Sleep disturbances and emotional dysregulation in young children with autism spectrum, intellectual disability, or global developmental delay.

This study looked at 136 young children (under 6) with developmental delays or autism to see if sleep problems and emotional difficulties are connected. Researchers found that children who had more sleep troubles also had more emotional challenges like aggression, anxiety, and attention problems. This connection lasted over time - sleep problems early on predicted emotional difficulties 17 months later. The link was found in both autistic children and those with other developmental delays, suggesting that improving sleep might help with emotional regulation.

This longitudinal study examined 136 preschoolers with neurodevelopmental disorders (64.7% with autism, 35.3% without autism) to investigate relationships between sleep disturbances and emotional dysregulation. Using standardized assessments including CBCL and ADOS-2, researchers found significant positive correlations between sleep problems and emotional difficulties both at baseline and 17-month follow-up. Sleep disturbances predicted future emotional dysregulation even after controlling for age, intellectual disability, and autism severity. The association was consistent across diagnostic groups (autism and non-autism neurodevelopmental disorders).

Findings suggest sleep problems represent an important treatment target for improving emotional stability in young children with neurodevelopmental conditions.

Sleep disturbances should be routinely assessed and addressed as a priority intervention target in young children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Treating sleep problems may provide benefits for emotional regulation and behavioral difficulties. Sleep interventions could be valuable components of comprehensive early intervention programs for children with autism and other developmental delays.

Study relied on caregiver-reported measures for sleep and emotional assessments rather than objective measures. Sample was clinically referred, potentially limiting generalizability to community populations. No information provided about specific sleep interventions or treatment approaches tested.

Sleep disturbance and emotional dysregulation (ED) are common and often functionally impairing in young children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). This study investigated the relationship between sleep disturbance and ED in a sample of preschoolers with ASD, intellectual disability, or global developmental delay, and examined possible predictors of their persistence over time. All children under 6 years of age clinically referred between July 2018 and May 2022 to two neuropsychiatric specialized centers for NDD received a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation, including the Child Behavior Checklist 1.5-5 (CBCL), the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2), and standardized tests of cognitive and global development. Sleep disturbances were assessed with the CBCL-sleep score, and ED with the CBCL Attention, Aggression, and Anxious/Depressed scales (CBCL-AAA).

A reassessment of sleep and ED was conducted after 6 months or longer, including the Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ). Multivariate analyses and mixed linear regression models were conducted. A total of 136 children, 75.7% male, median age 38.27 months, IQR 15.39, 41.2% with global developmental disorder (GDD) or intellectual disability (ID) participated in the study. Of them, 64.7% were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 35.3% with other NDD (w/o ASD).

Sleep disturbances (CBCL-Sleep) and ED (CBCL-AAA) were positively correlated (p < 0.001), after accounting for age, ID/GDD and autism symptom severity, in both the entire sample and separately in each diagnostic group (ASD and NDD w/o ASD). Seventy-five children (55%) were reassessed a mean 17.2 months afterwards. There was persistence of the positive correlation between sleep problems and ED (p < 0.001) in both the entire sample and each diagnostic group. The longitudinal mixed linear model showed that ED at follow-up was predicted by baseline sleep problems (p = 0.008), ED (p < 0.001), and ASD severity (p = 0.015).

Sleep disturbances are significantly associated with ED in young children with NDD, either with or without ASD, both cross-sectionally and prospectively over time. Sleep problems represent an important comorbidity and a potential treatment target for improving emotional stability in NDD.