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Sleep problems and executive dysfunctions in pre-school children
Hathaipohn Tangwijitsakul1, Narueporn Likhitweerawong1, Nonglak Boonchooduang1
1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Insights
Parent-reported sleep problems in preschoolers are linked to poorer executive functions. Addressing sleep issues may help improve cognitive skills in young children.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Executive functions are crucial for preschoolers' academic and social success.
- Sleep problems are common in early childhood and may impact cognitive development.
- Understanding the link between sleep and executive functions can inform early interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between sleep problems and executive functions in preschool-aged children.
- To identify specific sleep issues associated with executive function deficits.
- To provide evidence for sleep hygiene interventions in early childhood.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 356 preschool children and their caregivers in Thailand.
- Sleep problems assessed using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ).
- Executive functions evaluated with the Behavioural Rating Inventory of Executive Function - pre-school version (BRIEF-P).
- Multiple linear regression analysis used to determine associations, adjusting for covariates.
Main Results:
- Children with executive dysfunction (BRIEF-P T-score > 65) had significantly higher CSHQ scores, indicating more sleep problems.
- Specific sleep issues like sleep-onset delay, night waking, and daytime sleepiness were more prevalent in children with executive dysfunction.
- Total CSHQ scores were significantly correlated with worse Global Executive Composite scores on the BRIEF-P, even after adjusting for confounding factors.
Conclusions:
- Sleep problems are associated with deficits in executive functions among healthy preschool children.
- Healthcare providers should promote good sleep hygiene to support the development of executive functions.
- Early identification and management of sleep issues may be beneficial for cognitive development in preschoolers.
Aim:
The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between sleep problems and executive functions in pre-school children as reported by parents/caregivers.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study of caregiver-child dyads was conducted in a public kindergarten school in Northern Thailand. Sleep problems were evaluated using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ), whereas executive functions were assessed using the Behavioural Rating Inventory of Executive Function - pre-school version (BRIEF-P). T-scores greater than 65 of the BRIEF-P were defined as deficits in executive functions. Multiple linear regressions were performed to assess the association between the executive function components and the total CSHQ scores.
Results:
Participants included 356 children, with a mean age of 5.04 (0.54) years. The total CSHQ scores of the executive dysfunction group were significantly higher than those of the group with executive functions below the cutoff (P < 0.001), which indicated more of sleep problems, including sleep-onset delay, night waking and daytime sleepiness. However, the duration of night sleep, night awake, afternoon nap and total sleep time reported by parents did not differ between the two groups. Weak positive correlations between the total CSHQ and subscale scores and the Global Executive Composite score of the BRIEF-P were noted. After adjusting for confounding variables, including child's age, gender, prematurity, maternal age and education, family income and media viewing time from the multiple linear regression analysis, the total CSHQ scores were significantly correlated with worse Global Executive Composite scores, which is the summary of five domains of executive functions (P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
This study highlights the association between sleep problems and deficits in executive functions in healthy pre-school children. Health-care providers are encouraged to consistently advocate for proper sleep hygiene and practices to enhance executive functions in pre-schoolers.
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