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. 2022 Jan 23;3(2):370-382.
doi: 10.1007/s42761-021-00094-2. eCollection 2022 Jun.

Sleep and Negative Affect Across Toddlerhood in the Context of Stress

Jessica F Sperber  1 , Maureen E McQuillan  2 , Caroline P Hoyniak  3 , Angela D Staples  4 , Kathleen M Rudasill  5 , Victoria J Molfese  6 , John E Bates  7
Affiliations

Sleep and Negative Affect Across Toddlerhood in the Context of Stress

Jessica F Sperber et al. Affect Sci. .

Abstract

Negative affect is associated with both high stress and poor sleep, but questions remain about the direction of these associations across time and interactions between stress and sleep, especially in early childhood. The present study examined sleep deficits, family stress, and observed negative affect in a sample of toddlers at 30, 36, and 42 months (N = 504). Negative affect was observed during a parent-child free play task. Sleep was measured via actigraphy. Stress was measured using a cumulative risk index of socioeconomic status, single parent status, household chaos, role overload, parenting hassles, social support, and stressful events. Findings showed few associations between sleep and negative affect, except for toddlers experiencing high levels of family stress. Toddlers experiencing both high stress and poor sleep demonstrated the highest levels of negative affect in the lab at 30 months. Adequate sleep may serve as a protective factor for children in high-stress families.

Keywords: Longitudinal; Negative affect; Sleep; Stress; Toddlers.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of InterestThe authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
a–d Sleep indexes and negative affect at 30 months by Cumulative Risk Index (CRI). Observed negative affect was measured during parent–child free play in the lab. Stress was measured using a Cumulative Risk Index (CRI). Low/high stress defined as − / + 1 SD from the mean. a Two-way interaction between child sleep duration (z-scored) and stress predicting negative affect. b Two-way interaction between child sleep variability (z-scored) and stress predicting negative affect. c Two-way interaction between child sleep timing (z-scored) and stress predicting negative affect. d Two-way interaction between child sleep activity (z-scored) and stress predicting negative affect
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
a, b Sleep onset latency and negative affect by Cumulative Risk Index (CRI). Observed negative affect was measured during parent–child free play in the lab. Stress was measured using the Cumulative Risk Index (CRI). Low/High stress defined as − / + 1 SD from the mean. a Two-way interaction between child sleep onset latency and stress predicting negative affect at 30 months. b Two-way interaction between child sleep onset latency and stress predicting negative affect at 36 months
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