Sleep Problems, Circadian Rhythms, and Their Relation to Behavioral Difficulties in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Published in: Journal of autism and developmental disorders Vol. 54; no. 5; pp. 1712 - 1726
• Main Authors: Martinez-Cayuelas, Elena, Gavela-Pérez, Teresa, Rodrigo-Moreno, María, Losada-Del Pozo, Rebeca, Moreno-Vinues, Beatriz, Garces, Carmen, Soriano-Guillén, Leandro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.05.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; Anxiety - physiopathology; Anxiety - psychology; Autism; Autism Spectrum Disorder - physiopathology; Autism Spectrum Disorder - psychology; Autistic adolescents; Autistic children; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Body mass index; Child; Child and School Psychology; Child Behavior Checklist; Circadian rhythm; Circadian Rhythm - physiology; Circadian rhythms; Complaints; Coronaviruses; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression - physiopathology; Depression - psychology; Families & family life; Female; Humans; Male; Measures; Melatonin; Neurosciences; Original Paper; Pediatrics; Problem Behavior - psychology; Psychology; Public Health; Repetitive behaviour; Saliva; Saliva - chemistry; Segmentation; Self destructive behavior; Self injury; Sleep; Sleep disorders; Sleep Wake Disorders - physiopathology; Sleep Wake Disorders - psychology; Social problems; Surveys and Questionnaires; Teenagers; Actigraphy; Melatonin; Sleep; Behavior; Autism spectrum disorder; Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0162-3257; 1573-3432
• DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-05934-7

This was an exploratory cross-sectional study comparing 45 children with ASD to 24 typically developing drug-naïve controls, group-matched on age, sex, and body mass index. Objective data was obtained using the following: an ambulatory circadian monitoring device; saliva samples to determine dim light melatonin onset (DLMO): and three parent-completed measures: the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL); the Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised (RBS-R); and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ28). The CBCL and RBS-R scales showed the highest scores amongst poor sleepers with ASD. Sleep fragmentation was associated with somatic complaints and self-injury, leading to a higher impact on family life. Sleep onset difficulties were associated with withdrawal, anxiety, and depression. Those with phase advanced DLMO had lower scores for “somatic complaints”; “anxious/depressed” state; and “social problems”, suggesting that this phenomenon has a protective role.