RESUMEN
Background and Objectives: To investigate (1) the prevalence of sleep disorder symptoms in caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and (2) the relationships between caregiver sleep problems and their health-related quality of life and family quality of life. Materials and Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study of caregivers (N = 62) of children aged 6 to 11 years old diagnosed with ASD and receiving care at a regional autism research and resource center. Results: Participants completed the Sleep Habits Questionnaire (SHQ), the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) SF-12, and the Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale (FQoL). Caregivers with longer sleep duration reported better mental health and better family quality of life. Caregivers who reported insomnia symptoms, non-restorative sleep, and insufficient sleep were more likely to report poorer mental health than caregivers who did not report these sleep disorder symptoms. Caregivers with obstructive sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome experienced worse physical quality of life. Conclusions: The physical and mental health of the primary caregiver is essential to the support of the child with ASD and to the functioning of the family. The study findings point to the importance of future research and interventions to enhance sleep health in order to improve quality of life for caregivers of children with ASD.
Asunto(s)
Trastorno del Espectro Autista , Trastornos del Sueño-Vigilia , Niño , Humanos , Trastorno del Espectro Autista/epidemiología , Calidad de Vida/psicología , Cuidadores/psicología , Estudios Transversales , Sueño , Trastornos del Sueño-Vigilia/epidemiología , Trastornos del Sueño-Vigilia/etiologíaRESUMEN
Disparities in sleep health are important but underrecognized contributors to health disparities. Understanding the factors contributing to sleep heath disparities and developing effective interventions are critical to improving all aspects of heath. Sleep heath disparities are impacted by socioeconomic status, racism, discrimination, neighborhood segregation, geography, social patterns, and access to health care as well as by cultural beliefs, necessitating a cultural appropriateness component in any intervention devised for reducing sleep health disparities. Pediatric sleep disparities require innovative and urgent intervention to establish a foundation of lifelong healthy sleep. Tapping the vast potential of technology in improving sleep health access may be an underutilized tool to reduce sleep heath disparities. Identifying, implementing, replicating, and disseminating successful interventions to address sleep disparities have the potential to reduce overall disparities in health and quality of life.
Asunto(s)
Disparidades en Atención de Salud/organización & administración , Calidad de Vida , Higiene del Sueño/ética , Determinantes Sociales de la Salud , Humanos , Servicios Preventivos de Salud , Poblaciones Vulnerables/psicologíaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: This study explored the feasibility and acceptability of a sleep health education intervention for caregivers of children with developmental disabilities (DD). DESIGN: This mixed-methods pilot study utilized repeated measures and caregiver interviews. SETTING: The intervention occurred in the homes of caregivers who live on the Navajo Nation. PARTICIPANTS: Fifteen caregivers of children with DD aged from birth to 3 years old participated. INTERVENTION: The intervention consisted of three 1-hour home-based sessions. Educational modules were tailored to specific sleep issues of the caregiver and their child(ren), as well as the unique environmental and cultural features of Navajo families. MEASUREMENTS: Quantitative measures included a sleep habits questionnaire, pre- and postmeasures of learning, and the SF-12 HRQoL. Quantitative data were analyzed with frequencies and repeated measures analyses with p .05. Qualitative comments regarding facilitators and detractors to healthy sleep were transcribed verbatim and categorized into themes. RESULTS: Caregiver sleep duration increased by 2 hours (5.8±1.8 to 7.8±1.9, p = .005). Caregivers also reported improved physical (45.0±8.2 to 52.8+8.7 p = .001) and mental HR-QoL (41.8±8.9 to 49.3±10.9, p = .002), and enhanced knowledge of sleep disorders (13.4±4.0 to 20.7±5.6) and healthy sleep habits (15.7±4.1 to 25.4±3.4 each p = .005). Many participants reported better sleep quality in their children with earlier bedtimes and less night waking. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that this tailored sleep education program is a culturally responsive approach to promoting caregiver sleep health and HR-QoL, as well as the sleep health of their children. Caregivers credited improved sleep to the support they received during visits and text messaging.
Asunto(s)
Cuidadores/educación , Educación en Salud , Promoción de la Salud/métodos , Indígenas Norteamericanos/educación , Sueño , Adulto , Cuidadores/estadística & datos numéricos , Preescolar , Discapacidades del Desarrollo/terapia , Estudios de Factibilidad , Femenino , Humanos , Indígenas Norteamericanos/estadística & datos numéricos , Lactante , Recién Nacido , Masculino , Proyectos Piloto , Evaluación de Programas y Proyectos de Salud , Investigación Cualitativa , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
STUDY OBJECTIVES: In this study, we investigated the prevalence of symptoms of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in biological caregivers of children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).The relationship of RLS symptoms to caregiver health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was also examined. Finally, we compared the sleep quality and daytime behaviors of children with ASD in caregivers with and without symptoms of RLS. METHODS: Biological caregivers (n = 50) of children ages 6 to 11 y with a diagnosis of ASD completed a Sleep Habits Questionnaire (SHQ) that included RLS as determined by four questions. HRQoL was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Survey (MOS) 12-Item Short Form (SF-12). Caregivers also completed the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL6/18). RESULTS: Eleven caregivers (22%) fit the criteria for RLS symptomatology and caregivers with RLS reported poorer mental health. Caregivers with RLS described more night waking and greater internalized behavior problems in their children with ASD than the caregivers without RLS. CONCLUSIONS: Biological caregivers of children with ASD demonstrated a high prevalence of RLS symptoms and poorer mental health. RLS is known as a sleep disorder that has strong heritability, and it is possible that many of the children with ASD also have symptoms of RLS. RLS as a possible disruptor of sleep should be considered in caregivers and in their children with ASD.