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Sleep ecology, objective sleep characteristics and behavior problems in preschoolers referred to child protection

Sabrina Servot1, Annick St-Amand1, Michel Rousseau1

  • 1Department of Psychoeducation, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada; Centre de recherche universitaire sur les jeunes et les familles, Québec, Canada.

Child Abuse & Neglect
|February 10, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Sleep hygiene and home conditions impact maltreated preschoolers' behavior problems. Better sleep hygiene correlates with improved sleep and fewer behavioral issues, highlighting the need for further research.

Area of Science:

  • Child Development
  • Sleep Science
  • Environmental Health

Background:

  • Environmental risk factors exacerbate maltreatment's negative effects on child development.
  • Sleep ecology, including sleep hygiene and home sleeping conditions, is a critical environmental factor.
  • Poor sleep ecology can alter sleep patterns, potentially leading to behavior problems (BPs) in maltreated preschoolers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe sleep ecology in maltreated preschoolers.
  • To explore associations between sleep ecology, objective sleep characteristics, and BPs in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Parents (n=22) completed sleep hygiene and sleep environment questionnaires.
  • Children wore actigraphy devices for objective sleep monitoring.
  • Parents used the Behavioral Assessment Scale for Children (BASC-2) to assess BPs.

Main Results:

  • Most parents reported adequate sleep hygiene, but nearly all reported suboptimal home sleeping conditions.
  • Better sleep hygiene was linked to earlier sleep onset, shorter nighttime awakenings, and improved sleep efficiency.
  • Specific aspects of sleep hygiene correlated with reduced anxiety, depression, hyperactivity, and somatization.

Conclusions:

  • Sleep hygiene and home sleeping conditions are potentially significant factors in maltreated preschoolers' sleep and behavior.
  • Further research is needed to fully understand the complex associations between sleep ecology, objective sleep characteristics, and BPs.
Abstract

Keywords:
Behavior problemsChildrenMaltreatmentSleep environmentSleep hygiene

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