Association of sleep quality, media use and book reading with behavioral problems in early childhood. The Ulm SPATZ Health Study

Abstract Study Objectives The objective of the study was to investigate the association of sleep quality, media use and book reading on internalizing, externalizing and prosocial behavior in early childhood. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we investigated a data set consisting of three consecutive yearly waves of the prospective Ulm SPATZ Health Study, conducted in southern Germany with 565, 496, and 421 children of 4–6 years of age, respectively. Standardized effects of the overall score and subscales of the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire, parent-reported child media use and book reading as well as their interaction term on the total score of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire along with its externalizing, internalizing and prosocial subscales were estimated by multivariate adjusted random intercept mixed models. Results Overall sleep quality was associated more with internalizing than externalizing behavior; parasomnias associated with both behaviors. Night waking and sleep anxiety associated only with internalizing behavior. High levels of media use were associated with less internalizing behavior. More book reading resulted in less externalizing and internalizing behavior but more prosocial behavior. Finally, book reading and media use do not interact to determine child’s behavior. Conclusions The current work supports a strategy of monitoring sleep quality, reducing media use and promoting book reading in order to avoid behavioral problems in early childhood.

[1]  L. Lund,et al.  Electronic media use and sleep in children and adolescents in western countries: a systematic review , 2021, BMC Public Health.

[2]  D. Rothenbacher,et al.  The Associations Between Media Use, Midpoint of Sleep, and Sleep Quality in German Preschoolers: A Mediation Analysis Based on the Ulm SPATZ Health Study , 2021, Nature and science of sleep.

[3]  D. Rothenbacher,et al.  Digital media, book reading, and aspects of sleep and sleep-related fears in preschoolers: the Ulm SPATZ Health Study , 2020, Somnologie.

[4]  C. Molloy,et al.  Sleep problems, internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and domains of health-related quality of life: bidirectional associations from early childhood to early adolescence. , 2020, Sleep.

[5]  S. Cortese,et al.  Effects of melatonin in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder with sleep disorders after methylphenidate treatment , 2019, Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment.

[6]  H. Hannay,et al.  Sleep Disturbances and Internalizing Behavior Problems Following Pediatric Traumatic Injury , 2018, Neuropsychology.

[7]  Greta L. Doctoroff,et al.  Engaging Fathers in Effective Parenting for Preschool Children Using Shared Book Reading: A Randomized Controlled Trial , 2018, Journal of clinical child and adolescent psychology : the official journal for the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, American Psychological Association, Division 53.

[8]  C. Nguyen,et al.  Bidirectional Associations Between Child Sleep Problems and Internalizing and Externalizing Difficulties From Preschool to Early Adolescence , 2017, JAMA pediatrics.

[9]  D. Rothenbacher,et al.  Media consumption and sleep quality in early childhood: results from the Ulm SPATZ Health Study. , 2017, Sleep medicine.

[10]  A. Conway,et al.  Testing Reciprocal Links Between Trouble Getting to Sleep and Internalizing Behavior Problems, and Bedtime Resistance and Externalizing Behavior Problems in Toddlers , 2017, Child psychiatry and human development.

[11]  P. Veugelers,et al.  The use of entertainment and communication technologies before sleep could affect sleep and weight status: a population-based study among children , 2017, International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.

[12]  Paula J. Fite,et al.  Self-Reported Time in Bed and Sleep Quality in Association with Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms in School-Age Youth , 2017, Child psychiatry and human development.

[13]  M. Weinraub,et al.  Sleep, Affect, and Social Competence from Preschool to Preadolescence: Distinct Pathways to Emotional and Social Adjustment for Boys and for Girls , 2017, Front. Psychol..

[14]  Zizhen Xie,et al.  A review of sleep disorders and melatonin , 2017, Neurological research.

[15]  H. Brenner,et al.  Changing Societal and Lifestyle Factors and Breastfeeding Patterns Over Time , 2016, Pediatrics.

[16]  P. Montgomery,et al.  The effectiveness of creative bibliotherapy for internalizing, externalizing, and prosocial behaviors in children: a systematic review , 2015 .

[17]  R. Holle,et al.  Healthcare use and costs associated with children’s behavior problems , 2013, European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

[18]  J. Barnhill.  Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders , 2013 .

