Parental Sleep Research Articles

JPP Student Journal Club Commentary: Examining the Relation Between Parental Depression and Child Sleep Disturbance.

JPP Student Journal Club Commentary: Examining the Relation Between Parental Depression and Child Sleep Disturbance.

Screen time and problem behaviors in children: exploring the mediating role of sleep duration

BackgroundPrevious research examining the relationship between screen time (ST) and psychological health outcomes have primarily focused on one type of ST (i.e., television), while little research has considered other types of screens (e.g., videos, movies, social media), screen content (e.g., violent video games), or potential mediating variables. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to assess ST types and content and their association with problem behaviors, and to determine whether these relationships were mediated by sleep duration.MethodsParents and children provided cross-sectional baseline data (2016–18) as part of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study, a broadly US representative sample of 11,875 children aged 9 to 10 years. Parents self-reported their children’s emotional and behavioral syndromes via the Child Behavior Checklist and sleep duration using one item from the Parent Sleep Disturbance Scale. Children self-reported their ST behavior, which comprised ST types (television/movies, videos, video games, and social media) and content (mature-rated video games and R-rated movies).ResultsTime spent in various ST types was positively associated with problem behaviors: watching television/movies was associated with a 5.9% increase in rule-breaking behavior (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.059), 5% increase in social problems (IRR = 1.050), 4% increase in aggressive behavior (IRR = 1.040), and 3.7% increase in thought problems (IRR = 1.037). Greater time spent playing mature-rated video games was associated with greater somatic complaints (IRR = 1.041), aggressive behavior (IRR = 1.039), and reduced sleep duration (IRR = .938). Sleep duration mediated the relationship between ST (type and content) and problem behaviors, albeit the effect sizes were small. The largest effects were observed between sleep duration and all problem behaviors, with greater sleep duration predicting an 8.8–16.6% decrease in problem behaviors (IRRs ranging from .834 to .905).ConclusionGreater time spent in ST behavior was associated with greater problem behaviors among children. There was strong evidence that longer sleep duration was associated with reduced problem behaviors. While sleep duration mediated the effects of ST on problem behaviors, other potential mediating variables need to be investigated in future research.

"Like Walking in a Fog"-Parents' perceptions of sleep and consequences of sleep loss when staying overnight with their child in hospital.

Disruption of parental sleep in hospital, with frequent awakenings and poor sleep quality, limits the parents' resources to meet the child's needs and maintain parental wellbeing. The aim of the study was to explore and describe how parents perceive their sleep when staying overnight with their sick child in hospital. A further aim was to explore and describe parents' perception of what circumstances influence their sleep in the hospital. Twenty-two parents who were accommodated with their sick child (0-17years) in paediatric wards in Norway and Sweden participated. Interviews were conducted during the hospital stay to elicit their perspectives. Phenomenography was used to analyse data.Two descriptive categories were found: (a) "Perceptions of sleep", with two sub-categories: "Sleep in the paediatric ward" and "Consequences of sleep loss"; and (b) "Circumstances influencing sleep in the paediatric ward" with three sub-categories: "The importance of the family", "Information and routines at the paediatric ward", and "Accommodation facilities". Parents' sleep and needs must be acknowledged in paediatric wards. An individual plan of care for the upcoming night could be a valuable tool for both the parents and nurses. The child's medical needs must be met with respect to the parents' willingness to take part in the child's care during the night, and the need for rest and sleep for both parent and child.

The Effect of Relaxation Techniques on Anxiety, Fatigue and Sleep Quality of Parents of Children with Leukemia under Chemotherapy in South East Iran.

