Distance Interventions for Children with Sleep Problems: A Review

Authors

  • Tatiana Matheus Pinto Social and Cognitive Laboratory and Developmental Disorders Program, Center for Health and Biological Sciences, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, Sao Paulo, Brazil
  • Jéssica de Assis da Silva Ninth of July University, Sao Paulo, Brazil
  • Renatha El Rafihi-Ferreira Sleep Outpatient Clinic of Psychiatry Institute, Clinics Hospital of Sao Paulo Medicine Faculty, Sao Paulo, Brazil
  • Edwiges Ferreira de Mattos Silvares Ferreira de Mattos Silvares Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/jpr.v4i1.4166

Abstract

Sleep problems in childhood are frequent and may cause damage to the children and their families; however, parental orientation appears to be effective in its many new formats, such as the distance treatment. This study aimed to review the literature about behavioral intervention performed by distance to sleep problems in childhood and summarize the main characteristics of such interventions. Searches were performed up to November 2021 in BVS Psicologia ULAPSI Brasil, SCOPUS, and PsycINFO, using the key words: sleep problems, insomnia, nighttime fears, behavioral intervention, behavioral treatment, treatment, intervention, sleep, behavior, child, children, infant, mobile phones, smartphone, app, telephone, online, internet, bibliotherapy. We included 14 studies. The main results indicate that interventions were implemented between 2 and 12 weeks, the most reported procedure was pre-sleep routines, and semipresential interventions that required some presential contact were the most frequent. Written educational information about sleep through bibliotherapy and telephone contacts were the most used tools to implement the remote component of interventions. Ten studies indicated improvements on children’s sleep, and secondary results (parental sleep and/or mental health) were also reported among studies. Therefore, our findings suggest that distance interventions for childhood sleep problems are promising, but future research is still needed

Keywords:

Sleep problems, Distance intervention, Children, Review.

References

[1] Müller, M.R., Guimarães, S.S., 2007. Impacto dos transtornos do sono sobre o funcionamento diário e a qualidade de vida. Estudos de Psicologia. 24(4), 519- 528. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-166X2007000400011

[2] Mindell, J.A., Kuhn, B., Lewin, D.S., Meltzer, L.J., Sadeh, A., 2006. Behavioral treatment of bedtime problems and night wakings in infants and young children - an American academy of sleep medicine review. Sleep. 29(10), 1263-1276. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/29.10.1263

[3] Cremone, A., Jong, D., Kurdziel, L., Desrochers, P., Sayer, A., LeBourgeois, M., 2018. Sleep Tight, Act Right: Negative Affect, Sleep and Behavior Problems During Early Childhood. Child Development. 89(2), 42-59. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12717

[4] Rafihi-Ferreira, R.E., Silvares, E.F., M., Pires, M.L.N., Assumpção Junior, F.B., Moura, C.B.de., 2016. Sono e comportamento em crianças atendidas em um serviço de psicologia. Psicologia: teoria e prática. 18(2), 159-172. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15348/1980-6906/psicologia.v18n2p159-172

[5] Pires, M.L.N., Vilela, C.B., Câmara, R.L., 2012. Desenvolvimento de uma medida de hábitos de sono e aspectos da prevalência de problemas comportamentais de sono na infância: uma contribuição. In N. S. Filho, D. P. S. A. Ribeiro & H. R. Rosa (Orgs.). Processos Clínicos e Saúde Mental. São Paulo: Cultura Acadêmica Editora & Vetor Editora. pp. 167- 192.

[6] Moore, M., 2010. Bedtime Problems and Night Wakings: Treatment of Behavioral Insomnia of Childhood. Journal of clinical psychology: in session. 66(11), 1195-1204. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20731

[7] Kushnir, J., Sadeh, A., 2012. Assessment of brief interventions for nighttime fears in preschool children. European Journal of Pediatrics. 171(1), 67-71. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-011-1488-4

[8] Meltzer, L.J., Mindell, J.A., 2014. Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Behavioral Interventions for Pediatric Insomnia. Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 39(8), 932-948. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsu041

[9] Byars, K., Simon, S., 2014. Practice Patterns and Insomnia Treatment Outcomes From an Evidence-Based Pediatric Behavioral Sleep MedicineClinic. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology. 2(3), 337-349. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/cpp0000068

[10] Rafihi-Ferreira, R., Pires, M.L.N., Silvares, E.F.M., 2019. Behavioral intervention for sleep problems in childhood: a Brazilian randomized controlled trial. Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica. 32(5). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41155-019-0118-3

[11] Day, S.X., Schneider, P.L., 2002. Psychotherapy using distance technology: A comparison of face-toface, video, and audio treatment. Journal of Counseling Psychology. 49(4), 499-503. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.49.4.499

[12] Forehand, R., Kotchick, B.A., 1996. Cultural diversity: a wake-up call for parent training. Behavior Therapy. 27(2), 187-206. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7894(96)80014-1

[13] Breitenstein, S., Gross, D., 2013. Web-Based Delivery of a Preventive Parent-Training Intervention: A Feasibility Study. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing. 26(2), 149-157. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jcap.12031

[14] Anderson, G., 2009. Using the Internet to provide cognitive behaviour therapy. Behaviour Research and Therapy. 47(3). 175-180. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2009.01.010

[15] O’brien, M., Dalley, D., 2011. Self-help parenting interventions for childhood behavior disorders: A review of the evidence. Child: Care, Health and Development. 37(5), 623-637. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01231.x

