Sleep problems in preschool mediate the association between chronotype and socioemotional problems at school-age

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Sleep problems in preschool mediate the association between chronotype and socioemotional problems at school-age
Title:
Sleep problems in preschool mediate the association between chronotype and socioemotional problems at school-age
Journal Title:
Sleep Medicine
Publication Date:
14 September 2024
Citation:
Eng, D. Z. H., Tham, E. K. H., Jafar, N. K., Tan, J. S. Y., Goh, D. Y. T., Lee, Y. S., Shek, L. P., Teoh, O.-H., Yap, F., Tan, K. H., Eriksson, J. G., Chong, Y. S., Meaney, M. J., Cai, S., & Broekman, B. F. P. (2024). Sleep problems in preschool mediate the association between chronotype and socioemotional problems at school-age. Sleep Medicine, 124, 174–186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2024.09.003
Abstract:
Objectives: Evening-chronotype is associated with increased socioemotional problems among school-aged children. Inadequate sleep and increased sleep problems are also prevalent among evening-chronotype children and may underlie the relationship between chronotype and socioemotional problems. However, it is unclear whether the association between chronotype and socioemotional problems at school-age may be mediated by poorer sleep during late preschool. Methods: Our study utilized cross-sectional data to examine the relations between chronotype, sleep duration, sleep problems and socioemotional problems in preschoolers. We subsequently performed longitudinal mediation analyses to examine how the association between chronotype at preschool-age and later socioemotional problems at school-age may be mediated by sleep problems and sleep duration during late preschool. 399 children from the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) birth cohort study were included for analyses. Children's chronotype were identified with the Children's Chronotype Questionnaire at 4.5 years old. Sleep duration and problems were measured with the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire at 4.5 and 6 years old. Socioemotional problems were evaluated using the Child Behavioral Checklist at 4 and 7 years of age. All questionnaires were caregiver-reported. Results: Linear regressions demonstrated that eveningness was associated with concurrent sleep problems and internalizing, externalizing and total behavioral problems at 4–4.5 years old, but not sleep duration. Mediation analyses supported that sleep problems (and not sleep duration) at 6 years old mediated the relationship between chronotype and socioemotional problems at 7 years old. Conclusions: Our findings suggest addressing sleep problems during early development may reduce socioemotional problems at school-age, especially among evening-chronotype children.
License type:
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Funding Info:
This research / project is supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) Singapore, Singapore Ministry of Health’s Na tional Medical Research Council (NMRC) and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) - Open Fund-Large Collaborative Grant
Grant Reference no. : OF-LCG; MOH-000504

This research / project is supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) Singapore; Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR) - Prenatal/Early Childhood Grant
Grant Reference no. : H22P0M0001

This research / project is supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) Singapore - RIE2025 Human Potential Programme - Human Health and Potential (HHP) Domain
Grant Reference no. :
Description:
ISSN:
1389-9457
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