Infant sleep and anxiety disorders in early childhood: Findings from an Australian pregnancy cohort study

MacMillan, Kelli K.; Bourke, Declan; Watson, Stuart J.; Lewis, Andrew J.; Teti, Douglas M.; Ball, Helen L.; Galbally, Megan

Abstract

Emphasis on continuous infant sleep overnight may be driven by parental concern of risk to child mental health outcomes. The Mercy Pregnancy and Emotional Wellbeing Study (MPEWS) examined whether infant sleep at 6 and 12 months postpartum predicts anxiety disorders at 2–4 years, and whether this is moderated by maternal depression, active physical comforting (APC) or maternal cognitions about infant sleep. Data included 349 women and infants. Infant sleep was measured using the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire and child anxiety disorders by the Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment. The risk of developing generalised anxiety or social phobia disorders at 3–4 years was reduced by 42% (p = 0.001) and 31% (p = 0.001), respectively, for a one standard deviation increase in total sleep at 12 months. No other infant sleep outcomes were associated. Maternal depression, APC and cognitions about infant sleep did not significantly moderate these relationships. Focus may need to be on total infant sleep, rather than when sleep is achieved. Highlights: To assess whether infant sleep outcomes (i.e., frequency of nocturnal wakes; nocturnal wakefulness and total sleep per day) at 6 and 12 months predict early childhood anxiety disorders at 3–4 years of age. Maternally reported infant sleep outcomes were not associated with the risk of developing early childhood anxiety disorders at 3–4 years. It may be total infant sleep, irrespective of when sleep occurs or night waking and, independently, active physical comforting that requires further investigation.

Citation

MacMillan, K. K., Bourke, D., Watson, S. J., Lewis, A. J., Teti, D. M., Ball, H. L., & Galbally, M. (2024). Infant sleep and anxiety disorders in early childhood: Findings from an Australian pregnancy cohort study. Infant and Child Development, Article e2501. https://doi.org/10.1002/icd.2501

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 13, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Mar 12, 2024
• Publication Date: Mar 12, 2024
• Deposit Date: Mar 21, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 22, 2024
• Journal: Infant and Child Development
• Print ISSN: 1522-7227
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Article Number: e2501
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/icd.2501
• Keywords: infant sleep, early childhood anxiety disorders, night waking, child mental health, perinatal depression
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2330457