Exploring role of sleep aids in sleep problems in preschool children
Abstract It is well known that children use sleep aids, such as blankets or soft toys, at bedtime. However, there is a lack of understanding regarding the factors associated with their use and role in addressing sleep problems. This study investigated 96 Japanese children aged 40 to 47 months to exa...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33758-z |
| _version_ | 1797836439774298112 |
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| author | Masanori Yamaguchi Mikako Ishibashi Yusuke Moriguchi Hisashi Mitsuishi Shoji Itakura |
| author_facet | Masanori Yamaguchi Mikako Ishibashi Yusuke Moriguchi Hisashi Mitsuishi Shoji Itakura |
| author_sort | Masanori Yamaguchi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract It is well known that children use sleep aids, such as blankets or soft toys, at bedtime. However, there is a lack of understanding regarding the factors associated with their use and role in addressing sleep problems. This study investigated 96 Japanese children aged 40 to 47 months to examine these associations. We measured children’s stress (through a questionnaire and salivary cortisol [cortisol awakening response]), anxiety symptoms, behavioral problems, and temperament, and created a model to predict the status of sleep aid use. Furthermore, we explored the association between sleep aid use and children’s sleep problems as evaluated by their caregivers. We found that children who used sleep aids were more likely to experience anxiety symptoms. Moreover, most children used sleep aids even when they co-slept with their caregivers and/or siblings. Their use was not uniquely associated with sleep problems. These findings suggest that sleep aid serves as a defense against anxiety, including that caused by the absence of a caregiver, rather than as a substitute for a caregiver. Our study sheds light on their role and emphasizes the importance of viewing development within the complex interactive processes of humans and objects. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T15:10:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c8e6345a1f6f49b6a6afd71e4c430213 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T15:10:04Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-c8e6345a1f6f49b6a6afd71e4c4302132023-04-30T11:17:02ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-04-011311910.1038/s41598-023-33758-zExploring role of sleep aids in sleep problems in preschool childrenMasanori Yamaguchi0Mikako Ishibashi1Yusuke Moriguchi2Hisashi Mitsuishi3Shoji Itakura4Center for Baby Science, Doshisha UniversityDepartment of Psychology and Humanities, Edogawa UniversityGraduate School of Letters, Kyoto UniversityDepartment of Health and Sports Science, Kyoto University of Advanced ScienceCenter for Baby Science, Doshisha UniversityAbstract It is well known that children use sleep aids, such as blankets or soft toys, at bedtime. However, there is a lack of understanding regarding the factors associated with their use and role in addressing sleep problems. This study investigated 96 Japanese children aged 40 to 47 months to examine these associations. We measured children’s stress (through a questionnaire and salivary cortisol [cortisol awakening response]), anxiety symptoms, behavioral problems, and temperament, and created a model to predict the status of sleep aid use. Furthermore, we explored the association between sleep aid use and children’s sleep problems as evaluated by their caregivers. We found that children who used sleep aids were more likely to experience anxiety symptoms. Moreover, most children used sleep aids even when they co-slept with their caregivers and/or siblings. Their use was not uniquely associated with sleep problems. These findings suggest that sleep aid serves as a defense against anxiety, including that caused by the absence of a caregiver, rather than as a substitute for a caregiver. Our study sheds light on their role and emphasizes the importance of viewing development within the complex interactive processes of humans and objects.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33758-z |
| spellingShingle | Masanori Yamaguchi Mikako Ishibashi Yusuke Moriguchi Hisashi Mitsuishi Shoji Itakura Exploring role of sleep aids in sleep problems in preschool children Scientific Reports |
| title | Exploring role of sleep aids in sleep problems in preschool children |
| title_full | Exploring role of sleep aids in sleep problems in preschool children |
| title_fullStr | Exploring role of sleep aids in sleep problems in preschool children |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring role of sleep aids in sleep problems in preschool children |
| title_short | Exploring role of sleep aids in sleep problems in preschool children |
| title_sort | exploring role of sleep aids in sleep problems in preschool children |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33758-z |
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