Introduction:Cancer can cause emotional stress in parents, which has a negative impact on the quality of their life. Also, anxiety and psychological stress have a negative effect on the health of parents, and fatigue causes a sense of weakness and reduces the capacity for mental and physical activity, and insomnia, as well as stress and inability to perform their occupational and social functions. This study aimed to determine the effect of relaxation techniques on anxiety, fatigue, and sleep quality of parents of children with leukemia under chemotherapy in South East Iran in 2015. Methods:This is a randomized controlled trial study. The study population included parents of children with leukemia undergoing chemotherapy who were admitted to a teaching hospital in South East Iran. One hundred twenty parents were randomly assigned to control and intervention groups, and the experimental group was provided with Benson relaxation technique. Data collection tool included a demographic questionnaire, state-trait anxiety inventory, Brief Fatigue Inventory, and sleep quality inventory. Data analysis was done by SPSS 16 and paired t-test, Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney, regression, One - Way ANOVA and Pearson tests were performed, and p ≤ 0.05 was statistically significant. Results:The mean score of state anxiety in the intervention group was 60.86 ± 8.95 and 35.95 ± 4.61 before and after the intervention, respectively. The mean score of trait anxiety was 56.56 ± 4.75 and 34.45 ± 4.95. The mean score of the fatigue was 73.83 ± 14.63 and 43.71 ± 11. 06, and the mean score of the quality of sleep was 13.5 ± 6.05 and 5.7 ± 3.43 before and after the intervention respectively. There was a statistically significant difference among state-trait anxiety, fatigue, and sleep quality in intervention and control groups after the intervention. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between fatigue and age, but there was no statistically significant relationship among the mean fatigue, weight, the number of sons and daughters, education, occupation, gender, place of residence and income (p> 0.05). There was no statistically significant relationship among the quality of sleep of parents, education, gender, and place of residence, but there was a statistically significant relationship between state anxiety and education (p≤0.05).Conclusion:The results can predispose family-centered nursing care to support more the parents of children with cancer in the face of the stress of illness. Developing programs for training muscle relaxation techniques will improve family functioning and mental health.

Cognitive behavioral treatment of insomnia in school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder: A pilot feasibility study.

Insomnia is common in autism and associated with challenging behavior and worse parent sleep. Cognitive behavioral treatment for childhood insomnia (CBT-CI) is efficacious in typically developing children, but not yet tested in school-aged children with autism. This single arm pilot tested 8-session CBT-CI in 17 children with autism and insomnia (M age = 8.76 years, SD = 1.99) and their parent(s) (M age = 39.50 years, SD = 4.83). Treatment integrity was assessed for each session [delivery (by therapist), receipt (participant understanding), and enactment (home practice)]. Children and parents wore actigraphs and completed electronic diaries for 2-weeks to obtain objective and subjective sleep onset latency (SOL), total sleep/wake times (TST/TWT), and sleep efficiency (SE) at pre/post/1-month follow-up. Parents also completed the Aberrant Behavior Checklist [irritability, lethargy, stereotypy, hyperactivity, inappropriate speech (e.g., excessive/repetitive, loud self-talk)] at pre/post/1-month. Fifteen children completed all sessions. Average integrity scores were high [90%-delivery/receipt, 87.5%-enactment]. Parents found CBT-CI helpful, age-appropriate, and autism-friendly. Paired samples t-tests (family-wise error controlled) found CBT-CI improved child sleep (objective SOL-18 min, TWT- 34 min, SE-5%; subjective SOL-29 min, TST-63 min, TWT-45 min, SE-8%), and decreased irritability, lethargy, stereotypy, and hyperactivity. At 1-month, objective TST improved, inappropriate speech decreased, but hyperactivity was no longer decreased. Other gains were maintained. Parent sleep (objective SOL-12 min, TST-35 min, TWT-21 min, SE-4%; subjective SOL-11 min, TWT- 31min, SE-11%) and fatigue also improved. At 1-month, gains were maintained. This pilot shows CBT-CI is a feasible treatment that holds promise for improving child and parent sleep and functioning and suggests a randomized controlled trial in school-aged children with autism is worth conducting. Autism Res 2020, 13: 167-176. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Insomnia is common in autism and associated with challenging behaviors and poor parent sleep and stress. Cognitive behavioral treatment for childhood insomnia (CBT-CI) has not been tested in school-aged children with autism. This pilot study shows therapists, parents, and children were able to use CBT-CI to improve child and parent sleep, child behavior, and parent fatigue. Parents found CBT-CI helpful, age-appropriate, and autism-friendly. CBT-CI holds promise for treating insomnia in school-aged children with autism and deserves further testing.

Sleep and Night-time Caregiving in Parents of Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus – A Qualitative Study

