Sleep and Behavioral Problems in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Overview

Journal J Autism Dev Disord

Publisher Springer

Date 2016 Jan 30

PMID 26823076

Citations 95

Authors

Micah O Mazurek

Kristin Sohl

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at high risk for sleep disturbance and behavioral dysregulation. However, the relationships between these difficulties are not fully understood. The current study examined the relationships between specific types of sleep and behavioral problems among 81 children with ASD. Sleep problems were significantly associated with physical aggression, irritability, inattention, and hyperactivity. In multivariate analyses, distinct sets of sleep problems accounted for between 22 and 32 % of the variance in behavior problems across models. These results indicate that sleep disturbance is associated with behavioral dysregulation among children with ASD. Of note, night awakenings had the most consistently strong association with daytime behavior problems, even after controlling for the effects of age and sex.

Citing Articles

Possible Sleep Bruxism in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Association with Parental Stress and Sleep Disorders.

Victor Costa-Silva J, Martins Paiva S, Vargas-Ferreira F, Cheib Serra-Negra J, Goncalves Vieira-Andrade R J Autism Dev Disord. 2025; .

PMID: 40024969 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-025-06763-6.

Predictors of irritability in pediatric autistic populations: a scoping review.

Alatrash S, Paul T, Carbone J, Penner M, Roshan Fekr A, Kushki A Front Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2025; 3:1393231.

PMID: 39839322 PMC: 11747912. DOI: 10.3389/frcha.2024.1393231.

Sleep and circadian disturbances in children with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Bruni O, Breda M, Mammarella V, Mogavero M, Ferri R Nat Rev Neurol. 2025; 21(2):103-120.

PMID: 39779841 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-024-01052-9.

Effects of Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Field Treatment on ASD Symptoms in Children: A Pilot Study.

Pietramala K, Greco A, Garoli A, Roblin D Brain Sci. 2025; 14(12.

PMID: 39766492 PMC: 11675033. DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14121293.

The predictors of sleep quality in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders in the west of Iran: A path analysis.

Jenabi E, Maleki A, Ayubi E, Bashirian S, Seyedi M, Abdoli S Heliyon. 2025; 11(1):e41136.

PMID: 39758359 PMC: 11699406. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e41136.

References

Leyfer O, Folstein S, Bacalman S, Davis N, Dinh E, Morgan J . Comorbid psychiatric disorders in children with autism: interview development and rates of disorders. J Autism Dev Disord. 2006; 36(7):849-61. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-006-0123-0. View

Cohen S, Conduit R, Lockley S, Rajaratnam S, Cornish K . The relationship between sleep and behavior in autism spectrum disorder (ASD): a review. J Neurodev Disord. 2014; 6(1):44. PMC: 4271434. DOI: 10.1186/1866-1955-6-44. View

Owens J, Spirito A, McGuinn M . The Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ): psychometric properties of a survey instrument for school-aged children. Sleep. 2001; 23(8):1043-51. View

Gregory A, Sadeh A . Sleep, emotional and behavioral difficulties in children and adolescents. Sleep Med Rev. 2011; 16(2):129-36. DOI: 10.1016/j.smrv.2011.03.007. View

Wolraich M, Hannah J, Baumgaertel A, Feurer I . Examination of DSM-IV criteria for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in a county-wide sample. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 1998; 19(3):162-8. DOI: 10.1097/00004703-199806000-00003. View

OBrien L, Holbrook C, Mervis C, Klaus C, Bruner J, Raffield T . Sleep and neurobehavioral characteristics of 5- to 7-year-old children with parentally reported symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Pediatrics. 2003; 111(3):554-63. DOI: 10.1542/peds.111.3.554. View

Yoo S, Gujar N, Hu P, Jolesz F, Walker M . The human emotional brain without sleep--a prefrontal amygdala disconnect. Curr Biol. 2007; 17(20):R877-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2007.08.007. View

Lecavalier L . Behavioral and emotional problems in young people with pervasive developmental disorders: relative prevalence, effects of subject characteristics, and empirical classification. J Autism Dev Disord. 2006; 36(8):1101-14. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-006-0147-5. View

Couturier J, Speechley K, Steele M, Norman R, Stringer B, Nicolson R . Parental perception of sleep problems in children of normal intelligence with pervasive developmental disorders: prevalence, severity, and pattern. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2005; 44(8):815-22. DOI: 10.1097/01.chi.0000166377.22651.87. View

10.

Richdale A, Schreck K . Sleep problems in autism spectrum disorders: prevalence, nature, & possible biopsychosocial aetiologies. Sleep Med Rev. 2009; 13(6):403-11. DOI: 10.1016/j.smrv.2009.02.003. View

11.

Chervin R, Dillon J, Archbold K, Ruzicka D . Conduct problems and symptoms of sleep disorders in children. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2003; 42(2):201-8. DOI: 10.1097/00004583-200302000-00014. View

12.

Ali N, Pitson D, Stradling J . Snoring, sleep disturbance, and behaviour in 4-5 year olds. Arch Dis Child. 1993; 68(3):360-6. PMC: 1793886. DOI: 10.1136/adc.68.3.360. View

13.

Kelly R, El-Sheikh M . Reciprocal relations between children's sleep and their adjustment over time. Dev Psychol. 2013; 50(4):1137-47. DOI: 10.1037/a0034501. View

14.

Farmer C, Butter E, Mazurek M, Cowan C, Lainhart J, Cook E . Aggression in children with autism spectrum disorders and a clinic-referred comparison group. Autism. 2014; 19(3):281-91. PMC: 4331245. DOI: 10.1177/1362361313518995. View

15.

Guilleminault C, Winkle R, Korobkin R, Simmons B . Children and nocturnal snoring: evaluation of the effects of sleep related respiratory resistive load and daytime functioning. Eur J Pediatr. 1982; 139(3):165-71. DOI: 10.1007/BF01377349. View

16.

Farmer C, Aman M . Development of the Children's Scale of Hostility and Aggression: Reactive/Proactive (C-SHARP). Res Dev Disabil. 2009; 30(6):1155-67. DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2009.03.001. View

17.

Lavigne J, Arend R, Rosenbaum D, Smith A, WEISSBLUTH M, Binns H . Sleep and behavior problems among preschoolers. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 1999; 20(3):164-9. DOI: 10.1097/00004703-199906000-00005. View

18.

Hodge D, Hoffman C, Sweeney D, Riggs M . Relationship between children's sleep and mental health in mothers of children with and without autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 2012; 43(4):956-63. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-012-1639-0. View

19.

Wolraich M, Lambert W, Doffing M, Bickman L, Simmons T, Worley K . Psychometric properties of the Vanderbilt ADHD diagnostic parent rating scale in a referred population. J Pediatr Psychol. 2003; 28(8):559-67. DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsg046. View

20.

Simonoff E, Pickles A, Charman T, Chandler S, Loucas T, Baird G . Psychiatric disorders in children with autism spectrum disorders: prevalence, comorbidity, and associated factors in a population-derived sample. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2008; 47(8):921-9. DOI: 10.1097/CHI.0b013e318179964f. View