Premium
Longitudinal relations between maternal depressive symptoms and child sleep problems: the role of parasympathetic nervous system reactivity
Author(s) -
Keller Peggy S.,
Kouros Chrystyna D.,
Erath Stephen A.,
Dahl Ronald E.,
ElSheikh Mona
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of child psychology and psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.652
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1469-7610
pISSN - 0021-9630
DOI - 10.1111/jcpp.12151
Subject(s) - actigraphy , vagal tone , psychology , moderation , sleep (system call) , longitudinal study , developmental psychology , el niño , reactivity (psychology) , sleep onset , audiology , clinical psychology , autonomic nervous system , pediatrics , psychiatry , heart rate , medicine , insomnia , social psychology , alternative medicine , pathology , computer science , blood pressure , operating system
Background We examined maternal depressive symptoms ( MDS ) as longitudinal predictors of actigraphy‐measured sleep; children's respiratory sinus arrhythmia ( RSA ) was tested as a moderator of these relations. Method A total of 271 children (145 boys and 126 girls) participated in a three‐wave study ( M age at T1 = 9.38 years), with a 1‐year lag between waves. Children wore actigraphs to derive sleep parameters. RSA reactivity was assessed during a social stress test. Results Contrary to hypotheses, MDS were related to less sleep over time for children exhibiting greater RSA withdrawal. Consistent with hypotheses, MDS were related longitudinally to decreased sleep activity for children exhibiting less RSA withdrawal. Conclusions Findings illustrate the importance of maternal influences and physiological regulation as predictors of children's sleep.