bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
0086 Good quality sleep facilitates psychomotor learning via fast spindles among older adults
Authors: Akhtar Nasreen , Soni Rishabh , Chakrawarty Avinash , Kaloiya Gauri Shankar , Garfield Victoria
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Sleep spindles are neural oscillations of frequency between 11 to 16 Hz during non rapid eye movement sleep. They are coordinated with hippocampal ripples and slow oscillations to facilitate memory consolidation by modulating synaptic plasticity. Fast spindles, predominant in central and parietal derivations of EEG during Stage 2 NREM sleep, are associated with overnight visuomotor skills enhancement, especially in the later part of the night. The relationship between fast and slow spindles during sleep and psychomotor ability has not been characterized well, particularly in older adults. The objective of this study was to study the relationship between sleep microstructure during various stages of sleep and cognition in good and poor sleepers.

Methods

This is a cross sectional observational study conducted on 16 male participants (age 63.6 ± 5.22 years). Good (n=9) and poor sleepers (n=7) were classified on the basis of PSQI score (<=5 is good). Overnight polysomnography was done and ICMR-NCTB battery was administered for assessment of cognition. In DOMINO software, after visual artifact removal, spindles were analyzed by selecting 11 - 12.99 Hz (slow) in F4, and 13 -16 Hz (fast) in C2. Statistical analysis was done using GraphPad prism (v 9.4.1).

Results

Fast spindle index in N2 (good sleeper: r = -0.850, p = 0.006; poor sleeper: r = 0.398, p = 0.466), fast spindle density in N2 (good sleeper: r = -0.870, p = 0.004; poor sleeper: r = -0.331, p = 0.468), total fast spindle number during deep sleep (good sleeper: r = -0.600, p = 0.031; poor sleeper: r = -0.244, p = 0.599), and total slow spindle density (good sleeper: r = -0.833, p = 0.025; poor sleeper: r = -0.080, p = 0.865) were found to be negatively correlated with psychomotor ability assessed by trail making test.

Conclusion

Among older adults, good sleepers, as compared to poor sleepers overall have a higher fast spindle index and density during N2 sleep and there is significant correlation with better psychomotor ability.

Support (if any)

All India Institute of Medical Sciences and University College of London Collaborative Grant (AIIMS-UCL 12)
0097 Sleep and Eating Rhythms are Associated with Metabolic Risk in Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Thomas Matthew , Kern Philip , Sears Dorothy , Pendergast Julie
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Postmenopausal women are particularly vulnerable to metabolic dysfunction. Compelling evidence suggests that this is due to their lacking the protective effect of estrogens. We have shown that circulating estrogens regulate daily eating and sleep-activity rhythms in female mice and protect them from obesity and diabetes. However, few studies have investigated whether postmenopausal women have disrupted eating and sleep-activity rhythms that could contribute to their metabolic dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between eating rhythms, sleep, and metabolic risk in postmenopausal women.

Methods

During 7 days, we studied sedentary, postmenopausal women who were not taking hormones (estrogens ± progestin) and were metabolically unhealthy, defined as prediabetic or normal glucose tolerance with at least 1 feature of the metabolic syndrome. Women taking medications affecting sleep or eating were excluded. Sleep timing and quality were assessed by actigraphy and sleep logs. Times of first and last meals were collected from participants with a texting system. Body composition (DXA), body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference were collected as markers of obesity. Lipid metabolism and glycemic control were assessed by fasting lipid panel and HbA1c as well as oral glucose tolerance test.

Results

Eighteen postmenopausal women (mean ± SEM; 57.2 ± 1.1 years) participated in the study. Both sleep timing and quality were associated with metabolic risk in postmenopausal women. Specifically, later timing of sleep onset was associated with later meal timing and greater BMI and body fat percentage. Increased sleep fragmentation was associated with reduced HDL. In addition, both the timing and duration of eating were associated with worse metabolic measures. Longer eating duration was associated with larger waist circumference. Later eating time was associated with greater waist circumference and BMI.

Conclusion

We found that late timing and poor quality of sleep, as well as long eating duration, are associated with markers of metabolic risk in postmenopausal women. These data suggest that interventions that reduce eating duration and advance the timing of last meal and sleep onset may improve metabolic risk in postmenopausal women.

Support (if any)

This study is supported by NIH awards R01DK124774, T32 AG078110, and UL1TR001998.
0100 Developmental trajectories of SWA and ORP since childhood in young adults: association with psychiatric/behavioral disorders
Authors: Fernandez-Mendoza Julio , Isely Alexis , He Fan , Fang Jidong , Calhoun Susan , Liao Jason , Vgontzas Alexandros , Liao Duanping , Bixler Edward , Ricci Anna
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Declines in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep slow wave activity (SWA) in the transition to adolescence are indicative of brain maturational changes that parallel a decline in sleep depth, as measured by the novel sleep EEG biomarker odds ratio product (ORP). However, these developmental trajectories and their psychiatric/behavioral associations have lacked replication across multiple time points during the lifespan.

Methods

We determined the developmental trajectories (median follow-up 15y) of SWA and ORP among 150 participants from the Penn State Child Cohort studied in childhood (median age 9y) through adolescence (median age 16y) into young adulthood (median age 24y). Discrete mixture models for clustering of longitudinal data series was used to compute the probability of a subject belonging to mutually-exclusive 2 or 3 trajectory groups, which were selected based on Bayesian and Akaike Information Criteria. Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel tests were used to compare the proportion of subjects with psychiatric/behavioral disorders across the three developmental trajectories in each sleep EEG biomarker.

Results

Age-related declines in SWA were observed across two developmental groups, of which one followed a cubic trajectory and one a linear trajectory. This decline in SWA was coupled with age-related increases in ORP across three developmental groups, two of which were quadratic and one was linear. Compared to the shallowest trajectories, the SWA and ORP trajectories with the greatest slopes in the transition to young adulthood had a significantly higher proportion of participants with a history of psychiatric/behavioral disorders (78.6% vs. 53.2% and 80.0% vs. 50.7%, respectively, both p< 0.01).

Conclusion

Our novel data provide replication for the maturational trajectories of SWA and ORP by including time points across three distinct developmental stages, including young adulthood. Also, our data provide evidence linking the developmental trajectories of SWA and ORP with psychopathology. Young adults with psychiatric/behavioral disorders are associated with a steeper developmental decline in sleep intensity (SWA) and sleep depth (ORP) after adolescence.

Support (if any)

National Institutes of Health (R01HL136587, R01MH118308, UL1TR000127)
0102 Are there associations between intraindividual variability in sleep and mental health among adolescents reporting alcohol use?
Authors: Kwon Misol , Seo Young , Hasler Brant
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Considering the increasing number of studies that report on ecological momentary assessment by uses of sleep diary and actigraphy, it may also be valuable to consider the relationship between fluctuations that exists in sleep measures on adolescent health outcomes. Above the impact of mean sleep measures, intraindividual variability (IIV) in sleep provides information on the degree to which daily variations or fluctuations in sleep/wake patterns are occurring and may prompt important cues to adolescents’ health outcome. The present study examined the objective IIV in sleep and its relationship to their sleep and mental health outcomes among adolescents with history of alcohol use.

Methods

The study analyzed 8 days of wrist actigraphy data from 72 high school students reporting prior alcohol use (58.3% female; mean age 17.0 years). Bayesian variability method using varian (R package) was performed to calculate IIV in total sleep time (TST), time in bed (TIB), midpoint sleep, bedtime, and risetime. Participants also completed Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Cleveland Adolescent Sleepiness Questionnaire (CASQ), Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (IDS-SR-30), Chapman’s Inventories – Social Anhedonia (CHAPSAS), and Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index (RAPI). Multiple linear regression models were adjusted for biological sex, age, and the sum of alcohol drinks in the past 3 months.

Results

Participants reported average of 18.52 (SD=23.10) total drinks consumed over the past 3 months. IIV in TST, TIB, and risetime were associated with lower sleep quality (B=3.04, 95% CI, 0.02, 7.39, p< 0.05 for IIV in TST; B=2.87, 95% CI, 0.39, 5.88, p< 0.05 for IIV in TIB; and B=2.74, 95% CI, 0.57, 6.19, p< 0.05 for IIV in risetime, respectively). There was no statistically significant association between IIV of sleep measures and excessive daytime sleepiness or mental health outcomes such as social anhedonia, depressive symptoms, and problematic alcohol use.

Conclusion

Greater fluctuation in TST, TIB, and risetime were negatively associated with overall sleep quality. Our findings add to a growing body of research on IIV in sleep/wake patterns and clinical implications. Future studies should explore the prospective relationship between variability in sleep and other various health outcomes.

Support (if any)

NIH/NIAAA R01AA025626 (Hasler); Sleep Research Society Foundation Mentor-Mentee Award (Kwon)
0103 Greater actigraphic sleep variability and later timing are associated with more school-related problems in adolescents
Authors: Mathew Gina , Reichenberger David , Master Lindsay , Buxton Orfeu , Chang Anne-Marie , Hale Lauren
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Adolescents often obtain short sleep duration, which has been linked to poor grades and greater behavioral issues at school. There is limited research on the association between other dimensions of sleep and school-related outcomes, and few studies use objective measures of sleep. The current study examined associations of multiple actigraphic sleep dimensions with school-related outcomes among adolescents.

Methods

Data were collected from a sub-study of the age 15 wave of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N=774-782 depending on the outcome), a national sample of diverse teens. Adolescents wore a wrist-actigraphy device for approximately one week (mean=6.6 nights) and completed a survey reporting current grades and current or past problems at school. Separate linear and logistic regression models assessed whether actigraphic sleep duration, timing, maintenance efficiency, variability (SD) in duration and timing, and sleep regularity index (SRI) were associated with grades and behavioral issues at school. Analyses adjusted for demographic and household characteristics, depressive symptoms, and anxious symptoms.

