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Subjective and objective sleep and self-harm behaviors in young children: a general population study

Ravi Singareddy1, Venkatesh B Krishnamurthy, Alexandros N Vgontzas

  • 1Sleep Research & Treatment Center, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.

Psychiatry Research
|April 30, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Sleep disturbances in young children are linked to self-harm behaviors (SHB). Parent-reported sleep issues and higher REM-sleep may indicate risk for SHB in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Child Psychology

Background:

  • Sleep disturbances are linked to suicidal ideation in adults and adolescents.
  • Research on sleep and self-harm behaviors (SHB) in young children is limited, often relying solely on subjective measures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between SHB and both subjective and objective sleep measures in children aged 5-12 years.
  • To identify potential sleep-related biomarkers for SHB risk in young children.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based sample of 7312 students (K-5) was screened.
  • A subset of 693 children underwent comprehensive evaluations, including polysomnography (PSG) and questionnaires.
  • SHB was assessed in relation to subjective sleep, objective PSG data, depression, and demographics.

Main Results:

  • 27 children (3% prevalence) exhibited SHB, with no significant demographic differences.
  • Children with SHB reported more subjective sleep difficulties and depression.
  • Difficulty maintaining sleep, nightmares, and higher polysomnographic %REM-sleep were independently associated with SHB.

Conclusions:

  • Parent-reported sleep disturbances are independently associated with SHB in young children.
  • Elevated REM-sleep may serve as a potential non-invasive biomarker for identifying children at risk for SHB.

Keywords:
DepressionInsomniaNightmaresREM sleepSelf-harmSleepSuicide

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