Parent-Child Relations, Sleep, and Externalizing Problems in Clinical Youth

<p>Sleep problems are a major prevailing concern in clinical youth populations. Research has shown that poor sleep is correlated with mental health problems, while parent-child relationships are associated with externalizing behaviors. The aim of this study was to (1) replicate these findings; (2) extend on previous research on the relationships between sleep, parent-child relationships, and externalizing problems; and (3) analyze moderating effects of parent-child relationships on the relationship between sleep and externalizing problems in youth (N = 25) ages 6 to 11 presenting to mental health treatment. Bivariate analyses indicated average objective sleep duration is related to parent-child relations and parent-child relations is related to externalizing problems. Externalizing problems was regressed on each sleep variable (i.e., total sleep disturbance, daytime sleepiness, average objective sleep duration), parent-child relationships, and their interaction. There was a marginally significant relationship between parent-child relationships and externalizing problems in the context of subjective sleep disturbance (p = .061). Furthermore average objective sleep duration was a marginally significant predictor of youth’s externalizing problems (p = .06). However, parent-child relationships were not found to moderate the effect of sleep and externalizing problems in any analyses. Overall findings imply that both sleep and parent-child relationships are correlated with each other and are important influences on youth’s externalizing behaviors. Replication in larger samples and using alternative analysis methods (e.g., mediation) is needed. Clinically, sleep problems and poor parent-child relationships should continue to be targeted to optimize mental health treatment for youth.</p> <p><em>Keywords</em>: clinical child population, daytime sleepiness, externalizing problems, parent-child relationships, sleep disruption, sleep duration</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral Project

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year

2022

Author dc:creator

• Vo, Tiffany Thao

Contributors dc:contributor

• Tori R. Van Dyk
• Cameron L. Neece

• Child Psychology
• Parents--Family relationships; Sleep--In infancy & childhood; Sleep--Social aspects.

Statement dc:rights

• This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/1124

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarsrepository.llu.edu:etd-2676