Abstract
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.
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Funding
The data for this study was collected as part of the Sleeping Sound with Autism Spectrum Disorder project at Deakin University, Australia with funding from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (APP1101989). Ms Christina A. Martin is supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship (0000019042). Associate Professor Emma Sciberras is supported by an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Career Development Award (1110688) and a veski Inspiring Women’s Fellowship. Professor Harriet Hiscock is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Practitioner Fellowship (1136222).
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CAM conceptualised and designed the study, was involved in data collection, conducted the data analysis, interpreted the results, wrote and submitted the manuscript. ES, NP and NJR assisted with study conceptualisation and design, contributed to the interpretation of the data, and reviewed and revised the manuscript. LE, HH, KW, PH and JM reviewed and revised the manuscript.
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Professor Nicole Rinehart, Professor Jane McGillivray and Dr Nicole Papadopoulos receive philanthropic funding from Moose Toys, Ferrero Group Australia as part of its Kinder + Sport pillar of Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, MECCA Brands, Wenig Family, Geelong Community Foundation, and the Grace and Emilio Foundation; and industry partner funding from the Victorian Department of Education, to conduct research in the field of neurodevelopmental disorders and inclusion. They have also previously received scholarship funding from the Australian Football League and industry partner funding from the NDIS. Professor Rinehart has received donations from Vic Health and Bus Association Victoria; previous speaker honorarium from Novartis (2002), Pfizer (2006) and Nutricia (2007); and is a Director of the Amaze Board (Autism Victoria). None of the companies or organizational bodies listed above had a role in this research including the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in writing of the manuscript; and/or in the decision to submit this abstract for publication. The remaining authors have no potential conflicts of interests to declare.
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All procedures performed in the study involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Royal Children’s Hospital (36154) and Deakin University (2017–130) Human Research Ethics Committees and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
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Informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study.
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Martin, C.A., Sciberras, E., Papadopoulos, N. et al. Associations Between Child Sleep Problem Severity and Maternal Well-Being in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 51, 2500–2510 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04726-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04726-7