From Alert Child to Sleepy Adolescent: Age Trends in Chronotype, Social Jetlag, and Sleep Problems in Youth with Autism

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Bibliographic Details
Title: From Alert Child to Sleepy Adolescent: Age Trends in Chronotype, Social Jetlag, and Sleep Problems in Youth with Autism
Language: English
Authors: Briana J. Taylor (ORCID 0000-0002-9801-3728), Kahsi A. Pedersen (ORCID 0000-0002-0564-3465), Carla A. Mazefsky (ORCID 0000-0001-7467-0902), Martine A. Lamy (ORCID 0000-0001-5873-0813), Charles F. Reynolds (ORCID 0000-0002-2605-7887), William R. Strathmann, Matthew Siegel (ORCID 0000-0003-3457-8532)
Source: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2024 54(12):4529-4539.
Availability: Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 11
Publication Date: 2024
Sponsoring Agency: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (DHHS/NIH)
Contract Number: K99HD102586
R00HD102586
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Autism Spectrum Disorders, Sleep, Age Differences, Youth, Severity (of Disability), Individual Characteristics, Attention, School Schedules
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-06187-0
ISSN: 0162-3257
1573-3432
Abstract: Purpose: Developmental changes in sleep in youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are understudied. In non-ASD youth, adolescents exhibit a "night owl chronotype" (i.e., later sleep/wake timing) and social jetlag (i.e., shifts in sleep timing across school nights and weekends), with corresponding sleep problems. The purpose of this study is to evaluate age trends in chronotype, social jetlag, and sleep problems in high-risk youth with ASD. Methods: Youth with ASD (N = 171), ages 5-21 years old, were enrolled at the time of admission to specialized psychiatric units. Caregivers reported children's demographic information, habitual sleep timing, and sleep problems. Multivariate analyses evaluated the effect of age on chronotype, social jetlag, and sleep problems and the effects of chronotype and social jetlag on sleep problems. Covariates and moderators included sex, race, verbal ability, autism symptom severity, supplemental melatonin, and pubertal status. Results: Older age was associated with later chronotype, more social jetlag, fewer sleep anxiety/co-sleeping problems, fewer night waking and parasomnia problems, and more daytime alertness problems. The effect of age on chronotype was stronger for youth with greater social affective symptom severity. Mediation analyses showed that later chronotype statistically mediated the association between age and daytime alertness problems. Conclusions: Youth with ASD may exhibit night owl chronotype behavior and social jetlag as they enter adolescence. Shifts toward a later chronotype may be exacerbated by autism severity and may contribute to alertness problems and sleepiness during the day. Chronotype is modifiable and may be leveraged to improve daytime functioning in youth with ASD.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2024
Accession Number: EJ1448099
Database: ERIC
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