ABSTRACT Background Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a common chronic illness of childhood, with parents assuming considerable responsibility for night-time diabetes caregiving. This qualitative study explored diabetes-related factors affecting, and solutions proposed to improve, parental sleep. Participants 10 mothers and 10 fathers of children ≤18 years of age with T1DM in Otago, New Zealand. Methods Semi-structured individual interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and systematically coded for themes. Parents completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and habitual sleep of parents and children were assessed via 7-day actigraphy. Results Parents (n = 20) and their children with T1DM (n = 16) were aged between 32 and 54 years, and 1 and 17 years, respectively. PSQI revealed poor quality sleep in 13/20 parents. A range of diabetes-related factors, including glucose monitoring and fear of hypoglycemia, contributed to parental sleep disturbance, including awakenings and the perception of “sleeping lightly”. Two distinct time periods resulted in greater sleep disturbance, notably, following T1DM diagnosis and when transitioning to using a new diabetes technology. Factors influencing maternal and paternal sleep were similar, but, generally, mothers described greater night-time care burden and sleep disturbance. While the use of diabetes technologies was generally advocated to improve parental sleep and the provision of nocturnal T1DM care, they were also perceived to potentially contribute to parental sleep disturbance. Conclusions Pediatric diabetes care teams should be aware of diabetes-related factors potentially affecting parental sleep, the mixed impacts of diabetes technologies, and consider tailored parental support and education to reduce the burden of nocturnal care.

Considering Sleep, Mood, and Stress in a Family Context: A Preliminary Study.

Background: During the first years of life, parental sleep strongly depends on child’s sleep quality. Poor parental sleep may relate to increased stress and negative mood. However, there is a lack of sleep studies focusing on all family members. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between sleep, mood, and stress in mothers, fathers and children. Methods: Data were obtained from 65 parental couples and 65 children (2 to 36 months). Data on sleep for all family members and stress of parents were completed by both mothers and fathers through questionnaires and sleep diaries. Results: Toddlers’ positive mood before nocturnal sleep was significantly associated with reduced wake times after sleep onset. Mothers reported worse sleep quality compared to fathers. Shorter sleep onset latency in fathers and better sleep efficiency in mothers were linked with better self-reported mood upon awakening. In mothers, but not in fathers, poor sleep quality was associated with higher perceived stress. Conclusion: Results suggest bidirectional relationships between sleep and mood in children, mothers and fathers. Moreover, results evidence poorer sleep in mothers, compared to fathers, which was linked with increased parenting stress. This gender gap should be further considered in studies with larger samples and in clinical contexts.

Bedtime behaviors: Parental mental health, parental sleep, parental accommodation, and children’s sleep disturbance

ABSTRACTThe present study examined relationships among parental mental health and sleep, parental bedtime accommodation behaviors, and children’s sleep disturbances. Parental bedtime accommodations (see Table 2 for items) were assessed using a novel measure modified from an existing measure of parental accommodations for pediatric OCD. Participants (N = 282) were parents of children 2 to 12 years of age. Results indicated parental mental health and sleep predicted higher levels of parental accommodation. Greater parental accommodation and sleep problems uniquely predicted increased disturbances in children’s sleep. Findings could inform assessments and treatments of children’s sleep disturbance and identification of familial patterns.

Young Children’s Sleep Problems: The Impact of Parental Distress and Parenting Style

Research examining factors contributing to preschool sleep problems is limited. This study investigated the mediating role of parenting styles (authoritarian, authoritative, and permissive parenting) in the relationship between parental psychological distress and sleep problems in young children. Participants were parents of 232 young children aged three to five years. Parents completed the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire, the Parenting Style and Dimensions Questionnaire—Short Version, and the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale. Only permissive parenting was found to significantly mediate the relationship between parental distress and preschool sleep problems (indirect effect = 0.16, p < 0.01), with a significant direct effect of parental psychological distress on child sleep problems (0.16, p < 0.01) also being present. Authoritarian and authoritative parenting were found to be unrelated to child sleep problems. These findings suggest that augmenting treatment programs for preschool sleep problems with strategies targeting parental distress and permissive parenting where required, may be beneficial in improving preschool sleep problems.

Parenting Stress, Sleep, and Psychological Adjustment in Parents of Infants and Toddlers With Congenital Heart Disease.

Parents of children with chronic medical needs report increased parenting challenges, poor sleep, and maladjustment. The impact of parenting stress on both sleep and adjustment has yet to be evaluated for parents of infants and young children with congenital heart disease (CHD). We studied the relations among parenting stress, sleep, and adjustment in parents of infants and toddlers with CHD. We expected that sleep quality would mediate the relationship between parenting stress and adjustment. Sixty-nine parents of infants and toddlers with CHD were evaluated on self-report measures of illness-related parenting stress (Pediatric Inventory for Parents), sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), and psychological adjustment (Brief Symptom Index-18). The parents of infants and toddlers with CHD reported elevated levels of parenting stress, sleep problems, and maladjustment. The positive relationship between parenting stress and parent maladjustment was mediated by sleep quality. Findings suggest that parents of infants and toddlers with CHD report high parenting stress, poor sleep, and maladjustment. Analyses indicate the stress-adjustment relationship is mediated by quality of sleep. Given the multiple demands on parents of infants and children with CHD, it is important to attend to parents' overall functioning and mental health. Our findings highlight targets for intervention to improve the well-being of parents of young children with CHD.

