Variation in sleep beliefs and behaviors among caregiver-child dyads participating in a sleep extension intervention

Abstract Introduction Given the high prevalence and poor outcomes of insufficient child sleep, effective interventions for the pediatric primary care setting are needed. Collecting family perspectives on intervention strategies is critical to understand and enhance outcomes, particularly among children who do not experience improvements. This study examined variation in qualitative family sleep beliefs and behaviors by quantitative child sleep outcomes of a sleep extension intervention. Methods A total of 24 caregiver-child dyads (child age 9–12 years, M age 11.3 (SD:1.0) years; 46% male; 50% non-Latinx White; 29% Black) participated in a mobile health sleep extension intervention, between March-December 2019, and completed post-intervention semi-structured telephone interviews to solicit intervention perceptions. The intervention used a 25 factorial design consisting of sleep duration goals and weekly performance feedback, with random assignment to sleep health promotion messaging and financial incentive conditions. Sleep duration was assessed via Fitbit Flex 2 devices during 2-week baseline and 7-week intervention periods. We developed a codebook using a grounded theory approach and conducted coding in NVivo. We compared preliminary qualitative themes among children who showed a >=30-minute improvement in sleep duration (‘responders’) versus those who did not (‘non-responders’). Results Of the 24 dyads, 38% (N=9 dyads) were classified as non-responders. Preliminary qualitative themes included: family beliefs about sleep and electronics usage; the study impact on sleep behaviors; and an enhanced awareness of child sleep. Intervention responder and non-responder dyads similarly described family restrictions on evening electronics usage (e.g., electronic parental controls; physical removal of devices) to benefit child sleep. However, more children classified as intervention responders described the benefits of these restrictions and expressed beliefs about the negative impacts of electronics on sleep. Whereas caregivers of both responders and non-responders described efforts to remind their child to go to bed earlier during the intervention, caregivers in the responder group described being more focused on and active in child sleep extension strategies. These included setting bedtime reminders and adjusting family activities to ensure an extended sleep schedule. Conclusion Addressing caregiver-child beliefs about sleep behaviors and engagement in sleep extension strategies could augment sleep extension intervention outcomes in future research. Support (if any) K01HL123612 (JAM), CHOP (JAM), K23HD094905 (AAW)