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Night-waking and behavior in preschoolers: a developmental trajectory approach

Eve Reynaud1, Anne Forhan2, Barbara Heude2

  • 1INSERM, UMR1153, Epidemiology and Statistics Sorbonne Paris Cité Research Center (CRESS), Early Origins of Child Health and Development Team (ORCHAD), Villejuif, France; Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France; Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santé Publique (EHESP), Rennes, France.

Sleep Medicine
|February 28, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Persistent night-waking in early childhood is linked to emotional symptoms, hyperactivity, and conduct issues. This longitudinal study highlights the importance of addressing sleep difficulties for better behavioral outcomes in children.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Child Behavior Research
  • Sleep Science

Background:

  • Night-waking is a common issue in early childhood.
  • Understanding its long-term impact on behavior is crucial for intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the longitudinal association between night-waking trajectories from ages 2 to 5-6 years and behavioral outcomes at age 5-6 years.
  • To identify specific behavioral problems associated with persistent night-waking.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the French EDEN birth cohort study.
  • Modeled night-waking trajectories using parental questionnaires at ages 2, 3, and 5-6 years.
  • Assessed child behavior using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, analyzed via multivariable logistic regressions.

Main Results:

  • Children with persistent night-waking (22%) showed increased risks for emotional symptoms, conduct problems, and hyperactivity/attention issues at age 5-6.
  • After adjusting for baseline behavior, only the association with emotional symptoms remained significant.
  • No significant differences were observed based on sex.

Conclusions:

  • Persistent night-waking difficulties in early childhood are associated with increased emotional symptoms, hyperactivity/inattention, and conduct problems.
  • Early identification and management of night-waking may positively impact a child's behavioral development.
Abstract

Keywords:
BehaviorGroup-based trajectory modelingNight-wakingPreschooler

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