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Sleep Problems in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Study of Parenting Stress, Mothers' Sleep-Related

Anat Levin1, Anat Scher2

  • 1Department of Counseling and Human Development, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.

CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics
|October 26, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience more sleep problems, increasing maternal stress. Addressing sleep issues and cognitions is crucial for supporting families with ASD.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Disrupted sleep is a prevalent issue in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
  • Parenting stress is a significant concern for caregivers of children with ASD.
  • Understanding the factors contributing to sleep problems and stress is vital for effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the link between sleep problems and parenting stress in children with ASD compared to typically developing (TD) children.
  • To examine maternal sleep-related cognitions and behaviors in both ASD and TD groups.
  • To identify potential targets for intervention to alleviate stress in parents of children with ASD.

Main Methods:

  • Mothers of 34 children with ASD and 31 TD children completed validated questionnaires.
  • Measures included maternal stress, sleep-related cognitions, bedtime interactions, and child sleep problems.
  • ASD group mothers also completed a measure of symptom severity.

Main Results:

  • Children with ASD exhibited more sleep problems than TD children, with higher maternal stress reported.
  • In the ASD group, sleep problems significantly contributed to maternal stress, independent of symptom severity.
  • Maternal cognitions and bedtime routines were strongly associated with children's sleep difficulties across both groups.

Conclusions:

  • Sleep problems in children with ASD are a significant contributor to maternal parenting stress.
  • Maternal cognitions and bedtime interactions play a crucial role in managing children's sleep.
  • Clinicians should routinely assess and address sleep issues in consultations with parents of children with ASD.
Abstract

Keywords:
AutismBehavioral sleep problemsParenting stressSleep

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