The Relationship Between Health-Related Quality of Life and Sleep Problems in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Publication Type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2014
Authors
Delahaye, J; Kovacs, E; Sikora, D; Hall, TA; Orlich, F; Clemons, T; van der Weerd, E; Glick, L; Kulhthau, K
Secondary
Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Volume
8
Start Page
292
Pagination
292-303
Date Published
03/2014
Keywords
Autism Spectrum Disorders; Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire; Health-Related Quality of Life; pediatrics; PedsQL; Sleep problems
Abstract
Although children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are thought to experience sleep problems at a much higher rate than typically developing peers, the relationship between sleep disturbance and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) has not been explored within this pediatric population. Further, little is understood about the HRQoL of children with ASD in general. This study assessed the HRQoL and sleep health of a sample of children with ASD and investigated the relationship between HRQoL and overall sleep problems within the context of key clinical characteristics. Study participants included 86 parents of children with ASD between the ages of 4 and 12 years. Subjects were recruited from 3 autism specialty clinics at large academic medical centers and asked to proxy-report on their children's HRQoL and sleep habits. Adjusted regression models showed a consistent negative relationship between sleep disturbance and HRQoL, with greater overall sleep problems being associated with poorer total, physical, and psychosocial HRQoL. Sleep duration and sleep anxiety were also found to be negatively associated with HRQoL. These findings suggest that treatments that are effective in treating sleep disturbances may improve children's HRQoL.
URL
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1750946713002614