[19]  E. Fombonne,et al.  Prior sleep problems predict internalising problems later in life. , 2012, Journal of affective disorders.

[20]  A. Hofman,et al.  Television viewing and externalizing problems in preschool children: the Generation R Study. , 2012, Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine.

[21]  Tricia A. Zucker,et al.  The effects of a responsive parenting intervention on parent-child interactions during shared book reading. , 2012, Developmental psychology.

[22]  C. Duggan.  National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence antisocial personality disorder guidance in the context of DSM‐5: Another example of a disconnection syndrome? , 2011 .

[23]  K. Matthews,et al.  Sleep quantity, quality and optimism in children , 2011, Journal of sleep research.

[24]  T. Strandberg,et al.  Sleep Duration and Regularity are Associated with Behavioral Problems in 8-year-old Children , 2010, International journal of behavioral medicine.

[25]  M. Hautzinger,et al.  Validation and psychometric properties of the German version of the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ-DE) , 2010 .

[26]  R. Hardeland.  Melatonin Metabolism in the Central Nervous System , 2010, Current neuropharmacology.

[27]  D. Lamping,et al.  When to Use Broader Internalising and Externalising Subscales Instead of the Hypothesised Five Subscales on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ): Data from British Parents, Teachers and Children , 2010, Journal of abnormal child psychology.

[28]  C. Alfano,et al.  Sleep problems and their relation to cognitive factors, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in children and adolescents , 2008, Depression and anxiety.

[29]  Ronald E. Dahl,et al.  Sleep in Children and Adolescents with Behavioral and Emotional Disorders , 2007 .

[30]  F. Jiang,et al.  The impact of media use on sleep patterns and sleep disorders among school-aged children in China. , 2007, Sleep.

[31]  E. V. van Someren,et al.  Effect of melatonin on sleep, behavior, and cognition in ADHD and chronic sleep-onset insomnia. , 2007, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

[32]  J. Riksen-Walraven,et al.  Multiple Determinants of Externalizing Behavior in 5-Year-Olds: A Longitudinal Model , 2007, Journal of abnormal child psychology.

[33]  M. Kopeček,et al.  The Change of Regional Brain Metabolism (18 FDG PET) in Panic Disorder During The Treatment with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Antidepressants , 2004, NeuroImage.

[34]  A. Rothenberger,et al.  [German version of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ-German)--overview and evaluation of initial validation and normative results]. , 2003, Praxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie.

[35]  R. Dahl,et al.  Pathways to adolescent health sleep regulation and behavior. , 2002, The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine.

[36]  M. Garvey,et al.  Tics and problem behaviors in schoolchildren: prevalence, characterization, and associations. , 2002, Pediatrics.

[37]  T. O'Connor,et al.  Sleep problems in childhood: a longitudinal study of developmental change and association with behavioral problems. , 2002, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

[38]  J. Owens,et al.  The Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ): psychometric properties of a survey instrument for school-aged children. , 2000, Sleep.

[39]  R. Wiggins,et al.  Internalising and externalising children's behaviour problems in Britain and the US: relationships to family resources , 2000 .

[40]  D. Shaw,et al.  Early externalizing behavior problems: Toddlers and preschoolers at risk for later maladjustment , 2000, Development and Psychopathology.

[41]  A. MacDonald,et al.  Prevalence of ADHD and comorbid disorders among elementary school children screened for disruptive behavior , 1996, Journal of abnormal child psychology.

[42]  H. Craig Heller,et al.  Restoration of brain energy metabolism as the function of sleep , 1995, Progress in Neurobiology.

[43]  Kenneth H. Rubin,et al.  Conceptualizing Developmental Pathways to Internalizing Disorders in Childhood , 1991 .

[44]  F. David,et al.  Statistical Estimates and Transformed Beta-Variables. , 1960 .

[45]  H. Hiscock,et al.  Behavioral sleep problems and internalizing and externalizing comorbidities in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder , 2014, European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

[46]  B. Devlin,et al.  Internalizing disorders in childhood. , 1998, Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines.

[47]  S. Campbell,et al.  Behavior problems in preschool children: a review of recent research. , 1995, Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines.

[48]  G. Huston.  The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. , 1987, The Journal of rheumatology.

[49]  H. Lieberman.  Behavior, sleep and melatonin. , 1986, Journal of neural transmission. Supplementum.