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Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children: Italian Validation in Autism Spectrum Disorder Population
Ester Mignolli1, Alessia Scialpi1, Donatella Valente2,3
1Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Insights
The Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC) is validated for assessing sleep disorders in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). This tool also reveals a significant link between sleep issues in children with ASDs and their parents.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Developmental Psychology
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Sleep disturbances are common in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).
- Existing assessment tools may not be specific enough for this population.
- A validated tool is needed to accurately assess sleep problems in children with ASDs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate the Italian version of the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC) for use in children with ASDs.
- To investigate the correlation between sleep disorders in children with ASDs and their parents.
- To assess the reliability and validity of the SDSC in this population.
Main Methods:
- The Italian version of the SDSC was administered to 99 children diagnosed with ASD.
- Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were assessed using Cronbach's alpha and ICC.
- Concurrent validity was evaluated by comparing SDSC scores with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the General Sleep Disturbance Scale (GSDS).
Main Results:
- The SDSC demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.853) and excellent reliability (ICC = 0.972).
- Concurrent validity was confirmed with a correlation of 0.745.
- A significant linear correlation was found between sleep disorders in children with ASDs and their parents (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- The validated Italian SDSC is a reliable and effective tool for assessing sleep disorders in children with ASDs.
- The findings highlight a significant association between parental and child sleep disturbances.
- This research provides valuable insights for developing targeted interventions for sleep problems in families affected by ASDs.
Abstract:
Sleep disorders in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are well-described. However, there is a lack of specific assessment tools to investigate sleep disturbance in this target population. The present investigation reports the Italian validation of the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC) in the ASD population, also investigating the correlation between sleep disorders In both children and parents. Internal consistency and test−retest reliability were investigated using Cronbach’s alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively. Concurrent validity was analyzed by comparing the score of the SDSC with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), while the correlation between the SDCS score and the General Sleep Disturbance Scale (GSDS) was used to analyze the correlation between sleep disorders in children and sleep disorders in their parents. In total, 99 children with a diagnosis of ASD participated in the study. Cronbach’s alpha revealed satisfactory value (0.853), as well as reliability (ICC 0.972) and concurrent validity (0.745). Our results also revealed a significant linear correlation between children’s and parents’ sleep disorders (p < 0.05). In conclusion, we found the SDSC to be a useful tool for measuring sleep disorders in ASD children. Our findings offer concrete inputs to achieve adequate pathways for taking care of children with ASDs and their parents.
