A Twin-Study of Sleep Difficulties in School-Aged Children

• Alice M. Gregory ^[1] ; Frühling V. Rijsdijk ^[1] ; Thalia C. Eley ^[1]
  1. [1] King's College

     King's College

     City of Wilkes-Barre, Estados Unidos

     
• Localización: Child development, ISSN 0009-3920, Vol. 77, Nº. 6, 2006, págs. 1668-1679
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • This study examines frequency, overlap, and genetic and environmental influences on sleep difficulties, which are understudied in school-aged children. The Sleep Self Report and the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire were completed by 300 twin pairs (aged 8 years) and their parents. Child report suggested more frequent sleep problems than parent report (e.g., regular sleep onset delay was reported by 45% of children and 17% of parents). Associations between most of the sleep difficulties were small but significant (e.g., rs=.16 for parent report of bedtime resistance and sleep onset delay). Twin correlations based on parent reports suggest greater genetic influence (M=50%) than those based on child self-report (M=18%). Possible rater effects should be considered when evaluating children's sleep problems.