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Factor structure of the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC) in those with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity

Vincent O Mancini1,2,3, Daniel Rudaizky1,4, Benjamin T D Pearcy1,5

  • 1Complex Attention and Hyperactivity Disorders Service (CAHDS), Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS), Department of Health Western Australia, Australia.

Sleep Medicine: X
|April 19, 2021
PubMed

Insights

This study found a general sleep difficulties factor in children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Clinicians should use caution with Sleep Disorder Scale for Children subscale scores until further validation in ADHD populations.

Area of Science:

  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

  • Sleep disturbances are common in children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
  • The Sleep Disorder Scale for Children (SDSC) is a common tool for assessing childhood sleep problems.
  • The existing factor structure of the SDSC may not fully capture the complexities of sleep issues in ADHD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the underlying factor structure of the Sleep Disorder Scale for Children (SDSC).
  • To evaluate the psychometric properties of the SDSC in a sample of children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD.
  • To determine if a revised factor structure improves the scale's utility for this population.

Main Methods:

  • Caregiver-reported SDSC data were collected from 307 children with ADHD.
  • Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) were employed to test various factor structures.
  • Bifactor analysis was utilized to identify a general factor and specific sleep-related factors.

Main Results:

  • The original and unidimensional SDSC structures showed poor fit for the ADHD sample.
  • A revised bifactor model with one general factor and six specific factors demonstrated good fit.
  • A nested version of this revised model was identified as the preferred structure with sound psychometric properties.

Conclusions:

  • Evidence supports a 'general sleep difficulties' factor in children with ADHD.
  • Only four of the original six SDSC factors were replicated.
  • The revised factor structure suggests caution in interpreting subscale scores without further validation in ADHD samples.
Abstract

Keywords:
ADHDAttention deficit hyperactivity disorderSleep difficultiesSleep disorder scale for childrenSleep questionnaire

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