Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 6, 2026

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
05:48

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients

Published on: June 12, 2020

Parent and carer perspectives on behavioural sleep management strategies for children with ADHD

Samantha J Hornsey1, Alison Rowsell2, Catherine M Hill3

  • 1Primary Care Research Centre, School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; Centre for Clinical and Community Applications of Health Psychology, School of Psychology, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.

Sleep Medicine
|July 18, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Parents of children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and chronic insomnia find behavioral sleep strategies challenging to implement. They desire flexible digital support that validates their experiences and includes peer testimonials.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Child Psychology
  • Behavioral Health

Background:

  • Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is prevalent in children, often co-occurring with chronic insomnia.
  • Chronic insomnia in children with ADHD negatively impacts child development, family well-being, and exacerbates ADHD symptoms.
  • Behavioral sleep interventions are first-line treatments but face implementation challenges for parents/carers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore parents/carers' views on behavioral sleep management strategies for children with ADHD and insomnia.
  • To understand parents/carers' help-seeking behaviors for childhood sleep problems.
  • To gauge parent/carer perceptions of a potential digital sleep guide for managing childhood sleep issues.

Main Methods:

  • Qualitative study employing semi-structured interviews with 18 parents/carers of children with ADHD and chronic insomnia symptoms.
  • Participants recruited via social media and purposively sampled for diversity.
  • Inductive thematic analysis of transcribed interview data.

Main Results:

  • Parents/carers value behavioral sleep strategies but face challenges in implementation due to perceived ineffectiveness, real-world difficulties, child's behavior, and parental exhaustion.
  • Parents/carers expressed openness to digital sleep support, citing a perceived lack of professional help.
  • Key needs for digital interventions include flexibility, realistic expectations, pragmatic approaches, and peer support/testimonials.

Conclusions:

  • Parents/carers require tailored, flexible support and reassurance when managing sleep problems in children with ADHD and chronic insomnia.
  • Digital sleep guides should validate parent/carer experiences and incorporate testimonials from other parents/carers to enhance engagement and effectiveness.
Abstract

Keywords:
ADHDBehaviourChildInsomniaManagementParentSleep

More Related Videos

Event Related Potentials (ERPs) and other EEG Based Methods for Extracting Biomarkers of Brain Dysfunction: Examples from Pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)10:02

Event Related Potentials (ERPs) and other EEG Based Methods for Extracting Biomarkers of Brain Dysfunction: Examples from Pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Published on: March 12, 2020

Related Concept Videos

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.
Management of Insomnia01:19

Management of Insomnia

The sleep cycle, an integral part of human health, consists of several stages with distinct characteristics and functions. It begins with a transition from wakefulness to sleep, known as the light sleep phase, followed by the restorative deep sleep phase, essential for physical recovery and growth. The cycle concludes with the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) phase, characterized by high brain activity and vivid dreaming. Insomnia, a prevalent sleep disorder, involves difficulty falling asleep, staying...
Behavior Modification01:21

Behavior Modification

Behavioral approaches have often been criticized for ignoring mental processes and focusing solely on observable behavior. However, these approaches provide an optimistic perspective for individuals seeking to change their behaviors. Rather than concentrating on intrinsic personality traits, behavioral approaches suggest that even longstanding habits can be modified by changing the reward contingencies that maintain them.
A real-world application of operant conditioning principles is applied...
Parenting Styles01:27

Parenting Styles

Diana Baumrind's four parenting styles — authoritarian, authoritative, neglectful, and permissive — each influence children's socio-emotional development differently.
Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative Parenting
This...
Modeling in Therapy01:26

Modeling in Therapy

Modeling, a key technique in therapy, uses observational learning to help clients acquire and practice new skills by watching therapists demonstrate desired behaviors. This approach, rooted in Albert Bandura's concept of vicarious learning, plays a significant role in therapeutic interventions for various psychological conditions, including social anxiety, ADHD, and depression.
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...
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...