Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
Complex Structure of Pediatrics and Pediatric Oncohematology "Nadia Toffa", Central Hospital Santissima Annunziata, Taranto, 74121, Italy.
Sleep Med. 2023 Mar;103:69-77. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2023.01.014. Epub 2023 Jan 30.
Children with chronic illnesses and their parents are more at risk to develop sleep problems, which are linked to worse psychological and physical well-being. This study aimed to assess sleep patterns and their connections with psychological outcomes in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and cancer and their caregivers, compared to a control sample. In addition, we explored the associations between caregiver and child's sleep quality across the three groups.
We enrolled 56 children with T1D, 33 children with cancer, and 61 healthy children between 7 and 15, and their respective caregivers. Caregivers filled out an ad-hoc survey assessing their sleep disturbances, parenting stress, general well-being, anxiety, and their children's sleep patterns and psychological adjustments.
Children with cancer showed lower sleep quality than the other groups. Moreover, worse psychological adjustment was associated with greater sleep disturbances in both clinical groups. As for caregivers, the cancer group reported the worst sleep quality and greater anxiety compared to the other samples. Greater anxiety was also linked to worse sleep quality. Furthermore, greater sleep problems in children were associated with poorer caregivers' sleep quality in the whole sample and the T1D group.
A better understanding of sleep patterns and problems for chronically ill children and their parents is fundamental to provide adequate care for these vulnerable populations. Furthermore, an illness-specific approach may better inform and guide the practitioners in clinical practice.
患有慢性疾病的儿童及其父母面临更大的睡眠问题风险，而睡眠问题与更差的心理和身体健康状况有关。本研究旨在评估 1 型糖尿病（T1D）和癌症患儿及其照顾者的睡眠模式及其与心理结果的关系，并与对照组进行比较。此外，我们还探讨了三组中照顾者和儿童睡眠质量之间的关联。
我们招募了 56 名 T1D 患儿、33 名癌症患儿和 61 名 7 至 15 岁的健康儿童及其各自的照顾者。照顾者填写了一份专门的调查，评估他们的睡眠障碍、育儿压力、整体幸福感、焦虑以及他们孩子的睡眠模式和心理调整。
癌症患儿的睡眠质量低于其他两组。此外，两个临床组中，较差的心理调整与更大的睡眠障碍有关。对于照顾者，癌症组的睡眠质量比其他样本差，焦虑程度也比其他样本高。更大的焦虑也与更差的睡眠质量有关。此外，儿童的睡眠问题越大，整个样本和 T1D 组中照顾者的睡眠质量越差。
更好地了解慢性疾病儿童及其父母的睡眠模式和问题对于为这些弱势群体提供适当的护理至关重要。此外，针对特定疾病的方法可能会更好地为临床实践中的从业者提供信息和指导。
