Determinants of Daytime and Nighttime Sleep in Preschool-Aged Children: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach

Children's daytime sleep patterns are marked by significant inter and intra-individual variability in the preschool years, a developmental period characterized by the transition from biphasic to monophasic sleep. During this period, daytime and nighttime sleep constitute distinct but interrelated components of the 24-h sleep system, yet the factors shaping their organization remain poorly understood. Therefore, this study examined child, parental, socio-cultural, and environmental determinants of daytime and nighttime sleep in preschool-aged children using structural equation modelling (SEM). Parents of 760 children (2-5 years) completed an online survey assessing demographics, childcare history, napping practices, parental napping beliefs, and children's nighttime sleep. Latent factors of daytime and nighttime sleep were derived via confirmatory factor analysis. SEM was used to test predictors. Younger child age, male sex, stronger positive and weaker negative parental napping beliefs, and mandatory nap policies in childcare predicted higher levels of Daytime Sleep (earlier, longer, and more regular naps). Younger child age and stronger positive and weaker negative parental napping beliefs predicted higher levels of Nighttime Sleep (earlier bedtimes and wake times, longer duration, and fewer reported difficulties). Daytime and nighttime sleep factors were positively correlated. The final model explained 81% of the variance in daytime sleep and 28% in nighttime sleep. Daytime sleep was strongly explained by modelled factors, whereas nighttime sleep appeared to reflect additional unmeasured processes. Parental napping beliefs emerged as a key influence across both daytime and nighttime sleep, underscoring the importance of considering parental cognitions in models of early sleep development.