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Association between Sleep Problems and Psychopathologies among Preschoolers: A Brazilian Cross-Sectional Study

Renatha El Rafihi-Ferreira1, Felipe Alckmin-Carvalho2, Marina Monzani da Rocha3

  • 1Instituto de Psiquiatria, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Sleep Science (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
|March 28, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Sleep problems in preschool children significantly predict various psychopathologies, including aggression and depression. Regular assessments for both sleep and mental health are recommended due to their likely bidirectional relationship.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Child Psychology
  • Developmental Psychiatry

Background:

  • Sleep problems are prevalent in preschool children.
  • The co-occurrence of sleep disturbances and psychopathology in early childhood warrants investigation.
  • Understanding this relationship is crucial for early intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between sleep problems and psychopathologies in Brazilian preschool children.
  • To determine if sleep problems predict behavioral and emotional disorders.
  • To explore the link between specific psychopathologies and sleep issues.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study involving 162 preschool children (mean age 3.67 years).
  • Participants were divided into two groups: 81 with sleep problems and 81 age/gender-matched controls.
  • Sleep problems assessed via clinical interview; psychopathologies evaluated using the Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 1.5-5 (CBCL/1.5-5).

Main Results:

  • Sleep problems were found to be a significant predictor of multiple psychopathologies on the CBCL scales, excluding the withdrawn scale.
  • Specific psychopathologies associated with sleep problems included aggressive behavior, depression/anxiety, affective problems, and oppositional defiant disorder.
  • The presence of sleep problems strongly correlated with a higher likelihood of exhibiting various forms of psychopathology.

Conclusions:

  • A significant association exists between sleep problems and psychopathologies in preschool children.
  • The probable bidirectional nature of this relationship suggests that sleep issues and mental health concerns influence each other.
  • Routine screening for both sleep problems and mental health issues is recommended for children undergoing treatment for either condition.

Keywords:
behaviorchildpsychopathologysleep

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