The Association between Sleep Disorder Patterns in School-Aged Children with Maternal Anxiety, Stress, and Depression: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background and Objective: Sleep problems are common in school-aged children and may have negative impacts on their health. This study aimed to determine the sleep disorder patterns in school-aged children and evaluate their associ- ation with maternal anxiety, stress, and depression.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2018 and September 2019 and included children aged 7-12 years using convenience sampling. The Persian version of the BEARS questionnaire, which incorporates five basic sleep domains (Bedtime problems, Excessive sleepiness, Awakenings during the night, Regulari- ty of sleep, Snoring), was used to assess sleep disorders. Maternal anxiety, stress, and depression were measured using the short form of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS), a caregiver self-report tool. Multivariable logistic regression was applied to assess the association between child sleep problems and maternal mental health.

Results: In the 99 children included, the most common sleep problem was nocturnal awakening, with 48.5% experienc- ing it. Excessive daytime sleepiness was the second most common problem, affecting 38.4% of children. In the multi- variable-adjusted model, awaking during the night [odds ratio (OR): 3.16, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.27-7.82] and bedtime problems (OR: 4.20, 95% CI: 1.16-15.20) showed a positive association with moderate to severe levels of maternal anxiety, stress, and depression.

Conclusion: The prevalence of sleep problems among school-aged children underscores the need for family awareness and education about sleep problems.