Scarpelli, Serena and Bondopandhyay, Upasana and McGrath, Jane and Coogan, Andrew (2024) Associations between sleep problems in children with ADHD and parental insomnia and ADHD symptoms. PLoS ONE, 19 (5). e0298377. ISSN 1932-6203

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Abstract

Sleep problems are common in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Children’s sleep problem may influence, and be influenced by, parents’ sleep problems as well as parents’ ADHD symptoms. In the current study we examined the associations of parent-rated sleep quality and sleep timing of pre-adolescent children with parental insomnia symptoms, parental ADHD symptoms and dysfunctional attitudes and beliefs about sleep in a convenience sample recruited by advertisement (N = 120). Childhood sleep problems were common in the sample, with 82% of children exceeding the threshold for the presence of a paediatric sleep disorder. Children’s sleep quality showed minimal association with their sleep timing and chronotype. Parental insomnia symptoms, ADHD symptoms and dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep all associated with their children’s sleep quality, and with the sleep subdomains of sleep anxiety and parasomnias. In multiple regression analysis only parental insomnia score was a significant predictor of children’s sleep quality. Children’s bedtimes, wake times, sleep duration, chronotype or social jetlag did not associate with parents’ ADHD or insomnia symptoms. Sleep quality was significantly poorer in children whose parents scored as both consistent for adult ADHD and probable for insomnia disorder compared to parents who scored as either ADHD consistent or insomnia probable, or those who parents scored as neither. We discuss the putative nature of the relationships between sleep quality of children with ADHD and parental ADHD and insomnia symptoms, and suggest that clinicians consider parental sleep when attending to children with ADHD.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Associations; sleep problems; children; ADHD; parental insomnia; ADHD symptoms;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > Psychology
Item ID:	18563
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0298377
Depositing User:	Dr. Andrew Coogan
Date Deposited:	22 May 2024 10:33
Journal or Publication Title:	PLoS ONE
Publisher:	Public Library of Science
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	Publisher
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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