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Predictors of Sleep Habits in Premature Infants: A Cross-Sectional Study

Shamsolah Nooripour1, Abbas Ziari2, Nathalia Sernizon Guimarães3

  • 1Department of Neonatology, School of Medicine, Neonatal Health Research Center Mofid Children's Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Iranian Journal of Child Neurology
|November 10, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Family conflict, sleepwalking, and seclusion predict poor sleep habits in preschoolers born preterm. Early identification of these factors is crucial for effective intervention and improved child sleep health.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Child Psychology
  • Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

  • Sleep disorders are common in premature infants, but their causes are not fully understood.
  • Identifying predictors of sleep problems can help prevent their onset in children.
  • Preschoolers born preterm are a population of interest for sleep habit research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the predictors of sleep habits among preschoolers born preterm.
  • To understand the relationship between demographic variables and sleep habits in this population.
  • To inform pediatricians and caregivers about potential sleep disorder risks.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional, retrospective study involving 174 preterm infants (born before 37 weeks gestation).
  • Participants were children aged four to seven years old from Semnan, Iran (2019-2020).
  • Data collected included demographic variables and the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ).

Main Results:

  • Familial conflict (OR=2.73), sleepwalking (OR=2.56), and increased seclusion (OR=2.68) were significantly associated with poorer sleep habits (CSHQ scores).
  • History of psychological disorder, sleep drug use, withdrawal, diagnosed sleep disorders, depression, nightmares, and sleeping alone showed no significant association.
  • Average child age was 5.7 years, and average mother age was 32.14 years.

Conclusions:

  • Stressors like family conflicts and behavioral changes (seclusion), along with internal issues (sleepwalking), should be investigated in children with sleep problems.
  • Healthcare providers must assess how these symptoms impact treatment effectiveness.
  • Regular screening for these factors can aid in managing sleep disorders in preterm-born children.
Abstract

Keywords:
Behavioral disturbancesChildrenInternalizing problemsSleep problems

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