Journal Article

0753 Mothers’ sleep and executive function: Downstream implications for parenting and toddlers’ executive function

Bates, John, Empson, Kayla, McQuillan, Maureen, Staples, Angela, Deater-Deckard, Kirby

2023

Overview

Introduction Mothers’ sleep is positively associated with positive parenting (e.g., responsiveness) — what has not been established is how mothers’ executive function (EF) could mediate this association, and how, in turn, mothers’ parenting could influence the development of their toddlers’ EF. Methods Mothers and toddlers (N = 351) were followed at child ages 30, 36, and 42 months. Mothers were M = 32.70 years old (SD = 5.03); 49% of toddlers were male. The sample was largely middle class and 90% White. Fifteen percent of mothers were single. Thirty-one percent of mothers did not work outside the home, and 28% worked full time. Mothers’ sleep was measured via actigraphy. Mothers’ positive parenting was measured both in the home and the lab. At home, the toddlers’ bedtime routine was observed and rated for mothers’ responsiveness and involvement. In the lab, mothers’ positive affect during free play with their toddler was coded (with independent, inter-rater reliability of ICC = .80). The lab measure was correlated with the home visit measure (r = .22, p < 0.01). Mothers’ EF was measured via self-report on the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult Version (BRIEF), which assesses everyday metacognition, behavior regulation, and emotion regulation. The average, where higher scores reflect worse EF, was used. Toddlers’ EF was measured by coders’ ratings of toddlers’ ability to sustain focused attention during independent free play in the lab visit (ICC = .83). Results Cross-sectionally, mothers’ sleep was associated with their EF (B = .12, p<.05). In a structural equation model across time, mothers’ actigraphic sleep that was shorter, later, and more variable predicted worse EF (B = 0.07), which in turn predicted less positive parenting (B = - 0.08), at levels trending towards significance. Mothers’ positive parenting was associated with toddlers’ observed sustained, focused attention, both within (r = .13, p < 0.05) and across time (r = .13, p < 0.05). Conclusion These findings suggest that a mother’s sleep can affect her EF and parenting, which can then support toddlers’ sustained attention development, an important aspect of executive function. Support (if any) Grants MH099437 from NIMH and HD073202 from NICHD

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Subject: Executive function / Mothers / Sleep / Toddlers