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Published on: October 2, 2019
Sleep and adjustment in preschool children: sleep diary reports by mothers relate to behavior reports by teachers
John E Bates1, Richard J Viken, Douglas B Alexander
1Department of Psychology, Indiana University, Bloomington 47405, USA. batesj@indiana.edu
Insights
Disrupted sleep patterns in young children, including inconsistent bedtimes and sleep duration, are linked to poorer behavioral adjustment in preschool. This effect persists even when accounting for family stress and parenting.
Area of Science:
- Child psychology
- Sleep science
- Family studies
Background:
- Previous research indicates a link between sleep issues and behavioral adjustment in children.
- Most studies focus on clinical samples, with limited research on community populations.
- The role of family functioning in the sleep-adjustment relationship remains under-explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between children's sleep patterns and behavioral adjustment in a community sample.
- To examine the moderating influence of family functioning (stress and parenting) on this relationship.
Main Methods:
- Study conducted on a predominantly low-income sample of 202 children aged 4-5 years.
- Child sleep patterns assessed via maternal daily logs.
- Family stress and parenting practices evaluated through interviews and observations.
- Children's adjustment measured by preschool teacher reports.
Main Results:
- Disrupted sleep patterns, including sleep variability and late bedtimes, predicted less optimal preschool adjustment.
- These findings remained significant after controlling for family stress and management practices.
- Family functioning did not fully mediate the sleep-adjustment link but was considered in the model.
Conclusions:
- Childhood sleep disruption is a significant predictor of behavioral adjustment issues in preschool.
- Family context is important but does not negate the independent impact of sleep on adjustment.
- Findings highlight the need for interventions addressing both sleep and family factors for improved child outcomes.
Abstract:
Prior literature suggests that there may be relations between children's sleep disorders or inadequate amounts of sleep and behavioral adjustment. Most relevant studies concern clinical populations, however, and relatively few concern community populations. Moreover, previous studies have not addressed empirically the possible role of family functioning as a factor in the relation between children's sleep and adjustment. The present study, conducted in a predominantly low-income, community sample (N = 202), measured 4- to 5-year-old children's sleep patterns through daily logs kept by mothers, and measured family stress and parenting practices through detailed, multifaceted interviews and incidental observations of parent-child interactions. Children's adjustment, both positive and negative, was measured through preschool teacher reports on multiple occasions. A structural equation model showed that disrupted child sleep patterns (variability in reported amount of sleep, variability in bedtime, and lateness of bedtime) predicted less optimal adjustment in preschool, even after considering the roles of family stress and family management practices.
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