The Impact of Anxiety on Behavioral Sleep Difficulties and Treatment in Young Children: A Review of the Literature

Interdisciplinarity and Integration: An Introduction to the Special Issue on Psychopathology in Medical Settings

“…I was particularly struck by the centrality of the interpersonal context of both conditions (e.g., separation anxiety is a risk factor for sleep difficulties), as well as by the bidirectional nature of the anxiety-sleep link (i.e., sleep disorders in young children predict anxiety disorders later on in life). Similarly, the centrality of behavioral interventions delivered to the child through the caregiver is also noteworthy in Fehr et al (2020). The authors also note other promising avenues for intervention (e.g., bibliotherapy) and point out useful future directions for research and practice.…”

“…The subsequent article is also focused on children, albeit on preschoolers. Fehr, Chambers, and Ramasani (2020) illuminate the relationships between two well-known pediatric conditions: sleep difficulties and anxiety. The close link between the two conditions is also quite well known, although-as noted by Fehr et al (2020) -anxiety is rarely considered in the literature on young (i.e., preschool) children (see Kushnir & Sadeh, 2011).…”

“…Fehr, Chambers, and Ramasani (2020) illuminate the relationships between two well-known pediatric conditions: sleep difficulties and anxiety. The close link between the two conditions is also quite well known, although-as noted by Fehr et al (2020) -anxiety is rarely considered in the literature on young (i.e., preschool) children (see Kushnir & Sadeh, 2011). Espousing a pragmatic focus, Fehr et al (2020) review the literature on the anxiety-sleep difficulties link that leads directly to recommendations for evidence-based interventions in young children.…”

“…The close link between the two conditions is also quite well known, although-as noted by Fehr et al (2020) -anxiety is rarely considered in the literature on young (i.e., preschool) children (see Kushnir & Sadeh, 2011). Espousing a pragmatic focus, Fehr et al (2020) review the literature on the anxiety-sleep difficulties link that leads directly to recommendations for evidence-based interventions in young children. I was particularly struck by the centrality of the interpersonal context of both conditions (e.g., separation anxiety is a risk factor for sleep difficulties), as well as by the bidirectional nature of the anxiety-sleep link (i.e., sleep disorders in young children predict anxiety disorders later on in life).…”

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“…Studies also shown the Results suggested a higher anxiety level was associated with greater sleep disturbances and increased stress was correlated significantly with longer sleep time in IBD participants at baseline assessment. This outcome is not surprising considering the state of clinical remission at baseline and the evidence suggested by clinical studies on the negative impact by anxiety (89) and depression (90) on sleep quality in general population. Remission CD and UC patients demonstrated significant differences in their baseline depression and negative affectivity of personality type, which entails further investigation.…”