“Tell Me More About Your Child’s Sleep”: A Qualitative Investigation Of Sleep Problems In Children With ADHD

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective To investigate parental experiences and perceptions of sleep problems in their children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the perceived impacts of sleep problems and coping strategies deployed by parents. Methods Semi-structured interviews with twenty-six parents of pre-adolescent children with a diagnosis of ADHD, followed by thematic analysis of the interview transcripts. Results Three themes were generated from the data: Children’s Sleep Difficulties; Impacts of Children’s Sleep; and Improving Children’s Sleep. Sleep initiation problems in children with ADHD were commonly reported by parents, were perceived to be linked in a bidirectional manner with executive and emotional problems, and were reported as being disruptive to parental sleep. Some parents reported that their children’s sleep problems were the initial prompt that lead to a diagnosis of ADHD. Parents reported utilizing a range of coping strategies to mitigate sleep problems, such as controlling the bedroom sensory environment and using emotional “wind down” as part of the bedtime routine. Some parents endorsed a beneficial effect of melatonin on their children’s sleep. Conclusions Sleep problems in children with ADHD were perceived as important issues by parents. Equipping parents with evidence-based strategies for the management of their children’s sleep may lead to benefits for the children, parents and wider household.