Parental attributions regarding sleep problems of children with an autism spectrum disorder or Down syndrome, and clinical research portfolio

This study aimed to investigate any difference between the attributions parents made about their child’s sleep problem, in parents of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and parents of children with Down Syndrome. Seventy-six parents of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and fifty-two parents of children with Down Syndrome completed a series of questionnaires on-line, regarding their child’s sleep problem, their beliefs about their child’s sleep problem and the parent’s level of anxiety and depression. A significant difference was found between the groups on four of the causal items; other health problem, child’s emotional state, child’s personality and diet. Parents of children with Down Syndrome showed a higher level of agreement that their child’s sleep problem could be attributed to another health problem compared to parents of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Parents of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder showed a higher level of agreement that their child’s sleep problem could be attributed to their child’s personality, their child’s emotional state and their child’s diet compared to parents of children with DS. There was a high level of agreement across all parents that their child’s disability was a causal factor to their sleep problem and differences in attributions may reflect characteristics of the child’s diagnosis. The results are consistent with previous findings that parents view disability as an important causal factor to their child’s sleep problem and suggest a possible overlap in parent’s views of their child’s sleep problem and views of their disability.