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Infant sleep and child mental health: a longitudinal investigation
journal contribution
posted on 2020-06-01, 00:00 authored by F Cook, L J Conway, R Giallo, D Gartland, Emma SciberrasEmma Sciberras, S BrownObjective: To determine whether infants with severe persistent sleep problems are at increased risk of (1) meeting diagnostic criteria for a psychiatric disorder (age 10 years), and (2) having elevated symptoms of mental health difficulties (ages 4 and 10 years), in comparison with infants with settled sleep. Design and setting: Prospective longitudinal community cohort study - the Maternal Health Study. Mothers completed questionnaires/interviews at 15 weeks' gestation; 3, 6, 9 and 12 months post partum; and when their child turned 4 and 10 years old. Measures included parental report of infant night waking and sleep problems and child mental health (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire; Spence Children's Anxiety Scale; Development and Well-being Assessment). Participants: 1460 mother-infant dyads. Results: 283 (19.4%) infants had persistent severe sleep problems, 817 (56.0%) had moderate/fluctuating sleep problems and 360 (24.7%) infants were settled. Infants with persistent severe sleep problems were more likely to report emotional symptoms at age 4 (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=2.70, 95% CI 1.21 to 6.05, p=0.02), and meet diagnostic criteria for an emotional disorder at age 10 (AOR=2.37, 95% CI 1.05 to 5.36, p=0.04). Infants with persistent severe sleep problems also had elevated symptoms of separation anxiety (AOR=2.44, 95% CI 1.35 to 4.41, p<0.01), fear of physical injury (AOR=2.14, 95% CI 1.09 to 4.18, p=0.03) and overall elevated anxiety (AOR=2.20, 95% CI 1.13 to 4.29, p=0.02) at age 10. Conclusions: Infants with persistent severe sleep problems during the first postnatal year have an increased risk of anxiety problems and emotional disorders at age 10.
History
Journal
Archives of disease in childhoodVolume
105Issue
7Pagination
655 - 660Publisher
BMJ Publishing GroupLocation
London, Eng.Publisher DOI
ISSN
0003-9888eISSN
1468-2044Language
engPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalUsage metrics
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