Providing support and growth opportunities to people with ASD requires a better understanding of the correlates of sleep issues for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Two related studies were conducted that focuses on sleep quality in association with adolescent well-being and family relationships.
28 adolescents with ASD, 27 typically developing (TD) adolescents, and their mothers participated in the first study. Mothers and adolescents independently completed questionnaires about sleep and adolescent functioning.
20 adolescents with ASD and their mothers participated in the second study and actigraphy was used to measure sleep quality.
Regression results from Study 1 indicated more daytime sleepiness was associated with more depressive symptoms and more discordant mother–adolescent relationships in the ASD sample. More sleep-wake problems were associated with more depressive symptoms in TD adolescents. In Study 2, more time asleep and poorer sleep efficiency were associated with more depressive symptoms and discordant sibling relationships.
The study concluded through its findings that helping adolescents with ASD with their sleep issues may confer benefits in other parts of their lives.
Reference: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1088357618794916
