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Sleep problems and the need for parental night-time attention in children with physical disabilities

H Hemmingsson1, A M Stenhammar, K Paulsson

  • 1Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Caring Sciences and Society, Division of Occupational Therapy, Fack 232 00 141 83 Huddinge, Sweden. helena.hemmingsson@ki.se

Child: Care, Health and Development
|November 11, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Sleep problems are common in children with physical disabilities, affecting nearly half of them. Pain and certain diagnoses like cerebral palsy increase the likelihood of these sleep issues and the need for parental night-time support.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Child Neurology
  • Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

  • Physical disabilities in children are associated with various health challenges.
  • Sleep disturbances are frequently reported in pediatric populations with disabilities.
  • Parental night-time attention is a significant factor in managing care for these children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of sleep problems in children with physical disabilities.
  • To identify predictors of sleep disturbances and the need for parental night-time care.
  • To understand the impact on families and inform clinical practice.

Main Methods:

  • A questionnaire assessed sleep problems and parental night-time attention needs.
  • 505 parents of children (aged 1-16 years) with moderate to severe motor disabilities participated.
  • Logistic regression analysis identified factors associated with sleep issues and parental support.

Main Results:

  • Nearly half (48%) of children experienced sleep problems, with 23% deeming them serious.
  • 37% required parental night-time attention nightly; 10% needed help five or more times weekly.
  • Pain (OR=3.4), eating/drinking issues (OR=3), and cerebral palsy (OR=2.5) predicted sleep problems. Muscular dystrophy (OR=68.5) and cerebral palsy (OR=26.7) significantly increased night support needs.

Conclusions:

  • Sleep problems and the need for parental night-time attention are highly prevalent in children with physical disabilities.
  • These issues significantly impact the entire family unit.
  • Prioritizing children experiencing pain, alongside specific diagnoses, is recommended for targeted interventions.
Abstract

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