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Child Sleep Linked to Child and Family Functioning in Children with Down Syndrome

Anna J Esbensen1,2, Emily K Schworer2, Emily K Hoffman2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.

Brain Sciences
|September 28, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Sleep problems in children with Down syndrome (DS) negatively impact their adaptive functioning and family well-being. Improving sleep quality in children with DS is crucial for enhancing child development and reducing family stress.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Genetics and Down Syndrome Research

Background:

  • Sleep problems are common in children with Down syndrome (DS), affecting their development and family dynamics.
  • The specific links between sleep issues, adaptive functioning, and family stress in DS are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between sleep (duration and quality) and the functioning of children with DS and their families.
  • To explore how sleep problems in children with DS correlate with child adaptive functioning, parental well-being, and family stress.

Main Methods:

  • Sixty-six children with DS underwent a week of actigraphy to measure sleep duration and efficiency.
  • Parents completed validated questionnaires on child sleep, adaptive functioning, parental depression, parental sleep, and family stress.

Main Results:

  • Parent-reported child sleep duration correlated with parental depressive symptoms.
  • Poor child sleep quality (restless sleep) was linked to behavioral issues, worse parental sleep, and negative family interactions.
  • Actigraphy-measured sleep efficiency positively correlated with child adaptive functioning and reduced parental depressive symptoms.

Conclusions:

  • Sleep problems in children with Down syndrome are associated with impaired child adaptive functioning and increased family stress.
  • Objective sleep measures (sleep efficiency) show a direct link to better child functioning and parental mental health.
  • Interventions targeting sleep in children with DS may improve overall child and family well-being.

Keywords:
Down syndromeadaptive functioningchildfamily functioningsleeptrisomy 21

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