Early parental positive personality and stress: Longitudinal associations with children's sleep.

The current study examined the influence of early parental stress and positive parent personality during infancy on sleep in middle childhood. Further, the role of positive parent personality as a buffer of the association between parental stress and sleep was considered. Participants included 381 twins and their primary caregivers who were recruited from birth records in the United States. Primary caregivers completed survey assessments via phone when twins were 12 and 30months of age to assess multiple dimensions of parental stress and positive parent personality. Approximately 6years later (M=5.78, SD=0.42), twins participated in an intensive assessment that included wearing actigraph watches to provide an objective measurement of sleep, while primary caregivers completed daily diaries regarding twins' sleep. Positive parent personality was associated prospectively with longer actigraphy sleep duration and higher parent-reported sleep quality/daytime functioning. Parental stress was associated prospectively with greater variability in sleep duration. Positive parent personality moderated the parental stress - sleep-timing relation, such that greater parental stress was associated with a later midpoint of the sleep period only for children with parents low on positive personality (e.g., low optimism). All other findings were non-significant. Findings suggest that both positive attributes and stress may influence sleep in middle childhood and that low parent positive personality may exacerbate associations between parental stress and later timing of sleep periods in children. Early interventions to promote healthy sleeping may consider focusing on decreasing parental stress and increasing parental empathy and optimism as early as infancy. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Early-life experiences, especially adversity, have been related to health outcomes among adults and children, such that negative experiences are associated with poor health outcomes. Poor sleep (e.g., short duration, poor quality) among children is associated with negative outcomes including poorer cognitive performance and higher adiposity. What does this study add? This study used a prospective design to understand relations between early parent-related factors and child sleep. Early parental stress and positive parent personality were associated with objective sleep quality. Positive parent personality during infancy may have promotive/protective influences on sleep later in childhood.

Fatigue in young people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

To describe fatigue in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) from patients' and parents' perspectives and to explore risk factors for fatigue in children and adolescents with DMD. A multicentre, cross-sectional study design was used. Seventy-one patients (all males; median age 12y, age range 5-17y) identified via the Canadian Neuromuscular Disease Registry, and their parents completed questionnaires. Subjective fatigue was assessed using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Multidimensional Fatigue Scale by child self-report and parent proxy-report. Patients with DMD across ages and disease stages experienced greater fatigue compared to typically developing controls from published data. Sleep disturbance symptoms were associated with greater fatigue by child self-report (ρ=-0.42; p=0.003) and parent proxy-report (ρ=-0.51; p<0.001). Depressive symptoms were associated with greater fatigue by child self-report (ρ=-0.46; p<0.001) and parent proxy-report (ρ=-0.45; p<0.001). Lower functional ability was associated with greater fatigue by parent proxy-report (ρ=0.26; p=0.03). Physical activity level, and musculoskeletal, respiratory, and cardiac function were not associated with fatigue. In paediatric DMD, sleep disturbance symptoms and depressive symptoms are potentially modifiable factors associated with fatigue, warranting additional investigation to facilitate the development of therapeutic strategies to reduce fatigue. Fatigue is a major issue in paediatric Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) across ages and disease stages. Sleep disturbance and depressive symptoms are significantly associated with fatigue in paediatric DMD.

0750 Effects of a Brief Parent-based Sleep Intervention on Sleep and Clinical Symptoms in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and Parental Sleep and Mental Health

0750 Effects of a Brief Parent-based Sleep Intervention on Sleep and Clinical Symptoms in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and Parental Sleep and Mental Health

Promotion of Family Routines and Positive Parent-Child Interactions for Obesity Prevention: Protocol for the 3 Pillars Study Randomized Controlled Trial.

