Associations Between Disruptive Behavior Problems, Parenting Factors, and Sleep Problems Among Young Children.

The study measured behavior, parenting, and sleep at the same time, so it cannot show whether parenting or behavior problems led to sleep problems or the other way around. The sample was selected for at-risk or clinically elevated externalizing behavior, so the findings may not apply to children without these concerns. Most children were Hispanic/Latino, and the sample was primarily low-income, so generalizability to other groups is unclear. Sleep problems were reported by parents on a questionnaire, so they may not match objective sleep measures. Seven families had missing data on at least one variable. For night wakings, the overall model was not significant, even though parenting stress was reported as uniquely associated.

The authors reported no financial interests or potential conflicts of interest.

Do not conclude that oppositional behavior or inconsistent discipline causes sleep problems. The study measured associations at one time, and in the combined model oppositionality was no longer significant once parenting factors were included.