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Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
Published on: February 11, 2017
Parent-reported sleep problems during development and self-reported anxiety/depression, attention problems, and
Alice M Gregory1, Jan Van der Ende, Thomas A Willis
1Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths College, University of London, Lewisham Way, New Cross, London SE14 6NW, England. a.gregory@gold.ac.uk
Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
|April 9, 2008
Summary
Children who sleep less than their peers may face higher risks of anxiety and aggressive behaviors later in life. This highlights the importance of addressing childhood sleep issues.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Child Psychiatry
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Childhood sleep problems are common and can impact development.
- Understanding the long-term consequences of sleep disturbances is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between sleep problems in childhood and later emotional and behavioral difficulties.
- To identify specific sleep issues that may serve as risk indicators for subsequent mental health challenges.
Main Methods:
- Prospective longitudinal study involving 2076 children aged 4-16 years in Zuid-Holland.
- Parental ratings of children's sleep via the Child Behavior Checklist across 5 assessments.
- Self-reported emotional and behavioral symptoms in young adulthood (ages 18-32) using the Young Adult Self-Report.
Main Results:
- Parental reports of children sleeping less than others were associated with higher scores on Anxious/Depressed (OR, 1.43) and Aggressive Behavior (OR, 1.51) scales.
- Some evidence suggested links between other sleep difficulties and later problems, though less robust.
- Sleeping more than others and nightmares were not significantly associated with later emotional or behavioral issues.
Conclusions:
- Childhood sleep problems, particularly sleeping less than peers, can be risk indicators for later emotional and behavioral difficulties.
- Healthcare providers should routinely inquire about sleep problems during child development assessments.
- Differentiating between types of sleep issues is important, as not all may predict future problems.
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