BackgroundChildhood obesity is a challenging public health issue, with 30% of children aged 2 to 4 years classified as being overweight or obese in New Zealand. This is concerning, given that up to 90% of obese 3-year-old children are overweight or obese by the time they reach adolescence. Interventions that target this age range often fail to demonstrate long-term effectiveness and primarily focus on traditional weight-related behaviors, including diet and physical activity. However, research suggests that targeting nontraditional weight-related behaviors, such as sleep, screen time, and family meals, may be a more effective approach in this age group, given the immense challenges in changing traditional weight-related behaviors in the long term.ObjectiveThe aim of the proposed study was to develop and pilot the 3 Pillars Study (3PS), a 6-week program for parents of New Zealand toddlers and preschoolers aged 2 to 4 years to promote positive parent-child interactions during 3 family routines, specifically adequate sleep, regular family meals, and restricted screen time.MethodsScreen time at the end of the 6-week program is the primary endpoint. The effects of the program on screen time, frequency of family meals, parent feeding practices, diet quality, and sleep duration will be piloted using a randomized controlled trial, with outcomes compared between the active intervention group and a wait-list control group at 6 weeks (at the end of the program) and 12 weeks (at final follow-up). We aim to recruit 50 participants (25 per arm). Eligibility criteria include parents of children aged 2 to 4 years who are currently exceeding screen use recommendations (ie, greater than 1 hour of screen time per day). The 3PS program involves a half-day workshop, run by a community worker trained to deliver the program content, and 6-week access to a study website that contains in-depth information about the program. All participants will also receive a study pack, which includes resources to encourage engagement in the 3 family routines promoted by the program. Study data will be collected in REDCap. All statistical analyses will be performed using SAS version 9.4 and have been specified a priori in a statistical analysis plan prepared by the study statistician.ResultsTrial recruitment opened in July 2018. Final follow-up was completed in December 2018, with trial findings expected to be available in early 2019.ConclusionsFindings from this pilot study will provide relevant data to inform the design of a larger effectiveness study of the 3PS program.Trial RegistrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Register ACTRN12618000823279; https://www.anzctr.org. au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=375004 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/773CALeTK)International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/12792

Maternal stress, sleep, and parenting.

Associations between stress, sleep, and functioning have been well-established in the general adult population, but not as well-established in the specific subpopulation of interest here-parents. To advance understanding of how maternal sleep is linked with both mothers' experiences of stress and their parenting, this study used actigraphic and mother-report measures of sleep, observed and mother reports of parenting, and measures of multiple stressors of relevance. In a community sample of mothers of toddlers (N = 314; child age M = 2.60, SD = 0.07 years), maternal stress was indexed with a cumulative risk score that combined sociodemographic risks and common parent stressors, including household chaos, role overload, parenting hassles, child misbehavior, negative life events, and lack of social support. We found that mothers who experienced shorter, later, and more variable sleep experienced higher levels of stress as indexed by the cumulative risk index. In addition, those with higher stress required longer to fall asleep and perceived more sleep problems. We also found that actigraphic measures of poor and insufficient maternal sleep were associated with less observed positive parenting, even when controlling for the cumulative risk index and maternal age, employment, and family size. Mothers who required longer to fall asleep also reported more dysfunctional parenting, with the same statistical controls. The findings, coupled with research showing that sleep is amenable to intervention, suggest that parental sleep may ultimately prove to be a useful intervention target for promoting positive parent involvement and responsiveness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Evaluating the impact of adenotonsillectomy for pediatric sleep-disordered breathing on parental sleep.

To evaluate the impact of adenotonsillectomy for pediatric sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) on parental sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and child quality of life. Prospective cohort study. Pediatric patients aged 2 to 10 years with SDB and suspected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) requiring adenotonsillectomy were identified at a single tertiary-care pediatric otolaryngology hospital. Parental daytime sleepiness and quality of sleep were evaluated pre- and postoperatively using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), respectively. Child quality of life, in the context of suspected OSA, was evaluated by the Obstructive Sleep Apnea Quality of Life Survey (OSA-18), pre- and postoperatively. Paired-samples t tests were conducted to analyze data. Forty-seven patients with a mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of 4.9 (2.2) years, participated. Mean (SD) parental age was 35.5 (4.6) years. Statistically significant decreases of 2.1 points were observed between preoperative and postoperative parental mean global ESS (P = .007; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.6-3.6) and mean total PSQI (P = .001; 95% CI: 0.9-3.1) scores. A statistically significant improvement (41.6 points) was observed between preoperative and postoperative on mean OSA-18 scores (P < .0001; 95% CI: 35.7-47.6). Adenotonsillectomy performed in the pediatric population for SDB, with suspected OSA, can positively impact parental daytime sleepiness and sleep quality in addition to pediatric quality of life. 2 Laryngoscope, 130:232-237, 2020.

Sleep and type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents: Proposed theoretical model and clinical implications.

