Collateral Child and Parent Effects of Behavioral Sleep Interventions for Children with Rare Genetic Neurodevelopmental Conditions

This study, following Woodford et al. (2024), investigated the collateral child and parent effects of function-based behavioral sleep interventions for 21 children with rare genetic neurodevelopmental conditions (RGNC).

Measures completed by parents at pre- and post-intervention assessed change in children’s internalizing and externalizing symptoms, health-related quality of life, behavioral strengths and difficulties, as well as parental sleep, relationship quality, and mental health symptoms. Data were analysed using modified Brinley plots and effect size estimates.

Results demonstrate modest collateral benefits across child emotional and behavioral difficulties and health-related quality of life, and maternal anxiety and stress symptoms and sleep quality. There was minimal improvement in parent ratings of child externalizing symptoms and physical health-related quality of life, parent relationship satisfaction and all paternal outcome measures. There was no statistically significant relationship between changes in collateral outcomes and sleep problem severity.

Findings underscore the diverse potential benefits of improved sleep and highlight the need for further prioritisation of sleep services and research in RGNC.