Associations Between Child Sleep Problem Severity and Maternal Well-Being in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Published in: Journal of autism and developmental disorders Vol. 51; no. 7; pp. 2500 - 2510
• Main Authors: Martin, Christina A., Sciberras, Emma, Papadopoulos, Nicole, Engel, Lidia, Hiscock, Harriet, Williams, Katrina, Howlin, Patricia, McGillivray, Jane, Rinehart, Nicole J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.07.2021; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Autism; Autistic children; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Child and School Psychology; Child Rearing; Children; Correlation; Families & family life; Family Relationship; Family system perspective; Habits; Health aspects; Health status; Measures (Individuals); Mental Disorders; Mental Health; Mother Attitudes; Mothers; Neurosciences; Original Paper; Parent Child Relationship; Parental stress; Parents & parenting; Pediatrics; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Psychological distress; Psychology; Public Health; Quality of Life; Scores; Severity; Severity (of Disability); Sleep; Sleep deprivation; Sleep disorders; Stress; Stress Variables; Well being; Australia; ASD; Sleep; Well-being; Parenting stress; Mental health; Quality of life
• ISSN: 0162-3257; 1573-3432
• DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04726-7

This study investigated whether sleep problem severity in children with autism spectrum disorder was associated with maternal well-being. Mothers of 234 children reported on their mental health (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale), parenting stress (Parenting Stress Index-4-SF), health-related quality of life (HRQoL; Assessment of Quality of Life-4D) and their child’s sleep (Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire–ASD). Analyses revealed sleep initiation and duration problem severity scores were associated with increased mental health difficulties. Specific child sleep problems were not associated with parenting stress or HRQoL. This study revealed the importance of considering sleep and the family system when assessing maternal well-being. Future research considering parent, child and family factors will be important to informing a family focused approach to mental health.