Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Comparison of Online and Face-to-Face Parent Education for Children with Autism and Sleep Problems

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have sleep disorders. Face-to-face (F2F) sessions have empowered parents to help their child sleep. Our goal was whether online technologies could provide similar improvements in children’s sleep while also improving parents’ quality of life. Identical programs were taught in two sessions to F2F and online parents. Measurements were compared from baseline to 4 and 8 weeks post teaching sessions. Twenty-three participants completed the program. Parent quality of life improved for both groups. Parent fatigue scores were improved and sustained for the online group. The total sleep score improved for both groups, while the online group had sustained decreases in night wakings. Online methods can conveniently help improve sleep for children with ASD.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

(adapted from Clifford and Minnes 2013)

Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adkins, K. W., Molloy, C., Weiss, S. K., Reynolds, A., Goldman, S. E., Burnette, C., et al. (2012). Effects of a standardized pamphlet on insomnia in children with autism spectrum disorders. Pediatrics, 130(2), S139–S144.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ali, N., Rigney, G., Weiss, S. K., Brown, C. A., Constantin, E., Godbout, R., et al. (2018). Optimizing an eHealth insomnia intervention for children with neurodevelopmental disorders: A Delphi study. Sleep Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2017.12.008.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bastiaansen, D., Koot, H. M., Ferdinand, R. F., & Verhulst, F. C. (2004). Quality of life in children with psychiatric disorders: Self-, parent, and clinician report. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 43(2), 221–230.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carter, I. (2009). Positive and negative experiences of parents involved in online self-help groups for autism. Journal on Developmental Disabilities, 15, 44–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 years—Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2014. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 67(6), 1–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clifford, T., & Minnes, P. (2013). Logging on: Evaluating an online support group for parents of children with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43, 1662–1675. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1714-6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S., & Wills, T. A. (1985). Stress, social support and the buffering hypothesis. Psychological Bulletin, 98, 310–357.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cortesi, F., Giannotti, F., Ivanenko, A., & Johnson, K. (2010). Sleep in children with autistic spectrum disorder. Sleep Medicine, 11(7), 659–664. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2010.01.010.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cuomo, B. M., Vaz, S., Lee, E. A. L., Thompson, C., Rogerson, J. M., & Falkmer, T. (2017). Effectiveness of sleep-based interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder: A meta-synthesis. Pharmacotherapy, 37(5), 555–578. https://doi.org/10.1002/phar.1920.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Delahaye, J., Kovacs, E., Sikora, D., Hall, T. A., Orlich, F., Clemons, T. E., et al. (2014). The relationship between health-related quality of life and sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 8, 292–303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2013.12.015.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eckerberg, B. (2004). Treatment of sleep problems in families with young children: Effects of treatment on family well-being. Acta Paediatrica, 93(1), 126–134. https://doi.org/10.1080/08035250310007754.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Giallo, R., Wood, C. E., Jellett, R., & Porter, R. (2011). Fatigue, wellbeing and parental self-efficacy in mothers of children with an autism spectrum disorder. Autism, 17(4), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361311416830.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goodlin-Jones, B. L., Sitnick, S. L., Tang, K., Liu, J., & Anders, T. F. (2008). The Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire in toddlers and preschool children. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 29(2), 82–88. doi: 0.1097/DBP.0b013e318163c39a.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gruber, R., Cassoff, J., Frenette, S., Wiebe, S., & Carrier, J. (2012). Impact of sleep extension and restriction on children’s emotional lability and impulsivity. Pediatrics, 130(5), e1155–e1161.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heitzman-Powell, L. S., Buzhardt, J., Rusinko, L. C., & Miller, T. M. (2013). Formative evaluation of an ABA outreach training program for parents of children with autism in remote areas. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 29(1), 23–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hollway, J. A., & Aman, M. G. (2011). Sleep correlated of pervasive developmental disorders: A review of the literature. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 32, 1399–1421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2011.04.001.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hollway, J. A., Aman, M. G., & Butter, E. (2013). Correlates and risk markers for sleep disturbance in participants of the autism treatment network. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43, 2830–2843. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-013-1830-y.