Sleep Disturbances in Children

The goal of this study is to examine the relationship between sensory responsivity, bedtime arousal levels, sleep disturbances, and daytime emotion dysregulation for autistic children (ages 6-10). In a subset of children with elevated sensory responsivity, a sensory-based bedtime manipulation targeting bedtime arousal levels will be tested.

Sleep disturbances are prevalent among children with chronic illnesses, yet the specific impact of cancer on sleep remains underexplored. This prospective and cross-sectional study aims to evaluate the prevalence, severity, and characteristics of sleep disturbances in Chinese children with cancer compared to healthy peers and children with other chronic diseases. By leveraging validated sleep assessment tools and parental reports, the goal is to identify unique challenges faced by children with cancer. Results might influence the design of personalized interventions aimed at enhancing the overall well-being of children with cancer. This study will enroll Chinese children aged 6 to 18 years, divided into three distinct groups based on their health status: children with cancer, children with other chronic illnesses, and healthy children. A total sample size of 150 participants (50 per group) will be targeted to ensure adequate statistical power for comparative analyses. Recruitment will occur at Hong Kong Children's Hospital or the cancer and chronic illness groups, and healthy children will be recruited from healthy siblings of participants or the healthy children of hospital staff with specific inclusion and exclusion criteria applied to each group to maintain homogeneity and minimize confounding variables.