Department of Health and Care, School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, SE-30118 Halmstad, Sweden.
Department of Health and Sport, School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, SE-30118 Halmstad, Sweden.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Dec 8;18(24):12959. doi: 10.3390/ijerph182412959.
Sleep disturbances are common among children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). While pharmacological treatment has increased dramatically, parents often prefer non-pharmacological interventions. Research on experiences of weighted blankets and their effect in sleep improvement is scarce. The aim of this study was to explore parents' experiences of weighted blankets for children with ADHD and sleep problems, and the impact on their children's sleep. The explorative design was based on qualitative content analysis. Interviews were conducted with a purposeful sample of 24 parents of children with ADHD and sleep problems, after completing a sleep intervention with weighted blankets for 16 weeks. Parents reported that children sleeping with weighted blankets: (1) achieved satisfactory sleep, including improved sleep onset latency, sleep continuity, and sleep routines; (2) achieved overall well-being, including improved relaxation and reduced anxiety; and (3) mastered everyday life, including improved balance in life, family function, and participation in school and leisure activities. This study brings forward novel aspects of the effects of improved sleep among children with ADHD. The findings contribute to the understanding of potential positive effects of an intervention with weighted blankets critical for clinical practice to improve sleep, well-being, and everyday life of children with ADHD and their families.
睡眠障碍在注意缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）儿童中很常见。虽然药物治疗有了显著增加，但父母通常更喜欢非药物干预。关于加重毛毯的体验及其对睡眠改善影响的研究很少。本研究旨在探讨父母对 ADHD 儿童和睡眠问题使用加重毛毯的体验，以及对其子女睡眠的影响。该探索性设计基于定性内容分析。对 24 名 ADHD 儿童和睡眠问题的父母进行了有针对性的访谈，他们在使用加重毛毯进行 16 周的睡眠干预后完成了访谈。父母报告说，患有 ADHD 并伴有睡眠问题的孩子在使用加重毛毯后：(1) 获得了令人满意的睡眠，包括入睡潜伏期、睡眠连续性和睡眠常规的改善；(2) 获得了整体幸福感，包括放松度提高和焦虑减轻；以及 (3) 掌握了日常生活，包括生活平衡、家庭功能以及参与学校和休闲活动的能力提高。本研究提出了 ADHD 儿童改善睡眠的影响的新方面。这些发现有助于理解加重毛毯干预的潜在积极影响，这对于改善 ADHD 儿童及其家庭的睡眠、幸福感和日常生活的临床实践至关重要。
