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Relationship between child sleep problems in autism spectrum disorder and parent mental health and well-being

Arlene Mannion1, Geraldine Leader1

  • 1University of Galway, Ireland.

Sleep Medicine
|June 28, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) significantly impact parental well-being, increasing stress, anxiety, and depression while lowering quality of life. Addressing child sleep issues is crucial for supporting families affected by ASD.

Area of Science:

  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Family Psychology

Background:

  • Sleep problems are a frequent comorbidity in children and adolescents diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
  • The impact of these sleep disturbances extends beyond the child, affecting parental mental health and quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the bidirectional relationship between sleep problems in children with ASD and their parents' well-being.
  • To quantify the effects of childhood sleep issues on parental stress, anxiety, depression, and quality of life.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 409 parents of children and adolescents with ASD.
  • Utilized validated questionnaires including the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.
  • Employed statistical analyses such as Pearson correlations, chi-square tests, t-tests, and MANOVAs to examine relationships.

Main Results:

  • A high prevalence of sleep problems was observed in both children (95.3%) and parents (86.6%).
  • Child sleep issues, including parasomnias and altered sleep duration, correlated significantly with parental sleep problems.
  • Parents of children with sleep problems reported increased parenting stress, higher anxiety and depression levels, and lower quality of life.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood sleep problems in ASD are strongly linked to diminished parental well-being across multiple domains.
  • Interventions targeting sleep in children with ASD may offer significant benefits for parental mental health and overall family functioning.
  • Further research should explore the influence of other comorbidities on parental well-being in ASD populations.

Keywords:
Autism spectrum disordersComorbidityParent mental healthParental well-beingSleep problems

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