Maternal sensitivity and children’s sleep problems across early childhood

H. Ying Chuck, M. Elisabeth Koopman-Verhoeff, Amaranta D. de Haan, Joran Jongerling, Annemarie I. Luik, Rianne Kok, Nicole Lucassen, Maartje P.C.M. Luijk*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

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Abstract

The current study aims to clarify the temporal associations between maternal sensitivity and children’s sleep problems across early childhood. This study comprised 942 Dutch mother–child dyads from the Generation R Study, a population-based prospective cohort study. Throughout early childhood, maternal sensitivity was observed in mother–child interactions and coded using Ainsworth’s 9-point rating scales (1.5 years) and the revised Erickson 7-point rating scales (3 and 4 years). Caregivers reported children’s sleep problems on the Sleep Problems Scale of the Child Behaviour Checklist 1½−5 at child ages 1.5, 3, and 6 years. Cross-lagged panel modelling revealed that higher levels of maternal sensitivity (3 years) were associated with fewer sleep problems (6 years); all other temporal associations between maternal sensitivity and children’s sleep problems were nonsignificant. In conclusion, some indication of an association of parenting with children’s sleep across early childhood was found, but there was no evidence for bidirectional associations over time.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1083-1096
JournalEarly Child Development and Care
Volume193
Issue number9-10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Keywords

  • bidirectional
  • longitudinal
  • mother–child interaction
  • parenting
  • Sleep

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