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Humphreys, J. S., Gringras, P., Blair, P. S., Scott, N., Henderson, J., Fleming, P. J., et al. (2014). Sleep patterns in children with autistic spectrum disorders: A prospective cohort study. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 99(2), 114–118. https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2013-304083.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hundley, R. J., Shui, A., & Malow, B. A. (2016). Relationship between subtypes of restricted and repetitive behaviors and sleep disturbance in autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46, 3448–3457. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2884-4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, J. B., Steward, S. R., Roper, S. O., & Muruthi, B. A. (2018). Support group value and design for parents of children with severe or profound intellectual and developmental disabilities. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3665-z.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Jeste, S. S. (2011). The neurology of autism spectrum disorders. Current Opinion in Neurology, 24(2), 132–139. https://doi.org/10.1097/WCO.0b013e3283446450.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, C. R., Turner, K. S., Foldes, E., Brooks, M. M., Kronk, R., & Wiggs, L. (2013). Behavioral parent training to address sleep disturbances in young children with autism spectrum disorders: A pilot trial. Sleep Medicine, 14, 995–1004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2013.05.013.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Katz, T., & Malow, B. (2014). Solving sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder: A guide for frazzled families. Bethesda: Woodbine House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lopez-Wagner, M. C., Hoffman, C. D., Sweeney, D. P., Hodge, D., & Gilliam, J. E. (2008). Sleep problems of parents of typically developing children and parents of children with autism. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 169(3), 245–259. https://doi.org/10.3200/gntp.169.3.245-260.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Malow, B. A., Adkins, K. W., Reynolds, A., Weiss, S. K., Loh, A., Fawkes, K., et al. (2014). Parent-based sleep education for children with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44(1), 216–228. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-013-1866-z.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Markovich, A. N., Gendron, M. A., & Corkum, P. V. (2015). Validating the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire against polysomnography and actigraphy in school-aged children. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 5, 188. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2014.00188.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Mayes, S. D., & Calhoun, S. L. (2009). Variables related to sleep problems in children with autism. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 3, 931–941. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2009.04.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mazurek, M. O., & Petroski, G. F. (2015). Sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder: Examining the contributions of sensor over-responsivity and anxiety. Sleep Medicine, 16, 270–279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep..11.0062014.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Michielsen, H. J., De Vries, J., & Van Heck, G. L. (2003). Psychometric qualities of a brief self-rated fatigue measure: The Fatigue Assessment Scale. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 54, 345–352.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mileva-Seitz, V. R., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J., Battaini, C., & Maartje, P. C. M., L (2017). Parent-child bed-sharing: The good, the bad, and the burden of evidence. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 32, 4–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2016.03.003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morgenthaler, T., Alessi, C., Friedman, L., Owens, J., Kapur, V., Boehlecke, B., et al. (2007). Practice parameters for the use of actigraphy in the assessment of sleep and sleep disorders: An update for 2007. Sleep, 30(4), 519–529.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Owens, J. A., Spirito, A., & McGuinn, M. (2000). The Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ): Psychometric properties of a survey instrument for school-aged children. Sleep-New York, 23(8), 1043–1051.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reed, H. E., McGrew, S. G., Artibee, K., Surdkya, K., Goldman, S. E., Frank, K., et al. (2009). Parent-based sleep education workshops in autism. Journal of Child Neurology, 24(8), 936–945. https://doi.org/10.1177/0883073808331348.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Reid, M. J., Walter, A. L., & O’Leary, S. G. (1999). Treatment of young children’s bedtime refusal and nighttime wakings: A comparison of “standard” and graduated ignoring procedures. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 27(1), 5–16.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, S., Lane, S. J., & Thacker, L. (2012). Sensory processing, physiological stress, and sleep behaviors in children with and without autism spectrum disorders. OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health, 32(1), 246–257. https://doi.org/10.3928/15394492-20110513-02.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sadeh, A. (2004). A brief screening questionnaire for infant sleep problems: Validation and findings for an Internet sample. Pediatrics, 113(6), e570–e577.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute Inc. (2018). Cary, NC. Retrieved from https://www.sas.com.