Results

Greater variability in sleep onset was associated with higher odds of receiving a D or F in any course (OR=1.29, p=.040) and of ever failing a course (OR=1.26, p=.038). Later sleep onset (β=−.07, p=.029) and offset (β=−.08, p=.014) and greater variability in sleep duration (β=−.07, p=.035) were associated with fewer A grades. Later sleep offset was also associated with lower average GPA (β=−.07, p=.033). Later sleep onset (OR=.91, p=.049) and offset (OR=.91, p=.035) and greater variability in sleep offset (OR=.83, p=.029) were associated with lower odds of ever taking an honors course. Later sleep offset (OR=1.11, p=.034) and greater variability in sleep duration (OR=1.31, p=.012) and onset (OR=1.42, p=.004) were associated with higher odds of ever being suspended or expelled in the past two years. Greater variability in sleep duration was associated with greater behavioral problems in school (β=.13, p<.001). Sleep duration, maintenance efficiency, and SRI were not associated with school-related outcomes (p≥.05).

Conclusion

Later sleep timing and greater sleep variability are risk factors for school-related problems among adolescents. Promoting earlier sleep timing and reducing sleep variability across the week may improve academic and behavioral outcomes among adolescents in school.

Support (if any)

R01HD073352
0104 Greater sleep regularity among adolescents predicts less daytime video game playing
Authors: Reichenberger David , Master Lindsay , Mathew Gina , Russell Michael , Buxton Orfeu , Hale Lauren , Chang Anne-Marie
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Daytime video game playing is a sedentary behavior that has been associated with worse adolescent health outcomes, including obesity, mood disorders, and poor sleep. However, few studies have explored the influence of sleep on time spent engaged in screen-based activities. This is the first study to examine whether sleep regularity, a measure that encapsulates within-person sleep timing, duration, and disruption across successive days of actigraphy, is associated with daytime video gaming among adolescents.

Methods

We analyzed sleep sub-study data from the age 15 wave of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (n=314 adolescents, 15.4±0.5 years old). Adolescents wore wrist actigraphy devices and concurrently completed daily surveys reporting how many hours they played video games. The sleep regularity index (SRI) was calculated as the percentage probability of an individual being in the same sleep/wake state at any two times 24 hours apart across seven consecutive days of valid actigraphy (range 0-100). Multilevel Poisson models with random intercepts for daily video gaming adjusted for school days, sex, ethnoracial group, bedtime routines, parent education, family poverty, and family structure. The stability of the association between SRI and video gaming was additionally tested using the first two to six consecutive days of actigraphy.

Results

Every 10 units increase in SRI was associated with 9% fewer daily hours of video gaming on average (OR=0.91, CI=0.84, 0.998, p=0.046). Findings were consistent when SRI was calculated using the first four or more consecutive days of actigraphy (8-10%, p≤0.043), and the association was nonsignificant when using the first two or three days.

Conclusion

Adolescents who had greater sleep regularity tended to spend less time playing video games. Future research should consider interventions that target the consistency of sleep patterns across the week. Improving the regularity of sleep timing and duration may reduce video game playing and confer positive downstream effects on adolescent health.

Support (if any)

R01HD073352, R01HD36916, R01HD39135, R01HD40421, T32DA017629
0105 INSIGHT Study associations between sleep health and child behavior at age 6 years
Authors: Dadzie Adwoa , Master Lindsay , Hohman Emily , Hernandez Erika , Tauriello Sara , Paul Ian , Savage Jennifer , Anzman-Frasca Stephanie , Buxton Orfeu
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Sub-optimal sleep duration, quality and timing are associated with the presence of disruptive behaviors in childhood. Previous studies have largely utilized parent-/teacher-report of children’s behaviors and focused on mean sleep duration and quality measures, ignoring sleep variability. This analysis uses actigraphy and standardized laboratory behavioral tasks to examine the associations of average levels and variability (SD) of sleep duration, timing, and quality with child behavior.

Methods

The Intervention Nurses Start Infants Growing on Healthy Trajectories (INSIGHT) Study randomized families with firstborn newborns to a responsive parenting intervention or a safety control shortly after delivery. At age 6 years, children wore a wrist actigraphy device (Spectrum Plus) for 7 days to measure sleep and completed frustration (Transparent Box) and parent-child interaction (Picture Frame) tasks. Tasks were recorded and coded using global behavioral coding schemes; inter-rater reliability was sufficient (Transparent Box ICCs=.83-.97; Picture Frame=.83-1). Children with data on sleep (≥3 valid days) and both behavioral tasks were included in this secondary data analysis (n=143). Separate linear regression models examined associations between 10 sleep variables (M/SD of onset, offset, and midpoint of sleep timing, sleep maintenance efficiency, and total sleep time) and 4 behavioral variables (Transparent Box: emotion regulation, impulsivity; Picture Frame: prosocial and antisocial behavior). Models controlled for child sex and age, household income, and study group.

Results

Children were aged 6.7 ± 0.3 years and predominantly White, non-Hispanic (95%). Sleep onset (timing) variability was positively associated with impulsivity (B=.85, p=.004) and negatively associated with emotion regulation (B=-.65, p=.01). Sleep midpoint (timing) variability was positively associated with impulsivity (B=.80, p=.03). Mean sleep timing, sleep duration, and sleep maintenance efficiency were not associated with any of the behavioral variables.

Conclusion

The regularity of sleep timing (onset and midpoint) at age 6 had a greater role in behavioral and emotional regulation than duration and quality of sleep. These findings support existing literature that highlight the importance of parents implementing consistent routines (e.g., consistent bedtime) and how such routines play a key role in socioemotional outcomes among children.

