| The current study investigated the relationship among sleep parameters, executive functioning, and behavioral problems in school-aged children. One hundred twenty school-age children (6-10 years old) participated in the week-long study. Children’s executive functioning was assessed using tasks that measure inhibition, set shifting, and updating. Parents completed a one-week sleep diary for their child, the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ), and the Child Behavioral Checklist (CBCL). Data were collected and multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine the relationships between sleep, executive function, and behavior problems. Daytime sleepiness predicted inhibition. Mediation analyses were used to examine whether executive functions(i.e., set shifting, inhibition, and updating) mediated the relationships between sleep parameters (i.e., sleep duration, sleep difficulties, daytime sleepiness, and sleep rhythmicity) and behavioral problems (i.e., externalizing and internalizing behaviors).Both daytime sleepiness and sleep difficulties predicted more externalizing and internalizing problems. Executive functions did not mediate the relationship between sleep variables and behavior problems. Exploratory analyses investigated the relationship between the individual sleep parameters, inattention, and behavior problems. Inattention mediated the relationship between daytime sleepiness and externalizing behaviors in children. The findings in this study demonstrate the importance of investigating individual sleep parameters as they relate to other factors, instead of aggregating sleep
xvii parameters into a total sleep problems score. Implications and future research directions were discussed. Key Words: executive function, inhibition, inattention, externalizing, internalizing, sleep, daytime sleepiness, sleep difficulties, school-age children |