Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability: A Pilot Study Exploring Associations between Child Sleep Problems, Child Factors and Parent Factors

Nicole Papadopoulos, Chloe Emonson, Christina Martin, Emma Sciberras, Harriet Hiscock, Samantha Lewis, Jane McGillivray and Nicole Rinehart
Additional contact information
Nicole Papadopoulos: Deakin Child Study Centre, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
Chloe Emonson: Deakin Child Study Centre, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
Christina Martin: Deakin Child Study Centre, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
Emma Sciberras: Deakin Child Study Centre, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
Harriet Hiscock: Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
Samantha Lewis: Deakin Child Study Centre, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
Jane McGillivray: Deakin Child Study Centre, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
Nicole Rinehart: Deakin Child Study Centre, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-12

Abstract: Sleep problems are common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, few studies have undertaken group comparisons of sleep profiles and factors associated with poorer sleep between children with ASD without intellectual disability (ID; hereafter referred to as ASD) and ASD with co-occurring ID (hereafter referred to as ASD + ID). This study aimed to (1) compare child (sleep problems and emotional and behavioural problems (EBPs)) and parent factors (parenting stress and mental health) for children with ASD compared to children with ASD + ID, and (2) examine the associations between sleep problems and child and parent factors in both groups. Parents of 56 children with ASD (22 ASD, 34 ASD + ID) aged 6–13 years took part in the study. No statistically significant differences in sleep problems were found between children with ASD compared to children with ASD + ID. However, total EBPs were independently associated with child sleep problems in both groups. Further, ‘Self-Absorbed’ and ‘Communication Disturbance’ EBPs were significantly greater in the ASD + ID compared to the ASD group. Overall treatment outcomes for children with ASD may be further improved if consideration is given to the specific types of EBPs being experienced by the child and their association with sleep problems.

Keywords: autism spectrum disorder; intellectual disability; sleep problems; children; parents (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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