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Trouble sleeping and anxiety/depression in childhood
E O Johnson1, H D Chilcoat, N Breslau
1Department of Psychiatry, Henry Ford Health Sciences Center, Detroit, MI 48202-3450, USA. ejohnso3@hfhs.org
Insights
Children experiencing sleep problems show higher odds of anxiety and depression, particularly by age 11. This association between sleep issues and mental health in children is significant, even after accounting for birth weight and maternal depression history.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychology
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Sleep disturbances are common in childhood and may be linked to mental health issues.
- Low birth weight (LBW) is a known risk factor for developmental and psychiatric problems.
- Understanding the interplay between sleep, mental health, and early life factors is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between children's sleep problems and anxiety/depression.
- To examine these associations cross-sectionally and prospectively from age 6 to 11.
- To explore potential moderating factors such as birth weight, sex, and maternal depression.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of children born with low birth weight (LBW) and normal birth weight.
- Utilized Achenbach's Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Teacher Report Form (TRF) for psychiatric assessments.
- Assessed sleep problems and anxiety/depression symptoms at ages 6 and 11.
Main Results:
- Children with sleep problems had significantly higher odds of anxiety/depression based on maternal reports (OR=6.9).
- The association between sleep problems and depression was stronger at age 11 than at age 6.
- Findings persisted after adjusting for birth weight, sex, and maternal depression history.
Conclusions:
- Trouble sleeping in childhood is significantly associated with anxiety and depression, particularly when reported by mothers.
- The link between sleep disturbances and mental health appears to strengthen with age.
- Early identification of sleep problems may be important for addressing potential mental health concerns in children.
Abstract:
The purpose of this report was to estimate the association between children's trouble sleeping and anxiety/depression at ages 6 and 11, cross-sectionally and prospectively. Data come from a study of the psychiatric sequelae of low birth weight (LBW: <2500 g). LBW and normal birth weight children were randomly selected from the 1983-1985 newborn lists of an urban and a suburban hospital. Eight hundred and twenty-three children participated at age 6 and, of those, 717 (87.1%) participated at age 11. Achenbach's Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Teacher Report Form (TRF) were used to obtain ratings of psychiatric problems. The CBCL asked if the child had trouble sleeping during the past 6 months. Children with trouble sleeping had significantly increased odds of anxiety/depression based on mothers' reports (OR=6.9, 95% CI 4.1-11. 4) but not teachers' reports (OR=1.1, 95% CI 0.4-2.7). There was a greater association between sleep and depression at age 11 than at age 6, and among suburban than among urban children. These findings remained when adjusted for birthweight, sex, and mother's history of major depressive disorder. Profile analysis indicated a stronger association of trouble sleeping with anxiety/depression than other psychiatric problems. The association of trouble sleeping at age 6 with incidence of depression at age 11 was not statistically significant (suburban children RR=2.22, 95% CI 0.53-9.23; urban children RR=0.92, 95% CI 0.20-4.18).