Factors associated with depressive symptoms in parents of children with autism spectrum disorders

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have higher rates of depressive symptoms than parents of typically developing (TD) children or parents of children with other developmental disorders. The purpose of this study was to examine child and parent sleep as factors associated with depressive symptoms in parents of children with ASDs. Participants included 34 families (17 ASD, 17 TD, 17 mothers and 11 fathers per group). Both objective sleep quantity (actigraphy) and subjective sleep quality were obtained, along with measures of parent depressive symptoms and child daytime behavior. Child sleep quantity was a significant predictor of maternal depressive symptoms, controlling for group and child behavior. Fathers sleep quality was a significant predictor of paternal depressive symptoms, controlling for child behavior and child sleep disturbances. This study suggests that along with child behavior, parent and child sleep variables are associated with parental depressive symptoms. Future studies should continue to use a multi-method measurement approach for sleep, and interventions that target child sleep should include parent sleep and parent daytime functioning as outcome variables.