Youth with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) experience more sleep disturbances and shorter sleep durations compared to their healthy peers. Researchers have now uncovered the negative mental health and physical health outcomes associated with poor sleep in youth with T1D. The field of T1D sleep research currently operates under the broad notion that sleep behaviors impact treatment adherence, which ultimately lead to worse long-term health outcomes. This model however does not explain how behavior influences T1D management and sleep outcomes on a day-to-day basis, leading to difficulties in providing tailored treatment recommendations. In this review, we present a theoretical framework that describes the recursive cycle between sleep behaviors, T1D outcomes, and symptoms of negative affect/stress over a 24-hour period. This model is guided by the sleep literature, showing a clear relationship between poor sleep and negative affect, and the T1D literature demonstrating a link between poor sleep and disease management for youth with T1D. Further, emerging literature indicates a need for additional parent sleep assessment considering that T1D management and fear of hypoglycemia negatively impact parent sleep behaviors. Recommendations are provided to move the field toward effective intervention studies and new areas of research to evaluate and modify the proposed model.

The role of parental circadian preference in the onset of sleep difficulties in early childhood

BackgroundChronotype is a construct contributing to individual differences in sleep-wake timing. Previous studies with children have found that evening-types exhibit greater sleep difficulties. Infant sleep quality can be modulated by several factors, such as parental characteristics. We examined the association between parental circadian preference and sleep in early childhood. MethodsThis study was based on a longitudinal birth cohort, with several measurement points. We used information regarding parental questionnaires during pregnancy and children's sleep measures at three, eight, 18 and 24 months. In total, 1220 mothers, 1116 fathers, 993 infants at three months, 990 infants at eight months, 958 children at 18 months, and 777 children at 24 months were analyzed. Parental circadian preference was measured using the Horne-Östberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire. Concerning children's sleep, we used the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire (BISQ) and the Infant Sleep Questionnaire (ISQ) at each time point. ResultsMaternal circadian preference was associated with infants’ circadian rhythm development at three, eight, 18 and 24 months. Furthermore, increased maternal eveningness was also related to short sleep during daytime at three months, and nighttime at three and eight months, to long sleep-onset latency at three, 18 and 24 months, to late bedtime at three, eight and 18 months, and to sleep difficulties at eight and 24 months. Paternal circadian preference was not associated with any sleep variable at any time point. ConclusionMaternal circadian preference is related to several sleep difficulties in early childhood, and it may be considered a potential risk factor for the onset of early sleeping problems.

Sleep in Caregivers of Children With Type 1 Diabetes

Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore caregivers’ descriptions of their experience of nighttime sleep. Design and Methods Caregivers (N = 22) of children 10 to 18 years of age with type 1 diabetes (T1D) were recruited for this descriptive study. Anonymous questionnaires contained demographic information and both open- and closed-ended questions that focused on caregiving as it related to sleep. Open-ended questions were reviewed to help understand the effect of nocturnal caregiving activities on parental sleep. Results The sample of caregivers were all female and had a mean age of 43 years; 96% graduated high school, 68% were married or partnered, and 100% were white. Children had been diagnosed with T1D for a mean of 5 years, with a mean age of 12.2 years. Caregivers reported short sleep duration (mean, 5.8 hours). Over half of the participants reported they required ≥7 hours of sleep to feel their best, 64% indicated trouble sleeping at night, and 86% reported that caregiving interfered with their nighttime sleep, while 54% responded that sleep was “very important.” Content analysis of the open-ended questions revealed 2 themes: (1) anxiety about the child’s blood glucose levels and (2) nighttime disruptions. Conclusions Caregivers are frequently sleep deprived and worry about their child’s nighttime glucose. Caregiving duties, anxiety, and sleep fragmentation may contribute to their poor sleep.

The Use of Continuous Glucose Monitoring With Remote Monitoring Improves Psychosocial Measures in Parents of Children With Type 1 Diabetes: A Randomized Crossover Trial.

This study aimed to explore the effect of continuous glucose monitors with remote monitoring on psychosocial outcomes in parents of children with type 1 diabetes. Children with type 1 diabetes, aged 2-12 years, along with their parents, were studied in a randomized crossover study. They participated in two 3-month periods using conventional blood glucose monitoring (control) or the Dexcom G5 Mobile continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system with remote monitoring (intervention). The primary outcome was parental fear of hypoglycemia score assessed by the Hypoglycemia Fear Survey. Parental Hypoglycemia Fear Survey scores were lower while the child was using CGM with remote monitoring (P < 0.001). Furthermore, parental health-related quality of life and family functioning, stress, anxiety, and sleep measures also improved significantly after intervention. CGM with remote monitoring was found to improve multiple measures of quality of life, reduce family stress, and improve parental sleep.