Poster #99 - The Interaction Between Stress and Sleep on Internalizing Behaviors

• In Event: Poster Session 15

Abstract

Introduction
The current psychological literature has shown that childhood sleep difficulties, lower rhythmicity, and subjective tiredness are associated with internalizing behaviors (Bai et al 2020; Wang et al. 2021; Wong et al., 2018). Additionally, there is evidence that stressful life events are associated with these behaviors (Kim et al 2003). However, the current literature has not fully addressed the main effects and interaction between sleep problems and stressful family events on internalizing behaviors. Therefore, the goal of this study was to assess the longitudinal relationships between sleep problems and stressful family events on internalizing behaviors in children.

Methods
Parents and children between the ages of 8-12 (Mage = 9.88; N = 253; male = 119, female = 125; 73.5% White) participated in a longitudinal study analyzing relationships between child sleep and health outcomes. Parents completed several questionnaires assessing their children’s sleep, stress, and internalizing behaviors. The Family Events Questionnaire (Coddington, 1971) was used to assess stressful family events. The Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (Chervin et al., 2000) was used to assess children’s sleep difficulties, rhythmicity, and sleepiness. Lastly, the Child Behavioral Checklist (Achenbach et al., 1991) was used to assess children’s internalizing behaviors. Questionnaires were completed at time 1, and again one year later at time 2.

Results
Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. We regressed the latent variable of internalizing problems on each observed sleep variable, FEQ, and their interaction terms. More stressful family events at T1 (b = .107, se = .052, p = .039), more sleep difficulties at T1 (b = 1.417, se = .467, p = .002), and more sleepiness at T1 (b = 1.182, se = .419, p = .005) predicted more internalizing behaviors at T2. Sleep rhythmicity (regularity) at T1 and stressful family events at T1 interacted to predict internalizing behaviors at T2 (high rhythmicity b = .170, se = .060, p = .004; low rhythmicity b = -.137, se = .124, p = .268). When family stress was low, sleep rhythmicity had the strongest effect on internalizing problems. When family stress was high, children had high internalizing problems, regardless of whether they were regular in their sleep schedule. Children who had an irregular sleep schedule (low sleep rhythmicity) had the highest internalizing problems, irrespective of the number of stressful family events. Children who had a regular sleep schedule (high rhythmicity) had lower internalizing problems. Interaction effects were not found between stressful family events and the other two sleep indicators (sleep difficulties, sleepiness) on internalizing behaviors.

Discussion
Results from this study indicate that stressful family events and sleep problems are indeed related to internalizing behaviors. Further, our study highlights that stressful family events have a greater effect on internalizing behaviors among children who are high on sleep rhythmicity, but these children’s internalizing problems were still lower than that of children with low sleep rhythmicity. These results support sleep rhythmicity interventions in children with familial stress to prevent the occurrence of internalizing problems.

Authors

• Madisen Hillebrant-Openshaw, Idaho State University
  Presenting Author

• Maria Wong, Idaho State University