Child Sleep and Parent Depressive Symptoms.

OBJECTIVES: Parent distress and child sleep problems have been associated in earlier research. The present study expands on past research on parent depressive symptoms and their child's sleep. This study examines the relation between parents who screen positive for depressive symptoms and their perception of their child's sleep. METHODS: Three hundred sixty-nine English-speaking parents of children ages 3 to 5 years (n = 134) or 6 to 11 years (n = 235) met this study's inclusion criteria within the Southwestern Ohio Ambulatory Research Network (response rate 90%). The validated scales used were the RAND Depression Screener (DS), the Wisconsin Abbreviated Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (WCSHQ), and the Jenkins Sleep Questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations with the WCSHQ. RESULTS: In total, 74.3% of the study children were White, 82.4% of respondents were the child's mother, 75.1% had at least some college education, and 54.4% reported an annual income of <$50,000. In total, 54.4% of children were male and 53.8% had public health insurance. Approximately one-fourth of parents had a positive DS and nearly one-third reported sleep problems. Adjusting for child's age and other factors, we found that parents with a positive (vs negative) DS had AOR 2.42 (95% CI 1.38-4.24) for higher WCSHQ scores. Children ages 3 to 5 years (vs 6-11 years) had AOR 2.48 (95% CI 1.56-3.95) for higher WCSHQ scores. CONCLUSIONS: Parents with a positive DS were more likely to report sleep problems in their children after adjusting for the child's age. These findings from a diverse sample of US Midwestern families at primary care venues corroborate previous research.

Elucidating emotional closeness within the Theory of Health-Related Family Quality of Life: evidence from breast cancer survivors.

OBJECTIVES: Due to the increasing survivorship of breast cancer, survivor's view of their families through the process of diagnosis and treatment is essential. The Theory of Health-related Family Quality of Life (HRFQoL) guided this exploration of the ways in which breast cancer impacts family life. In this study, HRFQoL was used to explore breast cancer survivors' perceptions of the theory's sub-concepts of psychological and/or affectional closeness, family communication, and social support. The guiding research question was: In what ways do breast cancer survivors describe their experiences regarding changes in emotional closeness among family members following their breast cancer diagnosis? Participants (N = 22) were interviewed to discuss their experiences with breast cancer, family quality of life, decision-making, basic health information, and personal coping. Data were analyzed using NVivo 9 to conduct thematic analysis and consensual qualitative data analysis. RESULTS: Diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer improved the majority of participants' HRFQoL. Participants who reported positive perceptions prior to diagnosis also reported positive perceptions after diagnosis. These findings elucidate the HRFQoL theory and contribute to understanding how breast cancer impacts family life.