Habits and sleep problems in children with depressive symptoms

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the habits and sleep problems in children with depressive symptoms compared to children with non-depressive symptoms. Participants were 677 children aged 8 to 12 years, 49.6% male, who completed the Child Depression Inventory and the Sleep Self -Report. Children with depressive symptoms had worse habits and more sleep-related problems than those without depressive symptoms; specifically, they had less suitable bedtime routines, worse sleep quality, more refusal behaviour to go to bed, and more anxiety related to sleep. Habits and sleep problems were predictors of depressive symptoms. The more frequent sleep problem was intermediate insomnia, with a higher percentage of children with depressive symptoms that had this sleep problem than children without depressive symptoms. The findings of this study highlight the importance of addressing habits and sleep problems in order to intervene more appropriately in these symptoms during the treatment for childhood depression.