[16] Page, M.J., McKenzie, J.E., Bossuyt, P.M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T.C., Mulrow, C.D., et al., 2021. The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ; 372:n71. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71

[17] Mindell, J.A., Leichman, E.S., Puzino, K., Walters, R., Bhullar, B., 2014. Parental Concerns About Infant and Toddler Sleep Assessed by a Mobile App. Behavioral Sleep Medicine. 13(5), 1-16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15402002.2014.905475

[18] McLay, L., Sutherland, D., Machalicek, W., Sigafoos, J., 2020. Systematic Review of Telehealth Interventions for the Treatment of Sleep Problems in Children. Journal of Behavioral Education. 29, 222- 245. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-020-09364-8

[19] Werner-Seidler, A., Johnston, L., Christensen, H., 2016. Digitally-delivered cognitive-behavioural therapy for youth insomnia: A systematic review. Internet Interventions. 11, 71-78. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.invent.2018.01.007

[20] Burke, R., Kuhn, B., Peterson, J., 2004. Brief Report: A ’Storybook’’ Ending to Children’s Bedtime Problems—The Use of a Rewarding Social Story to Reduce Bedtime Resistance and Frequent Night Waking. Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 29(5), 389- 396. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsh042

[21] Eckerberg, Eckerberg, B., 2002. Treatment of sleep problems in families with small children: is written information enough?Acta Paediatrica. 91(8), 952- 959. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1651-2227.2002.tb02861.x

[22] Hall, W.A., Clauson, M., Carty, E.M., Janssen, P.A., Sauders, R.A., 2006. Efects on Parents of an Intervention to Resolve Infant Behavioral Sleep Problems. Pediatric Nursing. 32(3), 243-250.

[23] Hisckock, H., Cook, F., Bayer, J., Le, H.N., Mensah, F., Cann, W., St James-Roberts, I., 2014. Preventing Early Infant Sleep and Crying Problems and Postnatal Depression: A Randomized Trial. Pediatrics. Disponível: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24394682.133(2),346-354.

[24] Lewis, K.M., Amatya, K., Coffman, M.F., Ollendick, T.H., 2015. Treatingnighttimefears in young children with bibliotherapy: Evaluating anxiety symptoms and monitoring behavior change. Journal of Anxiety Disorder. 30, 103-112. DOI: https://doi.org/133(2),346-354.10.1016/j.janxdis.2014.12.004

[25] Mindell, J.A., Du Mond, C., Sadeh, A., Telofski, L.S., Kulkami, N., Gunn, E., 2011. Efficacy of an internet-based intervention for infant and toddler sleep disturbances. Journal Sleep. 34(4), 451-458. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/34.4.451

[26] Moon, E.C., Corkum, P., Smith, I.M., 2010. Case study: A case-series evaluation of a behavioral sleep intervention for three children with autism and primary insomnia. Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 10(2), 47-54. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054706288107

[27] Rafihi-Ferreira, R.E., Silvares, E.F.M., Asbahr, F.R., Ollendick, T.H., 2018. Brief treatment for nighttime fears and co-sleeping problems: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Anxiety Disorders. 58, 51-60. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2018.06.008

[28] Schlarb, A., Brandhorst, I., 2012. Mini-KiSS Online: an Internet-based intervention program for parents of young children with sleep problems - influence on parental behavior and children’s sleep.Dovepress. 41- 52. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/nss.s28337

[29] Stewart, S.E., Gordon, J.E., 2014. Parent-AssistedCognitive-Behavioural Therapy for Children’s Nighttime Fear. Behaviour Change. 31(4), 242-257. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/bec.2014.19

[30] Stremler, R., Hodnett, E., Kenton, L., Lee, K., Weiss, S., Weston, J., Willan, A., 2013. Effect of behavioural-educational intervention on sleep for primiparous women and their infants in early postpartum: multisite randomized controlled trial. Bmj. 346(201), 1-14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f1164

[31] Stuttard, L., Clarke, M., Thomas, M., Beresford, B., 2015. Replacing home visits with telephone calls to support parents implementing a sleep management intervention: findings from a pilot study and implications for future research.Child: Care, Health and Development. 41(6), 1-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12250

[32] Wiggs, L., Stores, G., 1999. Behavioural treatment for sleep problems in children with severe learning disabilities and challenging daytime behaviour: effect on daytime behaviour. The Journal Of Child Psychology And Psychiatry. 7(2), 119-126. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1469-7610.00479

[33] Pattison, E., Papadopoulos, N., Marks, D., McGillivray, J., Rinehart, N., 2020. Behavioural Treatments for Sleep Problems in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Review of the Recent Literature. Current Psychiatry Reports. 22(9). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-020-01172-1

Downloads

How to Cite

Pinto, T. M., Silva, J. de A. da, Rafihi-Ferreira, R. E., & Silvares, E. F. de M. S. F. de M. (2022). Distance Interventions for Children with Sleep Problems: A Review. Journal of Psychological Research, 4(1), 18–26. https://doi.org/10.30564/jpr.v4i1.4166

Issue

Vol. 4 , Iss. 1 (January 2022)

Article Type

Reviews

License

Copyright © 2022 Tatiana Matheus Pinto, Jéssica de Assis da Silva, Renatha El Rafihi-Ferreira, Edwiges Ferreira de Mattos Silvares Ferreira de Mattos Silvares

Creative Commons License

This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.

Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC