Cosleeping Versus Solitary Sleeping in Children With Bedtime Problems: Child Emotional Problems and Parental Distress

Abstract

This study investigated sleep, behavioral and emotional problems, and parental relationships and psychological distress in a group of school-aged children with bedtime problems and persistent cosleeping, compared to solitary sleepers and controls. Participants were 148 school-aged children with bedtime problems (44 cosleepers, 104 solitary sleepers) and 228 healthy peers. Results suggested that cosleepers have a significantly later bedtime, shorter nighttime sleep duration, higher Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) bedtime resistance and sleep anxiety scores, and more behavioral and emotional problems compared to other groups. Parents of cosleepers have a significantly higher level of psychological and couple distress. A past history of sleep problems, couple and maternal distress, CSHQ bedtime resistance, sleep anxiety, and night wakings subscale scores, and nighttime fears were significantly predictive of cosleeping. Thus, when cosleeping is present, the child's emotional adjustment, family relationships, and parental psychological problems should be investigated.

Just five more minutes please: electronic media use, sleep and behaviour in young children

“…Moreover, researchers have shown a relationship between persistent co-sleeping in children and a myriad of sleep problems (e.g. shorter sleep duration, sleep anxiety, night waking; Cortesi, Giannotti, Sebastiani, Vagnoni, & Marioni, 2008). Consequently, one speculation is that perhaps females have a greater tendency to ask to sleep with parents in the same bed.…”

Relationships Between Breast‐feeding, Co‐sleeping, and Somatic Complaints in Early Childhood

“…Cortesi et al. () showed the existence of a relationship between co‐sleeping and somatic complaints, due to sleep problems. Co‐sleeping would lead to sleep problems, which would then lead to an increase in somatic complaints (Cortesi et al., ).…”

“…The possible effect of co‐sleeping on somatic complaints has not yet received much attention in the literature. Cortesi, Giannotti, Sebastiani, Vagnoni, and Marioni () stated that co‐sleeping in children with sleep problems is predicted by sleep‐onset difficulties, frequent night awakening, and a high level of sleep anxiety. According to Burnham, Goodlin‐Jones, Gaylor, and Anders (), healthy sleep‐wake cycles may be established if the infant sleeps independently and self‐soothes following nighttime awakenings.…”

Hábitos de sueño, desempeño académico y comportamiento en niños de básica primaria

“…Finalmente, el puntaje total incluye todos los reactivos de las ocho subescalas; así, un puntaje mayor a 41 (punto de corte) se considera indicativo de problemas en el sueño de mayor importancia clínica. Diversas investigaciones utilizaron este instrumento para valorar los hábitos de sueño en niños (Liu, X., Liu, L., Owens y Kaplan, 2005;Cortesi, Giannotti, Sebastiani, Vagnoni y Marioni, 2008;Surani, Khimani, Surani, Rao y Subramanian, 2014).…”