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Parental problem drinking and children's sleep: The role of ethnicity and socioeconomic status

Ryan J Kelly1, Mona El-Sheikh2

  • 1Department of Individual, Family, and Community Education.

Journal of Family Psychology : JFP : Journal of the Division of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association (Division 43)
|April 22, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Parental problem drinking, especially fathers

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Parental problem drinking is a significant stressor.
  • Children's sleep is crucial for development and well-being.
  • Health disparities may influence vulnerability to parental substance use.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the link between parental problem drinking and children's sleep.
  • To examine if ethnicity and socioeconomic status moderate this relationship.

Main Methods:

  • A multi-informant study with 282 children and their parents.
  • Parental problem drinking assessed via self-report.
  • Children's sleep objectively measured using actigraphy over 7 nights.

Main Results:

  • Parental problem drinking, particularly fathers', was associated with shorter sleep duration, reduced sleep efficiency, and more wake after sleep onset in children.
  • These associations were stronger for Black children and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
  • Findings highlight differential risk based on ethnicity and socioeconomic status.

Conclusions:

  • Parental problem drinking negatively impacts children's sleep.
  • Ethnicity and socioeconomic status are critical moderators, indicating health disparities.
  • Interventions should consider family context and sociocultural factors.

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