0779 Parental Depressive Symptoms and Infant Sleep Arrangements : The Contributing Role of Parental Expectations. (12th April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chenier-Leduc, Gabrielle; Beliveau, Marie-Julie; Kenny, Samantha; Chicoine, Marjolaine; Dubois-Comtois, Karine; Pennestri, Marie-Helene
• Is Part Of: Sleep. Volume 42(2019)Supplement 1
• Page Start: A313
• Page End: A313
• Publication Date: 2019-04-12
• Subjects: Sleep -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Sleep disorders -- Periodicals; Sommeil -- Aspect physiologique -- Périodiques; Sommeil, Troubles du -- Périodiques; Sleep disorders; Sleep -- Physiological aspects; Sleep -- physiological aspects; Sleep Wake Disorders; Psychophysiology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616.8498
• DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsz067.777
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0161-8105

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Infant sleep arrangements have been shown to be associated with maternal depressive symptoms. However, parental expectations about infant sleep location are rarely taken into consideration. Moreover, there is little research that includes fathers in pediatric sleep studies. The aims of this study were 1) to compare parental attitudes regarding sleep arrangements (solitary vs co-sleeping), and 2) to explore the association between current sleep location, expectations, and depressive symptoms, in both mothers and fathers. Methods: Sixty participants (30 couples), took part in this study when their infant was 6 months old. General attitudes about solitary sleeping and co-sleeping, current sleep location (solitary vs co-sleeping), and concordance between parental expectations and current infant sleep arrangement (Does your baby currently sleep where you expected him to sleep?), were assessed using the Sleep Practice Questionnaire (SPQ). Parental depressive symptoms were measured using the self-administered Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Parental attitudes about infant sleep arrangement were compared using paired t-tests. A linear regression analysis was used to assess the predictive value of sleep location (solitary vs co-sleep) and concordance between expected and current sleeping arrangement on depressive symptoms. Results: In general, fathers were more supportive than mothers of solitary sleeping arrangements (p≤0.001), and mothers were more supportive than fathers of co-sleeping arrangements (p≤0.05), regardless of the infant's current sleep location. When both mothers and fathers were pooled together, current sleep location was not associated with depressive symptoms (p>0.05). However, when current sleep location was different than expected, higher levels of depressive symptoms were observed (p<0.01). Conclusion: Mothers and fathers have different attitudes regarding solitary sleeping and co-sleeping arrangements. While the current sleeping location per se did not contribute to the presence of depressive symptoms, a mismatch between expectations and current sleeping arrangement was associated with more depressive symptoms. Researchers and clinicians should consider the expectations of both parents regarding their infant's sleep arrangement. Support (If Any): SSHRC, FRQS