0933 Preschoolers Sleep Explains Parent Cognitions and Parenting Behaviors

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Children sleep is influenced by biological and socio-environmental factors. The contribution of various bedtime practices on child sleep is now well established. Emerging literature now seeks to understand the influence of more general parenting practices on child sleep. Thus, the current study examined how perceived children needs and parenting behaviors are associated with children sleep. Methods In a first study, 88 mothers (children 2-71 months) recruited during community activities completed the Child’s Sleep Habit Questionnaire, as well as a questionnaire regarding child needs (CN) and parents response to those needs (RN). Multiple linear regression analyses examined child sleep associations first to CN and then to RN, controlled by the child developmental score. Following this first study, 12 vulnerable mothers (children 39-68 months) participated in a child sleep intervention specifically developed for vulnerable families. The same measures were administered and Wilcoxon t-tests were calculated to compared pre and post intervention scores. Results Daytime sleepiness (β=.26, p=.008), sleep anxiety (β=.29, p=.007) and children cognitive development (β=-.32, p=.008) explained 31,6% of CN variance. Daytime sleepiness (β=.26, p=.03), and bedtime routine (β=-.68, p=.00), explained 20,8% of RN variance. Following the child sleep intervention, no change in CN were obtained, but a significant improvement in RN was found (Mpre=5.28 ± 1.60, Mpost=4.33 ± .65, p=.045). Conclusion Results suggest that parents perceived more needs in their child when they present higher daytime sleepiness, higher sleep anxiety and cognitive developmental difficulties. On the other hand, parents have more difficulty responding to their child needs when they see sleepiness in their child or struggle with bedtime routine. A child sleep intervention does not seem to change the perception of child needs but have a positive impact on the parent response to those needs. Support