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The Association Between Family Conflict and Child Impulsivity: Child Sleep Problems as a Mechanism

Jia Julia Yan1, Kevin J Butler2, Shailey Curtis1

  • 1Department of Counseling, Human Development, and Family Science, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA.

Family Process
|June 9, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Family conflict predicts sleep problems in children, which then contribute to impulsivity. Quality sleep is crucial for mitigating the negative effects of family environments on child development.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Family conflict is a known risk factor for adverse child outcomes.
  • Childhood impulsivity and sleep disturbances are significant public health concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the longitudinal relationships between family conflict, sleep problems, and multidimensional impulsivity in children.
  • To examine the mediating role of sleep problems in the association between family conflict and impulsivity.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from 11,878 children and their parents in a large, multi-site U.S. national sample (Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development Study).
  • Longitudinal assessment of family conflict, sleep problems, and impulsivity facets (lack of perseverance, lack of planning, negative urgency, positive urgency, sensation seeking) over three years.

Main Results:

  • Higher family conflict at Year 1 predicted increased sleep problems at Year 2.
  • Sleep problems at Year 2 predicted higher levels of lack of perseverance, lack of planning, negative urgency, and positive urgency at Year 3.
  • Sleep problems mediated the relationship between family conflict and these dimensions of impulsivity.

Conclusions:

  • Family conflict negatively impacts children's sleep, which in turn promotes the development of specific facets of impulsivity.
  • Ensuring good quality sleep is vital for children exposed to family conflict, potentially buffering against developmental disruptions in self-control.

Keywords:
child impulsivitychild sleepfamily conflict

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