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Sleep Problems Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, and

Thaisa Silva Gios1, Tatiana Pontrelli Mecca2, Lucas Eiji Kataoka3

  • 1Instructor in Department of Mental Health, Santa Casa de Sao Paulo School of Medical Sciences, Rua Dona Veridiana, 55 3 andar, CEP 01238-010, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. thaisa_gios@hotmail.com.

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|November 3, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Down Syndrome experienced worse sleep habits during COVID-19 isolation. All children slept and woke later, with increased nighttime awakenings, highlighting the need for sleep interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Child Psychology

Background:

  • Sleep problems are prevalent in children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered daily routines and lifestyles globally.
  • Understanding pandemic-related sleep changes in vulnerable pediatric populations is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze and compare sleep characteristics in Brazilian children aged 4-12 years during COVID-19 social isolation.
  • To investigate sleep patterns in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Down Syndrome, and typical development.
  • To identify pandemic-induced shifts in sleep habits and their implications.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study involving 653 children (4-12 years old).
  • Participants included children with ASD (N=267), Down Syndrome (N=74), and typical development (N=312).
  • Sleep habits were assessed using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ-BR) during pandemic-related social isolation.

Main Results:

  • Children with ASD showed poorer sleep habit indicators and later sleep onset during the pandemic.
  • The entire cohort, including typically developing children, experienced delayed sleep onset and wake times.
  • Increased nighttime awakenings were reported across all groups during the isolation period.

Conclusions:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted sleep patterns in children with and without neurodevelopmental disorders.
  • Children with ASD exhibited particularly concerning sleep habit changes.
  • Findings support the development of targeted parental guidance and sleep interventions for pediatric populations, especially during public health crises.

Keywords:
Autistic DisorderCOVID-19Down SyndromeSleep

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