Sleep and Behavioral Adjustment in Early and Middle Childhood

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Abstract

This symposium features four studies that link sleep and problem behaviors in children aged 2.5 to 10 years of age. Across studies, greater sleep problems predicted increased problem behaviors. The consistency of findings is notable, given the diversity across studies in (1) sleep measurement (questionnaire, actigraphy), (2) inclusion of both internalizing and externalizing behavior problems (questionnaire, observational), (3) ages of children studied, and (4) the inclusion of children from low- and high-risk backgrounds.

The first study links irritability to increased sleep problems in preschoolers. Findings suggest that higher levels of irritability are associated with increased bedtime resistance, increased sleep onset delay, and increased total sleep problems. The second study, with toddlers, found that greater noncompliance was predicted by longer sleep onset latency, greater temperamental unmanageability, and being male. The third study of school-aged twins found that sleep problems and sleep quality interacted with chaos to predict externalizing symptoms, but not internalizing symptoms. The final study of internationally adopted school-aged children found that pre-adoptive risk was indirectly related to more internalizing and more externalizing behavior problems through greater sleep disturbance and increased dysregulated negative affect. Together, the panel will consider practical and clinical implications of these findings.

Sub Unit

• Health, Growth, Injury

Chair

• Angela D Staples, Eastern Michigan University

Individual Presentations

• Grumpy Kids, Cranky Nights: The Association between Sleep Problems and Irritability in Early Childhood - Presenting Author: Caroline P. Hoyniak, Washington University in St. Louis; Non-Presenting Author: Lisa J Meltzer, National Jewish Health; Non-Presenting Author: Lauren S. Wakschlag, Northwestern University; Non-Presenting Author: Susan B. Perlman, Washington University in St. Louis

• Noncompliance and Negative Affect during Toy Prohibition: Effects of Sleep Onset Latency and Temperament - Presenting Author: Angela D Staples, Eastern Michigan University; Non-Presenting Author: Amanda Hicks, Eastern Michigan University; Non-Presenting Author: John E Bates, Indiana University - Bloomington

• Household Chaos Moderates Links Between Sleep and Internalizing and Externalizing Behaviors in Middle Childhood - Presenting Author: Reagan S. Breitenstein, Appalachian State University; Non-Presenting Author: Leah D Doane, Arizona State University; Non-Presenting Author: Mary Davis, Arizona State University; Non-Presenting Author: Kathryn Lemery-Chalfant, Arizona State University

• The Role of Sleep and Affect in the Relationship Between Preadoptive Risk and Problem Behavior - Presenting Author: Kristin Aho, Eastern Michigan University; Non-Presenting Author: Morgan Daugherty, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor; Non-Presenting Author: Angela D Staples, Eastern Michigan University; Non-Presenting Author: Jamie Lawler, Eastern Michigan University