None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Sleep problems in the preschool years represent a transdiagnostic risk factor for numerous child mental health and academic problems, in the short- and long-term. Given that sleep problems are modifiable, successful treatment before children begin primary school will reduce child sleep and mental health problems, improve the transition to primary school, and enhance academic outcomes. We aim to conduct a large-scale, multi-site study through a randomised controlled trial (RCT) investigating the efficacy of a parent-focused, group-based behavioural sleep program (BSP) delivered BEFORE children begin primary school targeting preschool sleep problems. Relative to care-as-usual (CAU), we expect the BSP will reduce child sleep and mental health problems, and improve school transition and academic outcomes. Participants in both conditions will be assessed before and after the treatment phase, as well as at the end of terms 1 and 2 of the first year of primary school. The following hypotheses are proposed: 1. Compared to children in the CAU condition, children whose parents participate in the BSP program will exhibit a significantly greater reduction in sleep problems at post-assessment, and terms 1 and 2 of Prep/Reception; 2. Compared to children in the CAU condition, children whose parents participate in the BSP program will exhibit a significantly greater reduction in emotional and behavioural mental health outcomes (i.e., anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms, somatic complaints, rule breaking behaviour, attention problems, aggression, and oppositional behaviour) at post-assessment, term 1 and term 2 of Prep/Reception. 3. Sleep outcomes will mediate the effect of treatment arm on mental health outcomes. That is, improvements in child sleep problems (measured at post-assessment) will lead to improvements in mental health outcomes for the BSP relative to the CAU group at post-assessment, term1 and term 2 assessment points. 4. Sleep outcomes will also mediate the effect of treatment arm on child school transition and academic outcomes. That is, improvements in child sleep problems (measured at post-assessment) will lead to improvements in school transition and academic outcomes for the BSP condition relative to the CAU group at term 1 and term 2 assessment points. During this three-year project, two cohorts will be recruited in Years 1 and 2 of the study. In the final quarter of the year prior to commencement of primary school, parents of preschool children with sleep problems will be randomised to BSP and CAU conditions and those in the BSP condition will receive treatment. Outcomes from this study will provide new directions for improving sleep, mental health problems, and preparedness for early major life transitions in young Australians.
Interventions
The Behavioural Sleep Program (BSP) will consist of 5 x 1.5 hour weekly parent sessions conducted in small groups of 6-8 parents (one or both parents will be welcome) at each site. The BSP includes psychoeducation on sleep and sleep hygiene, and teaches parents strategies to implement a wind-down routine, ensure a consistent bed and wake time, develop sleep-related behaviour charts and exposure hierarchies, and deal with bedtime fears, oppositional child bed-time behaviour, co-sleeping and night
The Behavioural Sleep Program (BSP) will consist of 5 x 1.5 hour weekly parent sessions conducted in small groups of 6-8 parents (one or both parents will be welcome) at each site. The BSP includes psychoeducation on sleep and sleep hygiene, and teaches parents strategies to implement a wind-down routine, ensure a consistent bed and wake time, develop sleep-related behaviour charts and exposure hierarchies, and deal with bedtime fears, oppositional child bed-time behaviour, co-sleeping and night-time wakening. Clinicians will be provisionally registered Psychologists undertaking postgraduate clinical training at each site. They will receive 6 hours of training by A/Prof Caroline Donovan to ensure identical training across sites. Clinicians will be supervised by A/Prof Donovan and Prof Waters (Mt Gravatt site), Prof Gradisar (Adelaide site) and A/Prof Farrell (Gold Coast site), all of whom are fully registered Clinical Psychologists. To ensure consistency across sites, supervision will be conducted via Zoom across sites and ‘supervision of supervision’ will be conducted by A/Prof Donovan to monitor the supervision of other supervisors. Furthermore, all treatment sessions will be video-taped and independently assessed for treatment fidelity and adherence.
Sponsors
Griffith University
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
4 Years to 6 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Children will be included in the study if they a) score above 41 on the Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire, and b) are rated as having a ‘moderate’ to ‘severe’ sleep problem through parent report on the screening survey. Parents must be willing to participate in either of the two conditions, consent to being filmed, and complete online assessments.
Exclusion criteria
Children will be excluded from the study if they have a parent-reported intellectual or developmental disorder, as the Behavioural Sleep Program is designed for neurotypical children. Children must not have commenced their first year of formal full-time schooling.
Outcome results
None listed