Sleep and behavior problems among preschoolers.
This study described the relationship between amount of sleep and behavior problems among preschoolers. Participants were 510 children aged 2 to 5 years who were enrolled through 68 private pediatric practices. Parents reported on the amount of sleep their child obtained at night and in 24-hour periods. With demographic variables controlled, regression models were used to determine whether sleep was associated with behavior problems. The relationship between less sleep at night and the presence of a DSM-III-R psychiatric diagnosis was significant (odds ratio = 1.23, p = .026). Less night sleep (p < .0001) and less sleep in a 24-hour period (p < .004) were associated with increased total behavior problems on the Child Behavior Checklist; less night sleep (p < .0002) and less 24-hour sleep (p < .004) were also associated with more externalizing problems on that measure. Further research is needed to ascertain whether sleep is playing a causal role in the increase of behavior problems.
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Children's Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60614, USA. j-lavigne@nwu.edu
J V
JV
Lavigne
R
R
Arend
D
D
Rosenbaum
A
A
Smith
M
M
Weissbluth
H J
HJ
Binns
K K
KK
Christoffel
D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*