P083 Age of Nap Cessation and Short-term Social-Emotional Functioning in Early Childhood

Abstract

Abstract Background Daytime nap cessation, in which sleep transitions from biphasic to monophasic sleep, is a common feature of early childhood sleep patterns. Yet, to date, understanding of the meaning of this transition for children’s development is not well understood. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the age of nap cessation and behavioral and social functioning in young children. Methods Parent report data from the Effective Early Educational Experiences (E4Kids) study of N=1700 children from across Queensland and Victoria is analysed. Data on age of nap cessation, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and Social Skills Improvement Scale (SSIS) is examined to determine whether age of nap cessation is associated with internalizing and externalizing behaviour and social skills in early childhood. Progress to date Data collection and cleaning are complete. Initial descriptive analyses and identification of significant covariates are underway, and final regressions will be run shortly. Intended outcome/ Impact This study provides new evidence on the relationship between age of napping cessation and social-emotional outcomes in young children. Such evidence is important for building an understanding of the role of sleep cessation in children’s early development, and to inform practitioners and parents responsible for supporting children’s sleep.