Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 19, 2025

Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Mouse Pups by Means of Gentle Handling
03:46

Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Mouse Pups by Means of Gentle Handling

Published on: October 11, 2018

10.2K

How Pediatric Sleep Disordered Breathing Impacts Parental Fatigue

Lauren A DiNardo1, Alyssa D Reese1, Maya Raghavan1

  • 1Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.

The Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology
|August 8, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Parents of children with sleep disordered breathing (SDB) experience significantly higher fatigue levels. This highlights the importance of recognizing parental fatigue in pediatric SDB care.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Family Health
  • Quality of Life Research

Background:

  • Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) negatively impacts children's quality of life and that of their families.
  • Parental well-being is a critical factor in managing pediatric health conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and quantify fatigue levels in parents of young children diagnosed with sleep symptoms.
  • To assess the correlation between a child's sleep symptom severity (OSA-18 scale) and parental fatigue.

Main Methods:

  • A survey-based study was conducted across three pediatric otolaryngology clinics.
  • Parents of children aged 1-10 completed the OSA-18 scale for their child and fatigue assessments (Fatigue Severity Scale, Chalder Fatigue Scale).

Main Results:

  • Parents with children scoring ≥60 on the OSA-18 scale reported significantly higher fatigue scores on both the Chalder Fatigue Scale (16.5 vs. 11.9) and Fatigue Severity Scale (34.7 vs. 28.9).
  • A significant portion of households (82.1%) had two caregivers, indicating a potential for shared burden.

Conclusions:

  • Parental fatigue is demonstrably higher when children have significant sleep disordered breathing symptoms.
  • Healthcare providers should consider parental fatigue as a key outcome in managing pediatric SDB, impacting the entire family unit.
Abstract

Keywords:
fatigueobstructive sleep apneaparental fatigueparentingpediatric otolaryngologypediatric sleep

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Utilizing Traditional Chinese Acupuncture of the Ear to Improve Sleep Disorders05:34

Author Spotlight: Utilizing Traditional Chinese Acupuncture of the Ear to Improve Sleep Disorders

Published on: August 18, 2023

2.3K
Author Spotlight: Traditional Chinese Medicine for Sleep Disorders in Acute COPD — A Safe, Cost-Effective Approach04:53

Author Spotlight: Traditional Chinese Medicine for Sleep Disorders in Acute COPD — A Safe, Cost-Effective Approach

Published on: October 18, 2024

822

Related Concept Videos

Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation01:13

Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation

Insufficient sleep refers to not getting the recommended amount of sleep for optimal functioning, even if it's just slightly less than needed. Sleep insufficiency may occur due to lifestyle choices, such as staying up late for social events or work, resulting in routinely getting less sleep than required. For example, consistently sleeping 6 hours when the body needs 7-9 hours can lead to cumulative effects on health and well-being.
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
171
Sleep Apnea01:21

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing stops intermittently during sleep, often leading to significant health issues. Each episode can last from 10 to 20 seconds or more and is frequently accompanied by a brief arousal from sleep. This disturbance, largely unnoticed by the individual, can lead to severe daytime fatigue. Commonly, individuals seek help after being informed by their partners about loud snoring and noticeable breathing pauses during sleep.
The condition is more prevalent among...
187
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep01:24

Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep

Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
196
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...
117
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
131
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...
253