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Sleep problems among family members of a universal parent-training

Schlafprobleme bei Familienmitgliedern eines universellen Elterntrainings

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Abstract

Objective

Being a parent is often associated with less sleep and sleep problems. In addition, young children often suffer from sleep problems. Hence, children’s sleep problems can evoke sleep problems in their parents. However, little is known about sleep of family members.

Method

A total of 54 parents with their children between 4 and 12 years of age (mean 7.04 years) participated in this study prior to a universal parent-training. Sleep problems were assessed by the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Symptom Checklist 90-R (SCL-90-R). Psychological problems of the children and parental burden were further evaluated with the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI). In addition, parental behavior was assessed with the short form of the Parenting Scale of Arnold (“Erziehungsfragebogen für Eltern”, EFB-K).

Results

In sum, 13 % of the children showed shorter overall sleep duration than other children, whereas 5.6 % slept more. None of the parents reported daytime sleepiness in their children, but 3.9 % reported that their children do often have nightmares and also 3.9 % often talk during sleep. Altogether 15.4 % of the parents thought that their child suffered from sleep problems. Problems falling asleep were reported by 19.6 % of mothers and 10.5 % of fathers and disturbed sleep was reported by 33.3 % of mothers and 12.6 % of fathers, whereas 15.8 % of mothers and 8.4 % of fathers were suffering from waking up too early in the morning. Children with sleep disturbances did not differ significantly from children without sleep problems regarding their psychological disturbances. However, parents differed with regard to parental burden, depression, anxieties, and sleep problems. The main limitations are the small sample size and the lack of a healthy control group.

Conclusion

In contrast to their parents, children with or without sleep problems did not differ concerning psychological disturbances. Consequently, even if the child is not affected by sleep problems these issues need to be considered for parents participating in a universal parent-training. Furthermore, fathers also need to be integrated into diagnostics, not only mothers, because sleep problems and other psychological problems are often experienced by both parents.

Zusammenfassung

Ziel

Mit dem Elternwerden ist oftmals auch ein beeinträchtigter Schlaf verbunden. Zudem haben Kinder im jungen Alter oft Schlafprobleme. Diese können wiederum Schlafprobleme bei den Eltern hervorrufen. Über die Zusammenhänge und die Belastung der jeweiligen Familienmitglieder ist bis heute wenig bekannt.

Methoden

Insgesamt nahmen an dieser Untersuchung 54 Eltern mit ihren Kindern zwischen 4 und 12 Jahren (Mittelwert: 7,04 Jahre) teil. Die Datenerhebung erfolgte vor einem allgemeinen Elterntraining. Schlafauffälligkeiten wurden v. a. anhand der Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) und der Symptom-Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R) erfasst. Psychische Auffälligkeiten des Kindes und elterliche Belastung wurden mit dem Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (ECBI) erhoben, das elterliche Erziehungsverhalten mit der Kurzversion des Erziehungsfragebogens für Eltern (EFB-K).

Ergebnisse

Es zeigte sich, dass 13 % der Kinder weniger als andere Kinder schliefen, während 5,6 % mehr als andere Kinder schliefen. Laut den Eltern zeigte keines der Kinder ausgeprägte Tagesmüdigkeit. Von häufigen Alpträumen oder Sprechen im Schlaf ihrer Kinder berichteten jeweils 3,9 % der Eltern. Insgesamt hatten 15,4 % der Eltern den Eindruck, ihr Kind leide unter einem Schlafproblem. Selbst Einschlafprobleme zu haben, gaben 19,6 % der Mütter und 10,5 % der Väter an. Über einen gestörten Schlaf klagten 33,3 % der Mütter und 12,6 % der Väter, während 15,8 % der Mütter und 8,4 % der Väter über morgendliches Früherwachen berichteten. Kinder mit Schlafschwierigkeiten unterschieden sich nicht signifikant von Kindern ohne Schlafschwierigkeiten hinsichtlich der psychischen Auffälligkeiten. Jedoch unterschieden sich die Eltern dieser Kinder signifikant hinsichtlich elterlicher Belastung, Depressivität, Ängstlichkeit und eigener Schlafschwierigkeiten. Hauptlimitationen sind die kleine Anzahl untersuchter Familien sowie das Fehlen einer gesunden Kontrollgruppe.

Schlussfolgerung

Im Gegensatz zu ihren Eltern unterscheiden sich Kinder mit Schlafbeschwerden in dieser Stichprobe hinsichtlich ihrer psychischen Auffälligkeit nicht von Kindern ohne Schlafbeschwerden. Daraus ergibt sich, dass Schlafprobleme von Eltern, die an einem Elterntraining teilnehmen, Berücksichtigung finden sollten, auch wenn die Kinder nicht von einem Schlafproblem beeinträchtigt sind. Außerdem sind neben den Müttern auch die Väter in die Diagnostik einzubeziehen. Beide zeigen oftmals selbst Schlafprobleme und weitere psychische Belastungen.

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Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there are no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science, Department of Psychology, University of Tübingen, Schleichstr. 4, 72076, Tübingen, Germany

    A.A. Schlarb PhD, L. Brömer, I. Brandhorst, J.N. Wagner, V. Milicevic & M. Hautzinger

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  1. A.A. Schlarb PhD
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  2. L. Brömer
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  3. I. Brandhorst
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  4. J.N. Wagner
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Correspondence to A.A. Schlarb PhD.

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Schlarb, A., Brömer, L., Brandhorst, I. et al. Sleep problems among family members of a universal parent-training. Somnologie 17, 215–222 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11818-013-0615-z

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