Support (if any)

R01DK088244
0111 Wearable-based Measures of Sleep Across the Menstrual Cycle in Healthy Women in the Reproductive Stage and Early Menopause
Authors: Alzueta Elisabet , Gombert Marie , Camacho Leticia , Perez-Amparan Evelyn , Yuksel Dilara , de Zambotti Massimiliano , Simon Katharine , Sattari Negin , Zhang Jing , Shuster Alessandra , Pena Andres , Mednick Sara , Baker Fiona C
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Sleep is an essential part of women’s health and well-being. Hormonal fluctuations that occur across the menstrual cycle or when approaching menopause might affect sleep quality. Most studies rely on self-reported data, or laboratory measures in small samples, to examine changes in sleep across the menstrual cycle. Here, we investigated sleep quality, as measured continuously with a wearable device, across the menstrual cycle in different reproductive stages (reproductive, menopausal transition).

Methods

56 women participated, with 31 in the reproductive stage (age: 24.65 +/- 6.09 years) and 25 in the early menopausal transition (47.36 +/- 2.78 years). Participants were healthy, without sleep disorders, and free of premenstrual and mood complaints, as well as not using hormonal contraceptives. Sleep was tracked with the Oura ring across an entire menstrual cycle – confirmed as ovulatory using ovulation tests. Participants also completed a sleep diary each morning, rating sleep quality and how refreshed they felt. Measures were averaged for four phases: menses, ovulation, mid-luteal, late-luteal. Participants were assessed for mood symptoms (DASS-21) once during each of these phases.

Results

Objective measures of sleep quality (Total Sleep Time, Efficiency, and Wake After Sleep Onset) did not change across the menstrual cycle in either group or differ between groups. Similarly, self-reported sleep and mood symptoms remained stable across the menstrual cycle, although women in the menopausal transition reported poorer sleep quality and felt less refreshed than reproductive stage women, overall. Physiological measures (Temperature, Heart Rate, and Heart Rate Variability) during sleep reflected the well-known fluctuations across the menstrual cycle (e.g., increased temperature in the luteal phase vs. menses) in both groups of women.

Conclusion

Objective, wearable-derived measures indicate sleep quality remains stable across the menstrual cycle during reproductive and early-menopausal transition stages, at least in healthy women without mood or premenstrual complaints. While women in the menopausal transition reported a poorer sleep quality, there was no difference in objective sleep continuity measures between groups. Future studies are needed to better understand sleep across the reproductive lifespan, considering cycle-related (e.g., premenstrual syndrome) and other factors that could make some women sensitive to menstrual cycle effects on sleep.

Support (if any)

NIH, RF1AG061355 (BAKER/MEDNICK)
0113 Data-Driven Mathematical Modeling of Sleep Consolidation in Early Childhood
Authors: Stowe Shelby , Athanasouli Christina , LeBourgeois Monique , Booth Victoria , Behn Cecilia Diniz
Published: May 2023

Introduction

During early childhood, sleep behavior transitions from a biphasic pattern (daytime nap and nighttime sleep) to a monophasic pattern (nighttime sleep only). The transition to consolidated sleep, occurring in most children between 2- and 5-years old, is a major developmental milestone and reflects interactions between the homeostatic sleep drive and the circadian drive. This study aimed to utilize experimental data and mathematical modeling to determine the contributions of developmentally-mediated changes in the homeostatic sleep drive to the consolidation of sleep observed in early childhood.

Methods

Using extant, de-identified longitudinal data from 2.5 – 5.9 year-old children (n=36) and a physiologically-based mathematical model of sleep-wake regulation, we simulate sleep-wake behavior consistent with average 2-year-old napping and 5-year-old non-napping sleep patterns. We vary four homeostatic dynamic parameters between experimentally estimated 2- and 5-year-old values, constraining their variation to follow the trends of the 2-, 3-, and 5-year-old data estimates. We quantify the progression to consolidated sleep including how and at what ages the sleep pattern changes (i.e., bifurcation analysis). Using the range of experimental estimates of the dynamic parameters and varying sensitivity to homeostatic pressure, we investigate interindividual variability in the transition from habitually napping to non-napping. Finally, we analyze how light exposure patterns may impact a child’s transition from habitually napping to non-napping.

Results

We find that the data-driven variation of homeostatic parameters results in a transition from biphasic to monophasic sleep. Through variation of the homeostatic parameters’ developmental trajectories, we establish that the developmental trajectories influence the timing and duration of the transition from biphasic to monophasic sleep, as well as the predicted sleep patterns occurring during the transition.

Conclusion

We found that the slower homeostatic dynamics estimated in older children contributed to decreased sleep need, lower napping propensity, and shorter sleep durations. We also found that the lower sensitivity to the homeostatic drive was associated with decreased sleep need, shorter sleep durations, and transitions to consolidated sleep at earlier ages. In certain cases, a nap opportunity with dim light exposure promoted an earlier transition to monophasic sleep.

Support (if any)

NIHM R01-MH086566, NSF DMS 1853506 and DMS 1853511
0115 Psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of Sleep Health Index in pregnant women
Authors: Wang Yueying , Yuan Jinjin , Lin Qin , Wang Jinle , Li Hong , Zhu Bingqian
Published: May 2023

Introduction

The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Sleep Health Index (SHI-C) among pregnant women.

