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Longitudinal Association Between Peer Victimization and Sleep Problems in Preschoolers: The Moderating Role of

François Bilodeau1, Mara Brendgen1, Frank Vitaro2

  • 1a Department of Psychology , University of Quebec at Montreal.

Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology : the Official Journal for the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, American Psychological Association, Division 53
|June 12, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Parenting behaviors significantly influence children's sleep. Positive parenting can reduce sleep issues linked to peer victimization, while coercive parenting worsens them.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Sleep Science

Background:

  • Peer victimization is a significant stressor for young children.
  • Sleep problems are common in preschoolers and can have long-term consequences.
  • Understanding factors that influence the link between peer victimization and sleep is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the moderating role of parental behaviors in the longitudinal relationship between peer victimization and sleep problems in preschoolers.
  • To examine how different parenting styles (coercive vs. positive) affect sleep outcomes in children experiencing peer victimization.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study design involving 1,181 children aged 3-6 years attending daycare.
  • Latent growth curve modeling to analyze the developmental trajectories of peer victimization and sleep problems.
  • Assessment of parental behaviors, including coercive and positive parenting styles.

Main Results:

  • Parental behaviors moderated the association between peer victimization and sleep problems.
  • Coercive parenting exacerbated the link between peer victimization and parasomnias (e.g., sleepwalking, night terrors).
  • Positive parenting mitigated the link between peer victimization and insomnia (difficulty falling or staying asleep).

Conclusions:

  • Persistent sleep problems in early childhood may signal chronic peer victimization.
  • Parental behaviors are a critical factor in mitigating or exacerbating sleep problems in victimized children.
  • Interventions promoting positive parenting may help alleviate sleep disturbances associated with peer victimization.

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