Developmental Course and Determinants of Sleep Disturbances in Adolescents With Spina Bifida.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To examine (1) trajectories of sleep disturbances in adolescents with spina bifida (SB) compared with a typically developing (TD) group over a 10-year period and (2) individual, family, and socioeconomic determinants of changes in sleep disturbances. METHODS: Participants were 68 families of youth with SB and 68 families of TD youth. Parent-report of adolescent sleep was collected every 2 years at 6 time points (T1 ages 8-9; T6 ages 18-19). Multiple informants and measures were used to examine internalizing, externalizing, and inattention symptoms, dyadic/family conflict, socioeconomic status (SES), and family income. RESULTS: Sleep disturbances increased over the 10-year period. Youth with SB had greater sleep disturbances during early adolescence. Greater preadolescent externalizing symptoms, greater parent-child and marital conflict, and lower SES predicted increased sleep disturbances. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep disturbances are common and persistent in adolescents with SB. Sleep assessment and management are important clinical and research priorities in this population.