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Prevalence and Correlates of Maternal and Infant Sleep Problems in a Low-Income US Sample

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Abstract

Objectives

This study examined the prevalence and correlates of maternal and infant sleep problems among low-income families receiving home visiting services.

Methods

The study sample includes 1142 mother–infant dyads in Wisconsin, United States. Women completed a survey when their infants were between two weeks and one year old. Outcome data were collected using the PROMIS® sleep disturbance short form-4a and the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire. Correlates of sleep problems were assessed in two domains: maternal health and home environment quality. Descriptive analyses produced prevalence estimates, and multivariate regressions were performed to test hypothesized correlates of maternal and infant sleep problems. Subgroup analyses were conducted to examine the prevalence and correlates of sleep problems across different infant age groups.

Results

Approximately 24.5% of women reported poor or very poor sleep in the past week; 13% reported an infant sleep problem and 11% reported more than three infant wakings per night. Reported night wakings were more prevalent among younger infants but maternal and infant sleep problems were not. Multivariate results showed that poor maternal physical and mental health and low social support were associated with maternal sleep disturbance but not infant sleep problems. Bed sharing and smoking were associated with infant sleep outcomes but not maternal sleep. There was limited evidence that the correlates of maternal and infant sleep varied by infant age.

Conclusions for Practice

The findings point to alterable factors that home visiting programs and other interventions may target to enhance maternal and infant sleep.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by funding from the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Grant Program, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (Awards: X10MC311790100, X10MC295120100).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Child and Family Well-Being, Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2400 E. Hartford Ave, Milwaukee, WI, 53211, USA

    Joshua P. Mersky & ChienTi Plummer Lee

  2. School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA

    Ross M. Gilbert

  3. The Valley Foundation School of Nursing, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA, USA

    Deepika Goyal

Authors
  1. Joshua P. Mersky
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  2. ChienTi Plummer Lee
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  3. Ross M. Gilbert
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  4. Deepika Goyal
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Correspondence to Joshua P. Mersky.

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Mersky, J.P., Lee, C.P., Gilbert, R.M. et al. Prevalence and Correlates of Maternal and Infant Sleep Problems in a Low-Income US Sample. Matern Child Health J 24, 196–203 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-019-02852-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-019-02852-y

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