title: Postnatal depression mediates the relationship between infant and maternal sleep disruption and family dysfunction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous research has linked family sleep disruption and dysfunction in children; however, the mechanism is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study examined whether maternal sleep and postnatal depression (PND) mediate the relationship between infant sleep disruption and family dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mothers of infants aged 12 months old (N=111; 48% male) completed infant and parent sleep surveys, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the Family Assessment Device.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Poor infant sleep was related to poor maternal sleep, which was associated with higher PND and higher level of family dysfunction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results are consistent with the proposition that identification of both infant and maternal sleep problems during infancy can be relevant to reduction of PND and improved family functioning.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Piteo
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nettelbeck
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lushington
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000209:etiology*