Somnologie

, Volume 21, Issue 1, pp 53–66 | Cite as

Die Cortisol-Aufwachreaktion bei Müttern junger Kinder mit Schlafproblemen

Effekte eines internetbasierten Behandlungsprogramms (Mini-KiSS Online)
  • Isabel Brandhorst
  • Carolin Bernhardt
  • Martin Hautzinger
  • Angelika A. Schlarb
Schwerpunkt
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund

Frühkindliche Schlafprobleme sind häufig und lösen bei den Eltern klinisch signifikanten Stress aus. Studien zeigen, dass eine Behandlung der kindlichen Schlafproblematik nicht nur den kindlichen Schlaf verbessern, sondern auch die mütterliche Stressbelastung reduzieren kann.

Ziel der Arbeit

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird untersucht, ob sich die Stressbelastung von Müttern nach einem internetbasierten Behandlungsprogramm für frühkindliche Schlafprobleme (Mini-KiSS Online) reduziert. Geprüft wird außerdem, ob sich die Cortisol-Aufwachreaktion als Instrument zur Erfassung der zentralnervösen Stressreaktion für eine solche Veränderungsmessung eignet.

Material und Methode

Mütter (N = 23) von jungen Kindern (sechs Monate bis vier Jahre) mit Schlafproblemen wurden randomisiert zu einer Experimental- oder Wartelisten-Kontrollgruppe zugewiesen. Vor und nach der Intervention/Wartezeit wurde die Stressbelastung der Mütter subjektiv durch Fragebögen und physiologisch durch die Cortisol-Aufwachreaktion, das Schlafverhalten des Kindes durch ein Schlaftagebuch und das Schlafverhalten der Mütter durch einen Fragebogen erfasst.

Ergebnisse

Das Mini-KiSS-Online-Training führte teilweise zu einer Reduktion der subjektiven Stressbelastung und zu einer Verbesserung des kindlichen und mütterlichen Schlafs. Eine Reduktion der Cortisol-Werte wurde nicht signifikant. Veränderungen der subjektiven und physiologischen Stressbelastung korrelierten miteinander.

Diskussion

Die Cortisol-Aufwachreaktion scheint sich zur Erfassung der zentralnervösen Stressreaktion bei Müttern junger Kinder mit Schlafproblemen zu eignen. Größere Stichproben erscheinen jedoch notwendig, um Veränderungen signifikant abbilden zu können.

Schlüsselwörter

Schlafprobleme Frühes Kindesalter Cortisol-Aufwachreaktion Mütter Stress 

Cortisol awakening response in mothers of young children with sleep problems

Effects of an internet-based treatment program (Mini-KiSS Online)

Abstract

Background

Sleep problems in young children are common and provoke clinically significant stress in their parents. Studies indicate that the treatment of the child’s sleep problem can simultaneously reduce maternal stress.

Objectives

In the present study we aimed to investigate, if maternal stress can be reduced by an Internet-based treatment program for sleep disturbances in young children (Mini-KiSS Online). The research also investigated whether the cortisol awakening response is a suitable tool for the detection of a central nervous stress response to such a change.

Materials and methods

Mothers (N = 23) of young children (six months to four years) with sleep problems were randomized to either the treatment or waiting-list control condition. Pre- and post-measurement assessed maternal distress by subjective questionnaires and physiologically by cortisol awakening response. The sleep behaviour of the child was assessed using a sleep-diary and the sleep behaviour of mothers using a questionnaire.

Results

Mini-KiSS Online partially reduced stress and improved child and maternal sleep. Reductions in cortisol level did not reach statistical significance. There was an association between reductions in subjective stress and cortisol level.

Conclusion

The cortisol awakening response seems to be an appropriate measure to detect stress in mothers of sleep-disturbed young children. However, larger sample sizes seem to be necessary to identify changes between measurement points.

Keywords

Sleep-wake disorders Early childhood Cortisol awakening response Mothers Stress 
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Notes

Einhaltung ethischer Richtlinien

Interessenkonflikt

I. Brandhorst, C. Bernhardt, M. Hautzinger und A. A. Schlarb geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht.

Die vorliegende Untersuchung wurde nach den Richtlinien der Deklaration von Helsinki durchgeführt und von der lokalen Ethikkommission der medizinischen Fakultät Tübingen genehmigt (185/2014BO1).

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2016

Authors and Affiliations

  • Isabel Brandhorst
    • 1
  • Carolin Bernhardt
    • 1
  • Martin Hautzinger
    • 1
  • Angelika A. Schlarb
    • 2
  1. 1.Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät, Fachbereich PsychologieUniversität TübingenTübingenDeutschland
  2. 2.Fakultät für Psychologie und SportwissenschaftenUniversität BielefeldBielefeldDeutschland

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