  • Schreck, K. A., Mulick, J. A., & Smith, A. F. (2004). Sleep problems as possible predictors of intensified symptoms of autism. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 25, 57–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2003.04.007.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sivertsen, B., Posserud, M. B., Gillberg, C., Lundervold, A. J., & Hysing, M. (2012). Sleep problems in children with autism spectrum problems: A longitudinal population-based study. Autism, 16(2), 139–150. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361311404255.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Souders, M. C., Savodny, S., Eriksen, W., Sinko, R., Connell, J., Kerns, C., et al. (2017). Sleep in children with ASD. Current Psychiatry Report, 19(6), 34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stokes, M. A., Kornienko, L., Scheeren, A. M., Koot, H. M., & Begeer, S. (2017). A comparison of children and adolescent’s self-report and parental report of the PedsQL among those with and without autism spectrum disorder. Quality of Life Research, 26, 611–624. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-016-1490-4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Symon, J. B. (2001). Parent education for autism: Issues in providing services at a distance. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 3(3), 160–174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, M. A., Schreck, K. A., & Mulick, J. A. (2012). Sleep disruption as a correlate to cognitive and adaptive behavior problems in autism spectrum disorders. Research in Developmental Disabilities. 33(5), 1408–1417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2012.03.013.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tudor, M. E., Hoffman, C. D., & Sweeney, D. P. (2012). Children with autism: Sleep problems and symptom severity. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities., 27(4), 254–262. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088357612457989.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varni, J. W., Sherman, S. A., Burwinkle, T. M., Dickinson, P. E., & Dixon, P. (2004). The PedQL™ Family Impact Module: Preliminary reliability and validity. Health and Quality Life Outcomes. https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-2-55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Veatch, O. J., Reynolds, A., Katz, T., Weiss, S. K., Loh, A., Wang, L., & Malow, B. A. (2017). Sleep in children with autism spectrum disorders: How are measures of parent report and actigraphy related to and affected by sleep education? Behavioral Sleep Medicine. 14, 665–676.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vismara, L. A., McCormick, C., Young, G. S., Nadham, A., & Monlux, K. (2013). Preliminary findings of a telehealth approach to parent training in autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43, 2953–2969.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vriend, J. L., Corkum, P. V., Moon, E. C., & Smith, I. M. (2011). Behavioral interventions for sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorders: Current findings and future directions. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 36(9), 1017–1029. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsr044.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weiss, S. K. (n.d.). Strategies to improve sleep in children with autism spectrum disorders: A parents’ guide. Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network. Retrieved from http://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services.

  • World Health Organization. (1995). The World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment (WHOQOL): Position paper from the World Health Organization. Social Science & Medicine, 41(10), 1403–1409.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu, X., Ham, L. S., Au, C. T., Chan, S. H. Y., Chan, D. F., & Li, A. M. (2015). Extended parent-based behavioural education improves sleep in children with autism spectrum disorder. Hong Kong Journal of Paediatrics, 20(4), 219–225.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Financial support for this study was provided by the Organization for Autism Research and Children’s Mercy Hospital.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA

    Cristine A. Roberts

  2. Patient Care Services Research, Children’s Mercy Hospital, 2401 Gillham Rd, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA

    Cristine A. Roberts

  3. Division of Developmental and Behavioral Sciences, Children’s Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA

    Kevin C. Smith

  4. Department of Health Services and Outcomes Research, Children’s Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA

    Ashley K. Sherman

Authors
  1. Cristine A. Roberts
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kevin C. Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ashley K. Sherman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

CAR conceived of the study, designed the methods and educational sessions, recruited and consented participants, conducted the educational sessions, distributed the measurement tools, managed the data collection, and drafted the manuscript. KCS collaborated in the conception of the study, managed all of the data associated with actigraphy and interpretation, and helped to draft and revise the manuscript. AKS performed the statistical analysis, designed the statistical tables, and wrote much of the results section of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cristine A. Roberts.

Ethics declarations

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Roberts, C.A., Smith, K.C. & Sherman, A.K. Comparison of Online and Face-to-Face Parent Education for Children with Autism and Sleep Problems. J Autism Dev Disord 49, 1410–1422 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3832-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3832-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation