Correlates of a caregiver-reported child sleep problem and variation by community disadvantage.

backgroundPrevious studies of sleep patterns and perceived problems in early childhood indicate variation by family socioeconomic status. The purpose of this study was to examine variation in correlates of a caregiver-perceived child sleep problem across and within levels of community disadvantage in a large US sample.

methodsCaregivers of 14,980 young children (ages 0-35.9 months) in the US completed the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire-Revised (BISQ-R) on the freely and publicly available Johnson's® Bedtime® Baby Sleep App. Zip code was used to identify a Distressed Communities Index (DCI) score, which represents community disadvantage based on neighborhood indicators.

resultsAcross all levels of community disadvantage, caregivers who reported greater impact of child sleep on their own sleep, bedtime difficulty, more frequent and longer night wakings, and increased total nighttime sleep were more likely to endorse a child sleep problem. These associations varied by level of community disadvantage. For caregivers living in more disadvantaged communities, impact of child sleep on their own sleep and night wakings were the strongest correlates of endorsing a child sleep problem, whereas for those in more advantaged communities the impact of child sleep on their own sleep and night wakings as well as additional aspects of sleep health, such as short sleep duration, were associated with endorsement of a child sleep problem.

conclusionsFindings suggest that families living in more distressed communities are most likely to identify the impact of child sleep on their own sleep and night wakings in reporting a child sleep problem, whereas those from more prosperous communities consider these factors as well as other sleep parameters, including sleep duration. Clinicians should consider expanding screening questions for child sleep problems to include the perceived impact on caregiver sleep.