Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 9, 2025

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
08:09

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood

Published on: February 11, 2017

11.6K

[Sleep disturbances and their associations with disorders in emotional sphere and behavior in children]

I A Kelmanson1,2

  • 1Almazov National Medical Research Centre, St. Petersburg, Russia.

Zhurnal Nevrologii I Psikhiatrii Imeni S.S. Korsakova
|December 21, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Sleep disorders in children are linked to emotional and behavioral issues like anxiety and aggression. These conditions may influence each other, with potential physiological causes.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Neurobiology

Background:

  • Sleep problems frequently co-occur with emotional and behavioral disturbances in children.
  • Common co-occurrences include anxiety, depression, oppositional-defiant behavior, and aggression.
  • Understanding these links is crucial for comprehensive child healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the associations between sleep disorders and emotional/behavioral disturbances in children.
  • To explore the concept of reciprocal influences between these conditions.
  • To identify potential physiological mechanisms underlying these associations.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and conceptual analysis of existing research.
  • Examination of co-occurrence data for sleep problems and behavioral issues.
  • Discussion of neurobiological pathways implicated in the associations.

Main Results:

  • Sleep disorders are significantly associated with increased anxiety, depression, and aggressive behaviors in children.
  • A bidirectional relationship is proposed, where sleep problems exacerbate behavioral issues and vice versa.
  • Physiological mechanisms include hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis activation, neurotransmitter imbalances, and altered melatonin/orexin production.

Conclusions:

  • A distinct pattern of co-occurring sleep, emotional, and behavioral disturbances in children is suggested.
  • Early identification and integrated treatment of these interconnected disorders are recommended.
  • Further research into the neurobiological underpinnings can inform targeted interventions.

Keywords:
behavioremotionssleepsleep disturbances

More Related Videos

Measurement of Fronto-limbic Activity Using an Emotional Oddball Task in Children with Familial High Risk for Schizophrenia13:08

Measurement of Fronto-limbic Activity Using an Emotional Oddball Task in Children with Familial High Risk for Schizophrenia

Published on: December 2, 2015

9.1K
Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression04:33

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression

Published on: April 26, 2024

862

Related Concept Videos

Nightmares and Night Terrors01:18

Nightmares and Night Terrors

Nightmares and night terrors represent two distinct types of sleep disturbances that differ in timing, characteristics, and the sleeper's recall of the event. Nightmares are vivid, disturbing dreams that usually awaken the sleeper from REM sleep, a stage of sleep where brain activity is high, and dreams are most frequent. Upon awakening, individuals often have detailed recollections of their nightmares, which can include themes of threats to survival, security, or self-esteem.
Nightmares...
179
Oppositional Defiant Disorder01:30

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

A persistent pattern of angry or irritable mood, defiant behavior, or vindictiveness characterizes Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). Symptoms must occur over at least six months, involve interactions with individuals beyond siblings, and meet specific diagnostic criteria to be clinically significant. The disorder affects emotional regulation, social interactions, and behavior, often manifesting early in life and influencing long-term development and functioning.
Diagnostic Criteria and...
190
Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
182
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder01:15

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder characterized by the absence of muscle paralysis that normally occurs during the REM phase of sleep. This absence allows individuals to physically act out their dreams, which are often vivid and disturbing. Common behaviors exhibited during episodes include kicking, punching, and yelling. These actions can be dangerous, potentially leading to injuries for the person with RBD or their bed partner.
RBD is significantly associated with...
479
Sleep-Wake Cycles01:24

Sleep-Wake Cycles

Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and  rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
1.8K
Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation02:19

Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation

The biological clock is involved in many aspects of regulating complex physiology in all animals. It was in 1935 when German zoologists, Hans Kalmus and Erwin Bünning, discovered the existence of circadian rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the internal molecular mechanisms behind the circadian clock remained a mystery until 1984, when Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young discovered the expression of the Per gene oscillating over a 24-hour cycle. In subsequent...
4.2K