Methods

This study used a cross-sectional design. Pregnant women (N=264) from three public hospitals in China were recruited through a convenience sampling method. The Sleep Health Index (SHI-C) was used to measure sleep health. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) were used to measure sleep quality and insomnia, respectively. Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS), and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were used to measure daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and depression, respectively. Structural validity was assessed via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Concurrent and convergent validity were assessed using bivariate correlation analyses. Known-group validity was assessed by comparing the SHI-C score between different groups. Cronbach’s α was calculated for reliability.

Results

The sample was 30.6 years on average. CFA confirmed the three-factor structure of SHI-C. The SHI-C total and sleep quality sub-index scores had moderate to strong correlations with both PSQI (r=-0.542, p< 0.01; r=-0.648, p< 0.01) and ISI (r=-0.692, p< 0.01; r=-0.752, p< 0.01). The SHI-C total and sleep quality sub-index scores were significantly associated with ESS, FAS, and EPDS (r=-0.171 to -0.276; p< 0.01). The SHI-C total score also differed based on work status (p< 0.01), trimester (p< 0.01), coffee intake (p< 0.05), taking a nap (p< 0.05), subclinical insomnia (p< 0.01), and poor sleep quality (p< 0.01). The Cronbach’s α of the SHI-C total and the sleep quality sub-index were 0.723 and 0.806, respectively. The Cronbach's α of sleep duration and disordered sleep sub-indices were 0.594 and 0.545, respectively.

Conclusion

Overall, the SHI-C has good validity and acceptable reliability among the pregnant population in China. It can be a useful tool for the assessment of sleep health. More research is warranted to refine the sleep duration and disordered sleep sub-indices.

Support (if any)

This work was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [71904119], and Innovation Research Team of High-Level Local Universities in Shanghai [SHSMU-ZDCX20212800]. Bingqian Zhu was supported by Shanghai Municipal Education Commission “Young Eastern Scholar” (China).
0117 Association between Mother-Child Sleep-Wake Rhythm Synchrony and Maternal Emotional Health
Authors: Rodheim Katrina , St. Laurent Christine , Holmes Jennifer , Hoyniak Caroline , Spencer Rebecca
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Synchrony between mother and infant sleep-wake rhythms is positively associated with attachment and maternal mental health. Chronotype is a measure of one’s circadian rhythm which influences sleep timing and other physiological processes. Whether synchrony of mother-child chronotype is similarly associated with maternal mental health into early childhood, when children’s behavior is less dependent on the mother, is unknown. Thus, we examined the relation between mother-child chronotype synchrony and mother’s emotional health.

Methods

106 healthy preschool-aged children (50.78±9.54 months) and mothers (34±8.7 years) were included in this secondary analysis. Wrist-worn actigraphy (range 3-16 days) was used to assess sleep duration and sleep midpoint. The Munich Chronotype Questionnaire was used to calculate midpoint of overnight sleep on free days (MSFsc) which was corrected for sleep debt on workdays. Dyad synchrony was calculated as a phase angle (phase difference) between mothers’ MSFsc and children’s MSFsc. Maternal emotional health was measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD).

Results

Linear regression (adjusted for the child’s age, sex, Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test score, and maternal socioeconomic status, employment status, and shiftwork) indicated no significant association between dyad synchrony and mothers’ emotional health (p=0.33). However, a median split on mothers’ emotional health scores (CESD) supports that children’s MSFsc is later (i.e. later chronotype) in mothers with more depression symptoms (p<.01).

Conclusion

The present results provide tentative support for the hypothesis that earlier child chronotype is associated with better maternal mental health even into early childhood. Future research needs to be done to elucidate whether mothers whose sleep is not aligned with their child’s primary sleep bout may experience less attachment and more negative interactions with their child leading to worse mental health. Further analyses will consider additional measures of synchrony that incorporate more than just the alignment of sleep midpoint. These findings may point to a possible source of poor maternal mental health which can be targeted in future research.

Support (if any)

NIH R01 HL111695
0119 Characterizing Sleep Patterns Among School-Age Children in Accra, Ghana
Authors: Holmes Jennifer , Kyeremateng Kate , Nimo James , Hughes Allison , Spencer Rebecca , Arku Raphael
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Sleep habits among school-age children in North American and European countries is well-documented and most health recommendations are based on those data. What is woefully lacking in the literature is objective sleep data from the Global South, particularly from sub-Saharan African countries. Lack of data in this population represents a major gap in our knowledge and a barrier to the establishment of guidelines for healthy sleep for all children. Here, we begin to broaden the view of child sleep by characterizing sleep and chronotypes of school-age children in Accra, Ghana.

Methods

Children (N=34; Mage=10.03, range:9-13 years; 51.5% female) wore actigraph watches for two weeks (M=11 nights). Additionally, children and their caregivers completed surveys pertaining to demographics, sleep habits, and household environment. Chronotype was assessed using the Children’s Chronotype Questionnaire. Daytime drowsiness was assessed using the Sleep Behavior Questionnaire.

Results

Children’s average sleep duration was 519.5±66.9mins. Average sleep onset was 21:02(± 49.7mins) and average wake onset was 5:46(± 47.5mins). Sleep duration was longer on weekends (M=536.9mins) vs. weekdays (M=506.8mins; p=.001). Sleep onset was similar across all days, while wake onset was significantly later on weekends (6:07) vs. weekdays (5:29; p<.001). Only 21.6% of children obtained adequate sleep for their age (9-11hrs) according to WHO recommendations, yet none reported high levels of daytime drowsiness (M score=9.93, range: 5-16; possible range: 5-25). Sleep/wake onset were both earlier than averages found in prior research with similar-aged children, with only 8.8% falling asleep later than 22:00. Variability in sleep midpoint (SD) was low (M=34mins), with 11.7% of children experiencing sleep timing that varied >60 mins on average. For chronotype, children were primarily morning types (n=24, 70.6%).

Conclusion

While many children in this sample did not meet WHO recommendations for sleep duration, their sleep timing was earlier than other reports and with low night-to-night variability. This may be related to the consistency in day length in Ghana which may support their overall sleep quality. Future directions will explore impact of daylight exposure and other environmental factors (air/noise pollution) on children’s sleep, along with continued data collection from more diverse SES neighborhoods in Accra.

Support (if any)

National Geographic Society Exploratory Grant [NGS-64242R-19]
0122 Sleep Moderates Arousal and Executive Functioning in Autistic Children
Authors: McGovney Kevin , Stearns Melanie , Curtis Ashley , Mazurek Micah , Nair Neetu , Beversdorf David , Sohl Kristen , Davis Beth , McCrae Christina
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Arousal dysregulation (over- or under-arousal) and executive functioning (EF) difficulties are positively correlated and often experienced by autistic children. Arousal and task performance (e.g., EF) are connected, such that there is an optimal arousal level for an optimal performance and arousal dysregulation reduces task performance. Up to 80% of autistic children experience sleep problems, and sleep problems are positively correlated with arousal dysregulation and EF difficulties. Thus, sleep may moderate the relationship between arousal and EF in autistic children. Given that sleep is modifiable through behavioral sleep treatment, it is important to better understand these relationships in autistic children. This study examined whether subjective and objective sleep moderated the relationship between HRV and EF among autistic children.

Methods

Children with autism spectrum disorder (N=65), verbal IQ >70, and parent reported sleep complaints (Mage=8.95, SD=2.01, range 6-12; 74% male) completed 14 days of sleep diaries (with parental assistance) and actigraphy, Holter Monitoring (8-mins at rest), and the Connor’s Continuous Performance Test (CPT)-III (ages 8+) or Connor’s Kiddie CPT-II (ages 4-7.11). Multiple regressions (SPSS PROCESS) examined whether sleep (subjective/objective wake after sleep onset-WASO, total sleep time-TST) moderated associations between arousal (standard deviation of normal-to-normal R-R-intervals-SDNN, proportion of adjacent R-R intervals differing by >50 ms-PNN50) and EF (CPT-perseverations, omissions, commissions). Analyses controlled for age.

Results

Objective WASO moderated associations between SDNN and CPT-perseverations (R2=.27, p=.03). At highest WASO, higher SDNN was associated with greater perseverations, t(1,65)=5.00, p=.029. Subjective TST moderated associations between PNN50 and CPT-perseverations (R2=.32, p=.01). At highest TST, higher PNN50 was associated with greater perseverations t(1,65)=4.27, p=.04.

Conclusion

When autistic children sleep more and have greater sleep fragmentation, EF may suffer (i.e., greater response repetition) if arousal is not high enough. While our finding for sleep fragmentation (indicative of poor sleep) is consistent with existing literature, that for greater sleep (indicative of better sleep) is not. This suggests the relationships amongst these constructs are complex in autism, and more research using longitudinal and experimental methodology and perhaps even examining other aspects of TST (e.g., variability) are needed.

Support (if any)

DOD Autism Research Program (McCrae, PI; W81XWH2010399); NIAMS (R01AR055160/R01AR005160- S1; P1,McCrae).
0124 The influence of the family environment on children’s sleep during the school year and summer
Authors: Fergason Kyla , Moreno Jennette
Published: May 2023

Introduction

More than a third of US children do not receive adequate sleep. Earlier bedtimes, consistent bedtime routines, and good sleep hygiene help to support more adequate sleep. Our previous work has shown that during summer, 5-8-year-old children go to bed later and obtain less sleep compared to the school year. We hypothesized that school year-summer differences in the family environment would explain differences in children’s sleep timing during these periods.

Methods

During the school year and summer, 119 parents of 5–8-year-olds completed measures of child temperament, sleep hygiene, parenting practices, and parent stress and social support. Child sleep was measured for 8 days using wrist actigraphs. Sleep onset and offset were determined using the Sadeh algorithm and sleep diaries to determine sleep midpoint. Paired samples t-tests examined school year-summer differences in family environment variables and stepwise linear regression analyses were used to examine the effect of the family environment on sleep midpoint, controlling for age, gender, chronotype, and sleep duration.

Results

Compared to the school year, during summer parents reported less parent-child conflict before bed (t(117)=3.913, p<.001), less consistent bedtime routines (t(117)=4.808, p<.001), and average daily screen use (t(117)=-2.756, p=.007) and greater child surgency or impulsivity (t(108)=-2.960, p=.004. Overall, our model explained 48% of the variance in children’s sleep timing during the school year (p=<.001) and 45% during the summer (p=<.001). In the final model, greater caffeine intake (β=2.1, p=.033), later chronotype (β=0.4, p=<.001) and greater effortful control or self-regulatory skills (β=0.2, p=.047) predicted having a later sleep midpoint during the school year. During the summer, less consistent bedtime routines and later chronotype (β=0.3, p=.002) predicted having a later sleep midpoint (β=-0.2, p=.022).

Conclusion

The relaxed nature of the summer family environment likely contributes to decreased conflict over bedtime, increased child media use, and decreased bedtime routine consistency. However, only decreases in bedtime routine consistency contributed to later bedtimes during summer. Worryingly, 5-8-year-olds appear to be using caffeine during the school year contributing to later sleep timing. Addressing summer bedtime routines and children’s school-year caffeine intake are important targets for intervention to improve children’s sleep.

Support (if any)

Texas Children's Pediatric Pilot Award
0125 Youth Sleep-Wake Experience in Juvenile Justice Facilities: A Descriptive Analysis
Authors: Busby Ryan , Spargo Sammie , Bisline Lily , McGee Ryann , Nogales Josephina Munoz , Carlucci Marianna , Crowley Stephanie , Wolfson Amy
Published: May 2023

Introduction

With our knowledge of adolescents’ sleep and circadian rhythms, it is striking that there is minimal research on the sleep environment and sleep health of youth residing in juvenile justice facilities. Earlier findings from our group (Woodard et al., 2022) suggest that sleep-wake schedules and nighttime light exposure increase youth’s likelihood for conditioned insomnia symptoms and/or circadian dysregulation. The aim of this qualitative analysis is to examine youth’s perspectives about their sleep-living environment derived from brief semi-structured interviews.

Methods

Youth participants (N = 19, ages 13-20 years) were recruited from 6 Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) detention/treatment facilities in Maryland. For 7 consecutive mornings, youth completed a sleep diary reporting their bed/wake times, sleep onset, and type of (nocturnal) light exposure. After this week, youth were interviewed (virtual platform) about their experience with the study and their opinions on scheduling and environmental factors that they believe influenced their sleep during the previous 7 days. Based on the 8 interview questions, researchers created codes such as increased sleep knowledge, environmental disturbances, trouble with sleeping patterns, and light and environmental factors. Interviews were coded where 1 indicated the youth’s response fell into one of the codes and zero indicated the response did not correspond with one of the codes

Results

Interviews suggest that youth participated in the study to increase their knowledge about their sleep (47%). 63% reported that their sleep was better at home (e.g., later bed and wake times) than while residing in DJS facilities. Environmental factors such as light coming into the room (58%) and uncomfortable pillows and mattresses (37%) impacted their ability to sleep. Youth also reported that changing their sleep schedule to allow for sleeping longer in the morning would improve their sleep overall (63%).

Conclusion

Youth reported trouble sleeping in the facilities. Findings suggest that environmental factors such as light and noise make it difficult for youth to fall asleep and they desire later sleep-wake schedules. Further research is needed to evaluate how the environment can be modified to maximize sleep and circadian health in juvenile justice facilities.

Support (if any)

AASM Foundation Award #22-CS-19 & Maryland Department of Juvenile Services’ collaboration.
0130 Reduced Entropy in EEG During Rapid Eye Movement Sleep in Men with Depression
Authors: Haghayegh Shahab , Yang Hui-Wen , Abadjiev Daniel , Gaykova Nicole , Li Peng , Hu Kun
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Depression is an increasingly prevalent mental health condition. Patients with depression have disrupted rapid eye movement (REM) sleep as characterized by shortened REM latency, increased REM sleep duration, and increased REM density. However, it is unknown whether the dynamic patterns of EEG within REM episodes are altered in these patients. Here we investigated the complexity of EEG during REM sleep using the analysis of irregularity on multiple temporal time scales and compared the difference in such a nonlinear property of EEG between patients with depression and controls.

Methods

We analyzed the overnight EEG recordings (256 Hz) collected from the left central channel in 19 older men with depression and 19 age-matched otherwise healthy control men in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study (MrOS) obtained from the National Sleep Research Resource (NSRR). To quantify the irregularity/complexity in EEG fluctuations during REM, a Multiscale Entropy (MSE) analysis was performed on each 30-second epoch to calculate the entropy at different time scales between ~0.004 and ~0.078 seconds (i.e., 1/256, 2/256, …, 20/256 seconds).

Results

As compared to control men, men with depression had significantly lower entropy values at multiple time scales between 0.023-0.031 seconds (time scale =6/256 second: 0.363□0.008 [SE] for depression, 0.408□0.009 for controls; time scale =7/256 second: 0.295□0.009 for depression, 0.342□0.008 for controls; time scale =8/256 second: 0.225□0.009 for depression, 0.269□0.008 for controls; all FDR-adjusted P-values< 0.001), indicating reduced temporal irregularity/complexity in EEG fluctuations. The differences were not statistically significant at smaller or larger time scales.

Conclusion

EEG complexity/irregularity within REM sleep were altered in patients with depression. Our results indicate the capability of MSE analysis in capturing important complexity features of EEG fluctuations, which might be missed using those entropy algorithms focused on EEG fluctuations at a single time scale.

Support (if any)

RF1AG059867, RF1AG064312. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute provided funding for the ancillary MrOS Sleep Study, "Outcomes of Sleep Disorders in Older Men," under the following grant numbers: R01 HL071194, R01 HL070848, R01 HL070847, R01 HL070842, R01 HL070841, R01 HL070837, R01 HL070838, and R01 HL070839. The NSRR was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R24 HL114473, 75N92019R002).
0132 The role of stress in the association between neighborhood environment and sleep
Authors: Barber Lauren , Kim Byoungjun , Redline Susan , Thorpe Lorna , Duncan Dustin , Johnson Dayna
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Adverse neighborhood characteristics have been associated with poor sleep health. However, the mechanisms through which the neighborhood environment influences sleep are not completely understood. We examined the role of perceived stress in the association between neighborhood environment and sleep.

Methods

Between 2010 and 2013, 2,001 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) participants completed the Neighborhood and Sleep Ancillary studies. Neighborhood aesthetic quality and neighborhood social environment were measured among MESA participants and an independent sample of individuals living in the same neighborhood (defined as census tracts) using survey-based methods and geographic information systems at the census tract level. Responses from MESA participants and neighborhood informants were aggregated at the neighborhood level using empirical Bayes estimation to improve reliability and precision. MESA participants completed 1-week wrist actigraphy, yielding measures of average sleep duration and sleep efficiency. Stress was measured using the 4-item Perceived Stress Scale. Multi-level linear regression models were fit to examine associations between neighborhood aesthetic quality or social environment, perceived stress, and sleep duration or efficiency.

Results

The average age of the study population was 68.5 years (standard deviation [SD]=9.10), and 54% were women. The average sleep duration and sleep efficiency were 388.9 minutes (SD=80.8) and 89.8% (SD=3.7), respectively. A SD increase in neighborhood aesthetic quality or social environment was associated with 6.02 (95% CI 1.89, 10.14) and 6.96 (95% CI 2.92, 11.00) minutes longer sleep duration, respectively, after adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, study site, and socioeconomic and behavioral factors. Further adjustment for perceived stress attenuated the associations by 2.9-3.6% (neighborhood aesthetic quality: 5.80, 95% CI 1.68, 9.92; neighborhood social environment: 6.76, 95% CI 2.72, 10.80). Neighborhood environment and perceived stress were not associated with sleep efficiency.

Conclusion

Perceived stress had a modest 2.9-3.6% reduction in the association of neighborhood environment and sleep duration, thus suggesting a partial mediation. Future longitudinal studies with formal mediation analysis are needed to confirm these findings.

Support (if any)

Support for MESA is provided by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and contracts HHSN268201500003I, N01-HC-95159, N01-HC-95160, N01-HC-95161, N01-HC-95162, N01-HC-95163, N01-HC-95164, N01-HC-95165, N01-HC-95166, N01-HC-95167, N01-HC-95168, N01-HC-95169, UL1-TR-000040, UL1-TR-001079, UL1-TR-001881, and DK06349. MESA Sleep exam was supported by grant HL098433.
0135 Better Sleep Quality is Associated with Charitable Donations: Data from Two Population-Based Surveys
Authors: Nickel Allison , Tran David , Scullin Michael
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Insufficient sleep alters emotional processing, leading to impaired recognition and expression of emotions, greater endorsements of punishing behaviors, and withdrawal of compassionate helping. Using data from two national surveys, we investigated whether sleep quality and sleep duration were associated with willingness to donate to local charities, religious institutions, and political parties.

Methods

We conducted secondary analyses of two independent samples: Wave 5 and Wave 6 of the Baylor Religion Survey (BRS-5 and BRS-6). The BRS-5 included 1,501 participants (2017) and the BRS-6 included 1,248 participants (2021). Both surveys used random address-based sample methodologies to approximate population-representative samples, with stratification weighting targets matching national demographics for age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, and region. Each survey inquired about donations to local charities, religious institutions, and political parties. In addition, the BRS-5 included questions about sleep duration and sleep quality (restedness, sleep onset latency); BRS-6 only included questions about sleep quality.

Results

In the BRS-5, people were more likely to donate to a local charity and a religious institution if they had better sleep durations (charity: p = .004, OR = 1.39; institution: p = .05, OR: 1.45) and better sleep quality (charity: p = .015, OR=1.18; institution: p = .003, OR: 1.38). Some of these outcomes remained significant after controlling for income, age, gender, and race/ethnicity (e.g., institution donations and sleep quality: p = .026, OR = 1.30; sleep duration: p = .05, OR = 1.48). Similar outcomes emerged in the BRS-6, with better sleep quality being associated with more local charity donations (p < .001, OR=1.33), even after adjusting for income and demographic factors (p = .029, OR=1.19). Sleep measures were not significantly associated with donations to political parties after adjusting for demographic factors.

Conclusion

Better sleep was associated with a greater likelihood to donate locally. There is likely a bidirectional relationship between sleep outcomes and prosocial behaviors.

Support (if any)

National Science Foundation (1920730 and 1943323). BRS-5 and BRS-6 were supported by the John Templeton Foundation.