Sleep Disorders: The Impact on Parents and Children
Parents with sleep disorders or children with sleep problems are more likely to experience higher levels of stress, according to a new study published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Ray Merrill and Kayla Slavik of Brigham Young University, US, and colleagues.[0]
The study included data from 14,009 adult employees (aged 18 to 64 years) with dependent children (44,157 children).[1] After adjusting for age, sex and marital status, the rate of parental stress was 1.95 (95% CI 1.67–2.28) times greater in employees with a sleep disorder.[2] Specifically, rates of stress were 3.00 (95% CI 2.33–4.85) times greater for those with insomnia and 1.88 (1.59–2.22) times greater for those with sleep apnea.[1]
The rate of employee stress was also 1.90 (95% CI 1.33–2.72) times greater if their child had any sleep disorder, and 2.89 (95% CI 2.20–3.80) times greater if their child had insomnia.[1] The rate of parental insomnia and sleep apnea were both nearly doubled if the child had a sleep disorder.
The authors suggest that a better understanding of the connections between parent and child sleep quality and parent stress may help improve treatment and lower the risk of these disorders.
To help your family sleep better, experts suggest creating a sleep routine, avoiding electronics before bed and maintaining a comfortable bedroom environment. Additionally, it’s important to recognize the importance of sleep and make sure everyone in the family is getting enough rest.
0. “Sleep disorders in parents and children associated with more parental stress, study finds” Tech Explorist, 25 Jan. 2023, https://www.techexplorist.com/sleep-disorders-in-parents-and-children-associated-with-more-parental-stress-study-finds/56434/
1. “Sleep Disorders in Children and Parents Increase Parental Stress” Islander News.com, 27 Jan. 2023, https://www.islandernews.com/lifestyle/health/sleep-disorders-in-children-and-parents-increase-parental-stress/article_0e4d2cf3-78da-531e-808e-fd535848d8a8.html
2. “Sleep Disorders: Parental Stress Rises With Family Sleep Disorders” Healthline, 25 Jan. 2023, https://www.healthline.com/health-news/sleep-disorders-how-parental-stress-can-rise-with-family-sleeping-difficulties