The link between sleep problems in infancy and early childhood and attention problems at 5 and 14 years: Evidence from a birth cohort study.
BACKGROUND
Little research has examined the associations between early sleep problems and attention problems over several developmental periods.


OBJECTIVE
To examine whether sleep problems in infancy and early childhood are independently related to attention difficulty at 5 and 14 years, and to the continuity of attention difficulties from 5 to 14 years.


METHODS
The study was a prospective, population-based birth cohort study.


METHODS
7223 women who delivered a live, singleton child between 1981 and 1983 were recruited at the first antenatal visit. Of these, 4204 had complete information on all key measures.


METHODS
Attention problems were assessed with items from the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) and were classified as adolescent onset (i.e. problems at 14 but not at 5); early remitter (problems at 5, no problem at 14); and persistent (i.e. at both 5 and 14).


RESULTS
At 6 months, sleep problems 'sometimes' were associated with the early remitter group in boys. For sleep problems between 2 and 4 years of age, findings were generally similar for boys and girls with strong associations with adolescent attention. Sleep problems 'often' were independently associated with early remitter and persistent attention problems, and 'sometimes' with early remitter and adolescent onset attention problems.


CONCLUSIONS
Sleep problems in early childhood are an indicator of subsequent attention problems that may persist into adolescence. Whether these associations are causal requires further research, however their presence provides an opportunity for early intervention and monitoring.
O'Callaghan
Frances V
FV
Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia. f.ocallaghan@griffith.edu.au
Al Mamun
Abdullah
A
O'Callaghan
Michael
M
Clavarino
Alexandra
A
Williams
Gail M
GM
Bor
William
W
Heussler
Helen
H
Najman
Jake M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012890:Sleep; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology