Barriers to Optimal Child Sleep among Families with Low Income: A Mixed-Methods Study to Inform Intervention Development

Elizabeth L. Adams (), Amanda Edgar, Peyton Mosher, Bridget Armstrong, Sarah Burkart, R. Glenn Weaver, Michael W. Beets, E. Rebekah Siceloff and Ronald J. Prinz
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Elizabeth L. Adams: Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, 921 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
Amanda Edgar: Research Center for Child Well-Being, University of South Carolina, 1400 Pickens Street, Suite 400, Columbia, SC 29201, USA
Peyton Mosher: Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, 921 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
Bridget Armstrong: Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, 921 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
Sarah Burkart: Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, 921 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
R. Glenn Weaver: Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, 921 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
Michael W. Beets: Department of Exercise Science, University of South Carolina, 921 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
E. Rebekah Siceloff: Research Center for Child Well-Being, University of South Carolina, 1400 Pickens Street, Suite 400, Columbia, SC 29201, USA
Ronald J. Prinz: Research Center for Child Well-Being, University of South Carolina, 1400 Pickens Street, Suite 400, Columbia, SC 29201, USA

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: This study gathered formative data on barriers to optimal child sleep to inform the development of a sleep intervention for parents of preschool-aged children in low-income households. Parents ( n = 15, age: 34 ± 8 years, household income: $30,000 ± 17,845/year) reporting difficulties with their child’s sleep participated in this study. Mixed methods included an online survey and semi-structured phone interview. Items assessed barriers/facilitators to optimal child sleep and intervention preferences. Interview transcripts were coded using inductive analyses and constant-comparison methods to generate themes. Derived themes were then mapped onto the Theoretical Domains Framework to contextualize barriers and inform future intervention strategies. Themes that emerged included: stimulating bedtime activities, child behavior challenges, variability in children’s structure, parent work responsibilities, sleep-hindering environment, and parent’s emotional capacity. Parent’s intervention preferences included virtual delivery (preferred by 60% of parents) to reduce barriers and provide flexibility. Mixed preferences were observed for the group (47%) vs. individual (53%) intervention sessions. Parents felt motivated to try new intervention strategies given current frustrations, the potential for tangible results, and knowing others were in a similar situation. Future work will map perceived barriers to behavior change strategies using the Behavior Change Wheel framework to develop a parenting sleep intervention.

Keywords: child sleep; preschool children; intervention; parenting; low-income; prevention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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