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Variations and Patterns in Sleep: A Feasibility Study of Young Carers in Families with ALS

Melinda S Kavanaugh1, Kayla T Johnson2, Matthew J Zawadzki3

  • 1Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2400 E Hartford Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA.

Journal of Clinical Medicine
|October 13, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Young carers experience significantly poorer sleep quality, duration, and efficiency compared to their peers. This highlights a critical need for targeted support interventions for these vulnerable individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Caregiver Studies

Background:

  • Children and youth under 19 provide daily care for ill family members, including those with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
  • Young caregivers face challenges impacting school, social support, stress, and anxiety.
  • Limited research exists on sleep disruptions in young caregivers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate sleep patterns in young caregivers.
  • To compare sleep quality and duration between young caregivers and non-caregivers.
  • To establish the feasibility of studying sleep in this population.

Main Methods:

  • A quasi-experimental matched comparison study.
  • Involved young carers (n=8) and non-carers (n=12).
  • Utilized pre/post surveys, actigraphy, and sleep/wake journaling over 5 days.

Main Results:

  • Young carers exhibited shorter sleep duration, lower sleep efficiency, and poorer sleep quality.
  • Young carers reported higher use of sleep medications.
  • Actigraphy data confirmed lower total sleep time and efficiency in young carers compared to non-caregivers.

Conclusions:

  • The study demonstrates feasibility and provides initial data on young carer sleep.
  • Findings emphasize the need to document caregiving's impact on young carer well-being, including sleep.
  • Data supports larger studies on sleep disruption and interventions for young carers.
Abstract

Keywords:
caregivingsleepyoung carers

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