| Popis: |
Objective: This study tested the efficacy of a group-based, parent-focused, behavioural sleep intervention (BI) targeting insomnia in preschool children. Methods: Parents of children in the year prior to formal schooling were randomized to either the BI condition or a care as usual (CAU) condition. Outcomes included sleep, anxiety, behavioural problems, internalizing and externalizing behaviours, academic outcomes, and transition to school (teacher-rated child wellbeing, language and communication, and socio-emotional ability). Assessments were conducted at pre- and post-intervention in the year before formal schooling, and at the end of terms 1 (follow-up 1) and 2 (follow-up 2) of the first year of formal schooling. Results: It was found that, relative to the CAU children, those whose parents participated in the BI condition demonstrated significantly greater improvements in sleep, anxiety, behaviour problems and internalising and externalising behaviours from pre- to post-intervention, and that these effects were either maintained (sleep, anxiety, internalising and externalising behaviours) or improved upon (behaviour problems) at follow-up. In addition, it was found that improvements in sleep at post-assessment mediated the improvements found in other outcome variables at follow-up (with the exception of behaviour problems). However, there were no significant effects of condition on any of the school transition or academic outcome measures. Conclusion: A parent-focused, group-based behavioural sleep intervention for preschool children is effective in improving sleep problems, anxiety, behavioural problems and internalising and externalising behaviours, but is not effective in improving school transition or academic outcomes. |
