Introduction Sleep during childhood has a major impact on physiological, psychological, and cognitive development. Limited research has focused on vulnerable populations such as children in foster care. Foster care children endure placement instability, which may contribute to disrupted sleep patterns and unpredictability around bedtime (Leathers, et al., 2019). The Fostering Sleep study examined foster caregivers’ perceptions of children’s sleep challenges and strategies for improving sleep difficulties. Methods Foster caregivers of children ages 4–11 throughout the US were invited to complete the Qualtrics Sleep Health among Children in Foster Care Survey via foster care Facebook groups. The survey included quantitative and qualitative questions focused on sleep patterns and behaviors. Qualitative questions on barriers and opportunities to improve sleep were examined: what helps foster care children sleep well; what kinds of difficulties do foster care children experience at bedtime? Results 483 foster care parents responded. Responses to bedtime difficulties were coded using 27 categories (e.g., parasomnias, bedtime resistance, trouble self-soothing); responses to what helps your child sleep well were coded based on 22 categories (e.g., comfort items, melatonin, TV as in intervention, communication to reassure safety). The most prevalent sleep/bedtime difficulties were fear/anxiety (23.2%), nightmares (19.6%), environment (18.4%). For example, one parent responded: “He fears never waking up. He fears that the sun is not going to come back up. He fears that the bad guys will come get him.” Difficulties varied by age-- 4–5: fear/anxiety, destabilization from call/visit biological parent, nightmares; 6–9: nightmares, fear/anxiety, environment; 10–11: fear/anxiety, nightmares, emotional/behavioral difficulties. Most frequent parenting approaches were bedtime routine (63.0%), reading before bedtime (36.5%), physical reassurance (26.6%). Interventions also varied according to age-- 4–5: routine, reading, physical reassurance; 6–9: routine, reading, noise control; 10–11: routine, technology regulation, reading. Conclusion Foster caregivers reported fear/anxiety as most common bedtime difficulty and physical reassurance as most frequent parenting strategy for healthy sleep. Findings suggest that anxiety and fear often interfere with sleep and, in turn, physical reassurance as a helpful bedtime strategy. Undoubtedly, there is a need for sleep research and preventive interventions for children in foster care. Support (if any) Summer Student Research Support, Loyola University Maryland, College of Arts and Sciences
Introduction A strong association between sleep disturbances and externalizing symptoms has been found among school-aged children. In particular, there is a known association between sleep disturbances, irritability, emotional dysregulation, and hyperactivity (e.g., Coto et al., 2018). Limited research, however, has examined this association in a high-risk population of children, such as those in foster care who are at increased risk for sleep disturbances due to heightened exposure to trauma. Thus, the following study sought to assess the association between sleep quality and externalizing symptoms in a population of children in foster care. Methods Caregivers with children ages 4–11 were sampled from private Facebook community foster care groups across the United States (n = 410). Caregivers were provided a link to a survey powered by Qualtrics where they were asked to report on the children under their care’s weekday bedtime, overall sleep quality (e.g., “Please rate your child’s overall sleep quality over the last two weeks”), and sleep onset (e.g. “On weekdays, how long does it usually take for your child to fall asleep?”). Child behavioral issues were assessed via the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI) Parent Rating Form. Results A linear regression model was utilized to assess if child weekday bedtime, weekday total sleep duration, and overall sleep quality were unique predictors of externalizing symptoms when controlling for age. Results suggest that weekday sleep duration and bedtime were not significant unique predictors of child behavioral issues, though were significantly and positively correlated at the bivariate level (p=.02, p=.04). Sleep onset and overall sleep quality, irrespective of child age, were found to be significant unique predictors of child behavioral issues and accounted for 1% and 11% of the total variance, respectively. Conclusion Results suggest that delayed sleep onset and poorer sleep quality were predictive of increased behavioral issues for children in foster care. Findings persisted when controlling for age, which suggests that children in foster care experiencing sleep disturbances may benefit from more behaviorally focused sleep interventions to improve externalizing behaviors and increase sleep health. Support (if any):
Introduction Electronic media (EM) use has long been associated with poor sleep in children. Children’s use of EM may also be related to emotional distress – anxiety being one of the more prevalent issues, which has been tied to sleep-related problems as well (e.g., Fors & Barch, 2019; Alfano et al., 2007). Children in foster care have often been victims of trauma, which can lead to significant emotional and sleep difficulties (e.g., Kovachy et al., 2013). The Fostering Sleep study examined the association between EM use and sleep among children in foster care; and the additional influence of anxiety. Methods Participants were caregivers of foster care children recruited from private Facebook foster care support groups across the United States. The study used a cross-sectional design examining sleep patterns and behaviors, EM use and mental health among children in foster care. An online survey, hosted by Qualtrics, was distributed to caregivers via Facebook. The data of 443 foster care children between the ages of four and 11 (M=6.37, SD=2.21) were included in the analyses. Results Children in foster care using EM at bedtime go to bed later than those who are not (p<.001), and their sleep quality was better than those who did not use EM around bedtime (p<0.01). Additionally, 33.3% reported anxiety as a primary diagnosis by a mental health professional. Children without anxiety as their primary diagnosis were found to be more likely to use EM around bedtime (p=.038). Conclusion This preliminary analysis indicates the prevalence of EM use close to bedtime may not necessarily be detrimental to sleep for this population; perhaps activities such as watching one’s favorite programming or talking to a loved one online can be comforting and therefore helpful to sleep onset (Eggermont & Van den Bulck, 2006). However, examination of other factors such as type of technology, content of media, and duration of use is warranted. Moreover, children with anxiety as a primary diagnosis may be using less EM at bedtime because EM use may trigger symptoms of anxiety (i.e., Fors & Barch, 2019). Support (if any):
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