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Sleep in children with chronic illness, and the relation to emotional and behavioral problems--a population-based

Mari Hysing1, Børge Sivertsen, Kjell Morten Stormark

  • 1Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. mari.hysing@psybp.uib.no

Journal of Pediatric Psychology
|September 13, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Children with chronic illness experience more sleep problems like difficulty falling asleep and nighttime awakenings. These issues are linked to emotional and behavioral challenges, highlighting the need for early intervention.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Child Psychology

Background:

  • Sleep disturbances are common in children.
  • Chronic illness in children may impact sleep quality.
  • Emotional and behavioral problems can co-occur with chronic conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate sleep patterns and problems in children with chronic illnesses.
  • To assess the influence of emotional and behavioral issues on sleep in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Bergen Child Study, a total population survey.
  • Analyzed sleep information from 5,781 children and their parents.
  • Compared sleep characteristics between 496 children with chronic illness and healthy peers.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in total sleep time were found.
  • Children with chronic illness reported increased difficulty falling asleep and more nighttime awakenings.
  • Emotional and behavioral problems mediated the association between chronic illness and sleep disturbances.

Conclusions:

  • Children with chronic illness exhibit a higher prevalence of sleep problems.
  • Sleep issues in these children are closely associated with emotional and behavioral challenges.
  • Early detection and intervention for sleep and behavioral problems are crucial for children with chronic conditions.
Abstract

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