Leiden University Student Repository

Borkent, Nienke (2015)

A good night’s sleep: The moderating role of self-regulation in the relation between bedtime routines and sleep quality

Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)

The aim of this study was to examine whether routines around bedtime mediate the relation between family disorganization and sleep quality. In addition, we explored the moderating role of child temperament in the relation between bedtime routines and sleep. A moderated mediation model was tested in 52 families with a three to four year old twin. We randomized the two children within the families to create two comparable samples and tested the model in both samples. Parents reported on family disorganization, child temperament, and the child´s bedtime routines and bedtimes. Actigraphy was used to assess sleep duration and sleep onset latency. No associations were found between family disorganization and sleep. Consistent bedtime routines but not consistency in bedtimes itself significantly predicted sleep quality in one of the samples. The relation between bedtime routines and sleep quality was moderated by child characteristics: Children with low levels of self-regulation have lower...Show moreThe aim of this study was to examine whether routines around bedtime mediate the relation between family disorganization and sleep quality. In addition, we explored the moderating role of child temperament in the relation between bedtime routines and sleep. A moderated mediation model was tested in 52 families with a three to four year old twin. We randomized the two children within the families to create two comparable samples and tested the model in both samples. Parents reported on family disorganization, child temperament, and the child´s bedtime routines and bedtimes. Actigraphy was used to assess sleep duration and sleep onset latency. No associations were found between family disorganization and sleep. Consistent bedtime routines but not consistency in bedtimes itself significantly predicted sleep quality in one of the samples. The relation between bedtime routines and sleep quality was moderated by child characteristics: Children with low levels of self-regulation have lower sleep quality when there are inconsistent routines around bedtime. These findings suggest that implementing a consistent routine around bedtime may be particularly important for children with low levels of self-regulation.Show less

family disorganization

bedtime routines

actigraphy

sleep quality

child temperament

Author

Borkent, Nienke

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

Child and family studies

Supervisors

Euser, Saskia

ECTS Credits

45

Language

en