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

Christina A Martin; Emma Sciberras; Nicole Papadopoulos; Lidia Engel; Harriet Hiscock; Katrina Williams; Patricia Howlin; Jane McGillivray; Nicole J Rinehart

Journal article

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

Christina A Martin, Emma Sciberras, Nicole Papadopoulos, Lidia Engel, Harriet Hiscock, Katrina Williams, Patricia Howlin, Jane McGillivray, Nicole J Rinehart

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders | SPRINGER/PLENUM PUBLISHERS | Published : 2020

DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04726-7

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..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Harriet Hiscock Author Paediatrics Royal Children's Hospital

Emma Sciberras Author Paediatrics Royal Children's Hospital

Katrina Williams Williams Author Paediatrics Royal Children's Hospital

Related Projects (1)

NHMRC NON-LEAD PROJECT GRANT - TAILORING A BRIEF SLEEP INTERVENTION FOR AUTISM: A RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Up to 86% of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience behavioural sleep problems which have been shown to be associated with ..

Grants

Awarded by Australian National Health and Medical Research Council

Awarded by Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship

Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council

Funding Acknowledgements

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).