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Sleep actigraphy pattern and behavioral/emotional difficulties in kindergarten children: Association with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) activity |
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| Authors: | Martin Hatzinger Serge Brand Stephanie Stadelmann Kai von Klitzing |
| Institution: | a Psychiatric Outpatient Department, University of Basel, Switzerland b Psychiatric Hospital, University of Basel, Depression Research Unit, Switzerland c Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development, University of Zurich, Switzerland d Psychiatric Hospital, University of Basel, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Switzerland e Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, University of Leipzig, Germany |
| Abstract: | BackgroundVarious studies of adult endocrinology and sleep show close connections between poor sleep quality, deterioration of the HPA axis and negative psychological characteristics. However, the extent to which these associations may have already emerged and developed in childhood remains unclear.MethodsA total of 82 preschoolers (age 4.91 ± 0.48) underwent activity monitoring for seven consecutive days and nights, wearing a digital movement-measuring instrument. Additionally, on the first and on the last morning of sleep registration, the activity of the HPA axis was assessed via the amount of cortisol in the saliva. Psychological and behavioral assessments were also made.ResultsThree sub-groups of good (22%), normal (58.5%) and poor (19.5%) sleepers were distinguished. Poor sleep patterns were associated with higher HPA activity and with behavioral/emotional difficulties.ConclusionsThe interplay between unfavorable sleep patterns, deterioration of the HPA axis and behavioral/emotional difficulties is already apparent in pre-school children. |
| Keywords: | Pre-school children Actigraphy HPA system Saliva cortisol Sleep patterns Psychosocial assessment |
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