Preschool Sleep Problems and Differential Associations With Specific Aspects of Executive Control in Early Elementary School

Abstract

This study examined the differential associations between parent-reported child sleep problems in preschool and specific aspects of executive control in early elementary school in a large sample of typically developing children (N = 215). Consistent with expectations, sleep problems were negatively associated with performance on tasks assessing working memory and interference suppression inhibition, even after controlling for general cognitive abilities, but not with flexible shifting or response inhibition. The findings add to the literature on cognitive impairments associated with pediatric sleep loss and highlight the need for early intervention for children with sleep problems to promote healthy cognitive development.

The sleeping patterns of Head Start children and the influence on developmental outcomes

“…Children with disrupted sleep had lower scores on measures of receptive language, teacher‐reported literacy, mathematical problem solving, and approaches to learning. These results are consistent with previous findings that demonstrate a longitudinal relationship between sleep quality and cognitive performance (Bernier et al, ; Nelson et al, ). Consolidated sleep in early childhood may support the development of higher order cognitive functions (Bernier et al, ), influencing children's performance on a range of cognitive tasks.…”

“…These results are consistent with previous findings that demonstrate a longitudinal relationship between sleep quality and cognitive performance (Bernier et al, 2013;Nelson et al, 2015). Consolidated sleep in early childhood may support the development of higher order cognitive functions (Bernier et al, 2013), influencing children's performance on a range of cognitive tasks.…”

“…Previous research documents an association between sleep quality in infancy and preschool performance in an area of executive functioning (Bernier et al, 2013), and similar effects are found from preschool to early grade school (Nelson, Nelson, Kidwell, James, & Espy, 2015).…”

“…The quality of sleep a child receives in one stage of development has the potential to influence later developmental outcomes. Previous research documents an association between sleep quality in infancy and preschool performance in an area of executive functioning (Bernier et al, ), and similar effects are found from preschool to early grade school (Nelson, Nelson, Kidwell, James, & Espy, ).…”

The Association between Sleep and Theory of Mind in School Aged Children with ADHD

“…Insufficient and inadequate sleep are associated with poor executive functioning [ 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 ]. Insufficient sleep refers to getting less sleep than needed [ 85 ].…”