

Sleep problems in early childhood: continuities, predictive factors, and behavioral correlates

A longitudinal study, based on interviews with 308 middle-class, preponderantly white mothers, provided an opportunity to evaluate the continuity, predictive factors, and behavioral correlates of sleep problems in young children. When their children were 8 months old, 10% of the mothers reported that their babies woke three or more times per night, 8% reported that the babies took an hour or more to settle after waking, 5% complained that their own sleep was severely disrupted by the child, and 18% reported at least one of these problems. At 3 years of age, 29% of the children had difficulty getting to bed and/or falling asleep or staying asleep. Of children with a sleep problem at 8 months of age, 41% still had a problem at 3 years of age, whereas only 26% of children without a problem at 8 months of age had a problem at 3 years of age (P less than .001). Among children with sleep problems at 8 months of age, mothers' depressed feelings were the only measured demographic or psychosocial factor associated with persistent sleep problems (P = .02). A separate analysis indicated that these depressed feelings did not appear to be a consequence of the child's sleep problem. Future studies should evaluate how maternal depression interacts with other factors to result in persistent sleep problems. Children with persistent sleep problems were more likely to have behavior problems, especially tantrums (P less than .02) and behavior management problems (P less than .01), than were children without persistent sleep problems (P less than .02).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Sleep Problems in Children of Affectively Ill Mothers

The objective of the study was to determine whether the frequency and severity of sleep problems were greater in children of affectively ill mothers than in children of control mothers. Sleep problems were studied in children of mothers with a diagnosis of unipolar ( N = 38) and bipolar ( N = 23) affective illness and children of mothers with no current or past psychiatric diagnosis ( N = 24). Mothers' reports on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) were obtained three times, 4 years apart, on sibling pairs (ages 1.5–3.5 and 5–8 years, respectively, at first assessment). In addition, on the third assessment, the Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents was filled out by mothers and children. In both siblings, sleep problems, as assessed through the CBCL, were more frequent and severe in children of affectively ill mothers. In younger siblings, the persistence of sleep problems was more frequent in children of affectively ill mothers. Co-occurrence of sleep problems among siblings was more frequent in children of affectively ill mothers than in those of control mothers.     

Severe sleep problems among infants in a normal population in Sweden: prevalence, severity and correlates

The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of parentally experienced infant sleep problems, with special interest in severe problems, in a total community sample of 2518 infants aged 6-18 mo. Correlates to severe sleep problems were sought. The families were approached using a questionnaire and 83% responded. Data from the collection procedure point to a non-selective dropout. Sixteen percent of the parents reported their children as having moderate or severe difficulties in falling asleep at night (sleep refusal, bedtime struggles) and 30% reported frequent night waking. Almost all (93%) of the parents had sought help at the Child Health Centre (CHC), but only 48% were satisfied with the support and advice they got. Severe sleep problems as defined by the ICSD (International Classification of Sleep Disorders, 1990) were found in 129 of the children (6.2%), who were studied in detail, with the rest of the population as controls. Severe sleep problems were found to be correlated with parental worries and anxiety concerning infant health (although the children were reported as being as healthy as the controls), infant feeding problems and intensive parental interventional behaviour (especially feeding) during the evening and night. A common factor of insecurity in the parental role is suggested.     

Sleep problems in healthy preadolescents

Few data currently exist concerning the sleep problems of preadolescents. A parent report questionnaire concerning sleep habits and problems was developed. The questionnaires were completed by the parents of 1000 unscreened elementary school children attending the third, fourth, and fifth grades. The schools were randomly selected from an urban area. Of the 1000 questionnaires, 972 were completed and could be used for statistical analysis. Among the parents, 24% reported sleeping poorly and 12% regularly relied on sedatives to induce sleep. Sleep difficulties lasting more than 6 months were present in 43% of the children. In 14% (132 of 972), sleep latency was longer than 30 minutes, and more than one complete arousal occurred during the night at least two nights per week. The following variables were seen among the poor sleepers: lower parental educational and professional status, parents who were more likely to be divorced or separated, and more noise or light in the rooms were they slept. They also presented a higher incidence of somnambulism, somniloquia, and night fears (nightmares and night terrors) than the children who slept well. Boys who slept poorly were significantly more likely to have insomniac fathers (P less than .010). Regular use of sedatives was described in 4% (5 of 132) of the children who slept poorly. Among the "poor sleepers," 21% (33 of 132) had failed 1 or more years at school. School achievement difficulties were encountered significantly more often among the poor sleepers than among the children without sleep problems (P = .001). Of the families with children suffering from sleep problems, 28% expressed a desire for counseling.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Sleep architecture in healthy 5-year-old preschool children: associations between sleep schedule and quality variables

Aim: Although disturbed sleep quality such as night awakenings and difficulties in falling asleep are common symptoms during sleep in preschool children, relationships between sleep quality and sleep schedule are mostly unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between sleep schedule and quality variables in preschool children. Methods: Sleep‐wake patterns of 48 healthy 5‐year‐old children were assessed over 7 consecutive days using actigraphy. Results: Children with longer sleep latency had a lower sleep quality, a later bedtime, a later sleep onset time, a shorter nocturnal sleep period and a longer daytime nap. Children with a longer nocturnal sleep period on weekends compared with weekdays had longer sleep latency and a later sleep onset time on weekdays, resulting in a lower sleep quality on weekends. An irregular bedtime on weekdays was associated with a later sleep onset time and a shorter sleep period on weekends. Conclusion: Sleep quality and schedule were linked with each other, whiche may explain why sleep problems tend to aggregate and form a wider syndrome of disturbed sleep even in young children. Strategies solely targeting the improvement of sleep quantity may not promote ideal sleep; simultaneous considerations for the sleep rhythm and quality may be required.     

