Concurrent associations among sleep problems, indicators of inadequate sleep, psychopathology, and shared risk factors in a population-based sample of healthy Ontario children.
OBJECTIVE
Examine the contribution of sleep problems and indicators of inadequate sleep to psychopathology among children after accounting for shared risk and comorbid psychopathology.


METHODS
Secondary analyses of cross-sectional data on 4- to 11-year-old (N = 1,550) children without chronic illness or developmental delay or disability. Parents provided information about sleep problems, indicators of inadequate sleep, symptoms of psychopathology, and risk factors for psychopathology. Teachers provided information about indicators of inadequate sleep and symptoms of psychopathology.


RESULTS
Adjusting for risk factors and comorbid psychopathology, sleeping more than other children was related to parent-rated aggression. Nightmares and trouble sleeping were related to parent-rated anxious/depressed mood. Sleep problems were not related to attention problems. Being overtired was related to parent- and teacher-rated psychopathology.


CONCLUSIONS
Relations among sleep problems, indicators of inadequate sleep, and psychopathology are complex; accounting for potential confounding variables and considering sleep variables separately may clarify these relations.
Coulombe
J Aimée
JA
Department of Psychology, The University of Western Ontario, Westminster Hall, London Ontario N6A 3K7, Canada.
Reid
Graham J
GJ
Boyle
Michael H
MH
Racine
Yvonne
Y
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D009864:Ontario; D012307:Risk Factors; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires