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EVALUATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF SLEEP DISTURBANCES TO SEVERITY AND COMMON BEHAVIORS IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

Miner, Stacy
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3350-9386
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case160769321512457

Abstract Details

2021, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Nursing.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is one of the most puzzling disorders of childhood. Recent studies have indicated that comorbidities and symptoms, commonly attributed to the diagnosis, may be contributing to the behavioral symptoms of the disorder. Disturbed sleep in all children can decrease cognition, decrease focus, increase performance problems, and alter mood and behavior. Disturbed sleep patterns, such as increased sleep latency, nighttime waking and early arousal, have been identified in up to 80% of children with ASD. Recent evidence suggests children with ASD experience an increased sensitivity to disturbed sleep that may increase the severity of the disorder. This study explored how disturbed sleep influences the severity of behavioral symptoms common to ASD. Actigraphy and an accompanying sleep diary captured disturbed sleep patterns in 24 children, ages 6-12, with ASD. Participants wore a GT3X actigraphy monitor for 7 nights to collect data on patterns of disturbed sleep. Parents completed a sleep diary and the Autism Spectrum Rating Scale (ASRS) questionnaire. A descriptive analysis was used to report the characteristics of nighttime sleep and sleep efficiency as well as sleep disturbances. Pearson’s r determined the relationships between the number of sleep disturbances and the severity of ASD behavioral scores and diagnostic severity (determined by the ASRS). Of the 24 study participants, almost 92% had one or more sleep disturbances. A positive correlation was present between the number of sleep disturbances and the severity of delays in social and communication symptoms (r = .59, p = <.01). A moderate effect size was found between the number of sleep disturbances and unusual behaviors in ASD (r = -.38, p = .07), suggesting a possible, unanticipated, inverse relationship. Exploring the relationship of disturbed sleep to behavior and symptom severity in children with ASD can provide an understanding of how poor sleep influences ASD symptoms. This study identified distinct differences in symptom severity between and within individual participants. This knowledge will be useful to guide efforts to provide patient specific interventions, mitigate ASD symptoms, and improve the likelihood of success of therapeutic and behavioral interventions in this population
Elizabeth Damato, PhD, RN, APRN (Committee Chair)
Christopher Burant, PhD, MACTM, FGSA (Committee Member)
Marguerite DiMarco, PhD, RN, CPNP, FAAN (Committee Member)
Anastasia Dimitropoulos, PhD (Committee Member)
119 p.
Nursing
Autism, Sleep, ASD Behavioral Symptoms

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Miner, S. (2021). EVALUATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF SLEEP DISTURBANCES TO SEVERITY AND COMMON BEHAVIORS IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case160769321512457

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Miner, Stacy. EVALUATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF SLEEP DISTURBANCES TO SEVERITY AND COMMON BEHAVIORS IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER. 2021. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case160769321512457.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Miner, Stacy. "EVALUATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF SLEEP DISTURBANCES TO SEVERITY AND COMMON BEHAVIORS IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case160769321512457

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.