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Prenatal and early life origins of adolescence sleep problems: evidence from a birth cohort

Yaqoot Fatima1, Alice Cairns1, Isabelle Skinner1

  • 1Centre for Rural and Remote Health, Mount Isa, James Cook University, Queensland, Australia.

International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health
|October 24, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal and early life factors like maternal smoking and childhood ADHD symptoms predict adolescent sleep problems. Addressing these early risks may prevent future sleep disturbances.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Adolescence is a critical period for sleep development.
  • Sleep problems in adolescence are prevalent and can have long-term consequences.
  • Identifying early predictors is crucial for preventative strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify prenatal and early life predictors of sleep problems in adolescence.
  • To investigate factors contributing to trouble sleeping, nightmares, snoring, and sleepwalking/talking.
  • To understand the link between early life exposures and adolescent sleep disturbances.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of sleep data from 5081 participants in a birth cohort at 14 years of age.
  • Exploration of data from the antenatal period through adolescence to identify predictors.
  • Utilized modified Poisson regression with robust error variance to determine significant predictors.

Main Results:

  • Prevalence of sleep maintenance problems: nightmares (27.88%), snoring (23.20%), sleepwalking/talking (27.72%).
  • High prevalence of sleep initiation problems (trouble sleeping: 40.61%).
  • Significant predictors identified: maternal smoking, maternal anxiety, childhood sleep problems, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, and poor health.

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal and early life risk factors significantly predict adolescent sleep problems.
  • Early life exposures increase vulnerability to later sleep disturbances, compounded by adolescent health and lifestyle.
  • Mitigating early life risk factors offers a potential strategy for preventing adolescent sleep problems.
Abstract

Keywords:
adolescenceearly life factorsmaternal depressionparenting stylesleep problems

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