XT Yu, HS Lam, CT Au, SHY Chan, DFY Chan, AM Li

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the longitudinal effects of an extended parent-based behavioural education workshop on sleep and daytime functioning in children with autism spectrum disorder. Methods: Families with children younger than 6 years diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and sleep problems were recruited. Three parent-based sleep behaviour education workshop sessions were conducted over consecutive weeks (week 1-3). Weekly telephone interview took place from week 1-7. Sleep, behaviour, and parental stress were evaluated by questionnaires before the workshop and at week 3, 7 and 11. Findings: Assessments using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire and Child Behaviour Checklist showed increased sleep duration (6.05±1.85 vs. 5.24±1.83, p=0.014), improved internalising behaviours (67.90±9.05 vs. 65.03±10.46, p=0.015) and fewer sleep problems after the workshop (64.50±10.50 vs. 58.94±8.35, p=0.002). Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index of parents' sleep also showed improvement in terms of shorter sleep onset latency (1.46±1.02 vs. 0.96±0.95, p=0.012), less sleep disturbance (1.30±0.63 vs. 0.98±0.63, p=0.014) and better daytime functioning (1.35±0.89 vs. 0.98±0.74, p=0.038). Conclusion: Parent-based behavioural education was helpful in improving sleep of children with autism spectrum disorder, and sleep and daytime functioning of their parents.