The effects of illness on sleep behaviour in infants

For the purpose of evaluating the association between health problems and sleep disturbances as part of a community survey of sleep patterns in childhood, a questionnaire was administered to 752 mothers of children between the ages of 4 months and 4 years, and to the nurses at their regular baby clinics. The questionnaire covered the areas of past and present sleep and settling behaviour, as well as health history and demographic data. The study group consisted of 66 (8.9%) children who had either chronic medical problems, or history of an illness requiring hospitalisation. Regular night waking was reported in 35% and 34% of the group with an without history of illness, respectively. The mean number of interrupted nights per week was similar in both groups and so were the sleep problems perceived by the mothers. We conclude that in this age group the results do not support an association between health problems and prolonged sleep disturbances.     

Persistence of sleep disturbances in preschool children

The purpose of our study was to determine if common sleep disturbances in young children, such as night waking and bedtime struggle, tend to persist; if they are related to environmental stress factors and are accompanied by other behavior problems; and if their persistence is related to other factors. Sixty children aged 15 to 48 months (mean age 26.4 months) were studied by interviewing their mothers initially and after 3 years. Children with and without sleep disturbances were compared, with the latter serving as the control group. Twenty-five (42%: night waking, 22%; bedtime struggle, 13%; both night waking and bedtime struggle, 7%) of 60 children had sleep disturbances at the initial interview, and of these 25 children, 21 (84%) had persistence of sleep disturbances after 3 years, persistent sleep disturbances had a significant relationship with increased frequency of stress factors in the environment (P less than 0.01). Other generalized behavior difficulties were present in 30% of sleep-disturbed and 19% of non-sleep-disturbed children (P = NS). Co-sleeping (sleeping with a parent or sibling) was noted more frequently in sleep-disturbed (34%) than in non-sleep-disturbed (16%) children. Twenty percent of the mothers at initial interview and 30% at 3-year follow-up perceived their child's sleep disturbances as stressful to them and to their family life. Early identification of the child with sleep disturbances and timely intervention would help both the child and the family.     

Prevalence of sleep disorders in early-treated phenylketonuric children and adolescents. Correlation with dopamine and serotonin status

Phenylketonuric (PKU) patients are a population at risk for sleep disorders due to deficits in neurotransmitter synthesis. We aimed to study the prevalence of sleep disorders in early-treated PKU children and adolescents and assessed correlations with dopamine and serotonin status. We compared 32 PKU patients (16 females, 16 males; mean age 12 years), with a healthy control group of 32 subjects (16 females, 16 males; mean age 11.9 years). 19 PKU patients were under dietary treatment and 13 on tetrahydrobiopterin therapy. Concurrent phenylalanine (Phe), index of dietary control and variability in Phe in the last year, tyrosine, tryptophan, prolactin, and ferritin in plasma, platelet serotonin concentration, and melatonin, homovanillic and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid excretion in urine were analyzed. Sleep was assessed using Bruni's Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children. Sleep disorders were similar in both groups, 15.6% in control group and 12.5% in PKU group. In PKU patients, no correlations were found with peripheral biomarkers of neurotransmitter synthesis nor different Phe parameters, 43.3% had low melatonin excretion and 43.8% low platelet serotonin concentrations. Despite melatonin and serotonin deficits in early-treated PKU patients, the prevalence of sleep disorders is similar to that of the general population.     

Wired at a Young Age: The Effect of Caffeine and Technology on Sleep Duration and Body Mass Index in School-Aged Children

IntroductionTwo problems affecting school-aged children in the United States are inadequate sleep and an increased prevalence of obesity. The purpose of this study was to quantify media-related technology use and caffeine consumption in order to assess their potential effects on sleep duration and body mass index (BMI) in children.MethodsThe study was a secondary analysis of children 6 to 10 years of age (N = 625) from the National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep in America Poll. Regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between caffeine and technology use, sleep variables, and BMI, adjusting for age, race, gender, and general health.ResultsAlmost 30% (29.5%) of the children consumed a daily caffeinated beverage, and 42.4% had a television in the bedroom. Children who drank caffeinated beverages had 15 fewer minutes of sleep per night than did children who did not drink such beverages (b = –0.27, p = .002). Children with three technology items in their bedroom received 45 fewer minutes of sleep than did children without these items in their bedroom (b = –0.75, p = .010). Having adjusted for variables, only drinking caffeinated beverages was associated with a BMI z score.DiscussionThe complex relationships between caffeine intake and the use of technology with shortened periods of sleep and increased BMI need further study. Future research should explore how these risk factors for shortened periods of sleep can be modified in this young population.