Parents’ perceptions of sleep problems in children with ADHD when using weighted blankets
(2025) In Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy 32(1).- Abstract
Background: Parents’ perceptions of children’s sleep problems when using a weighted blanket could enhance the understanding of challenges faced by families with ADHD and sleep problems. This is in alignment with a client-centred approach. Acknowledging, what parents perceive as a problem in a family context. Aim: To explore changes in parents’ perceptions of their children’s sleep problems before and after participation in a sleep intervention with weighted blankets. Methods: Children with ADHD (n = 45) aged 6–14 participated in a sleep intervention with weighted blankets. Data-collection (baseline + 16-week) using the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire. Results: Common sleep problems, such as bedtime resistance, daytime sleepiness,... (More)
Background: Parents’ perceptions of children’s sleep problems when using a weighted blanket could enhance the understanding of challenges faced by families with ADHD and sleep problems. This is in alignment with a client-centred approach. Acknowledging, what parents perceive as a problem in a family context. Aim: To explore changes in parents’ perceptions of their children’s sleep problems before and after participation in a sleep intervention with weighted blankets. Methods: Children with ADHD (n = 45) aged 6–14 participated in a sleep intervention with weighted blankets. Data-collection (baseline + 16-week) using the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire. Results: Common sleep problems, such as bedtime resistance, daytime sleepiness, sleep onset delay, and sleep duration, were reported to have improved in 50–75% of the children after using a weighted blanket, according to their parents. Changes were seen also for the less commonly reported parasomnias and nightly awakenings, and these problems were rarely perceived as persistent. Conclusions: Reported improvements covered various sleep domains, though some sleep issues persisted. Future evaluation of the effects of weighted blanket should assess multiple dimensions of sleep, before and after use. Significance: The client-centred approach, including parents’ perceptions of children’s sleep problems, is important in the evaluation of weighted blankets for children with ADHD.
(Less)
- author
- Lönn, Maria ; Erlandsson, Lena Karin ; Aili, Katarina ; Svedberg, Petra ; Jarbin, Håkan LU and Larsson, Ingrid
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Assistive technology, client-centred practice, emotional regulation, occupational therapy, sleep disorders
- in
- Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy
- volume
- 32
- issue
- 1
- article number
- 2538474
- publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105012206807
- pmid:40736452
- ISSN
- 1103-8128
- DOI
- 10.1080/11038128.2025.2538474
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 6dc9fa03-a5ed-41f8-9948-f10d6a773543
- date added to LUP
- 2026-01-20 11:04:40
- date last changed
- 2026-01-20 11:05:01
@article{6dc9fa03-a5ed-41f8-9948-f10d6a773543,
abstract = {{<p>Background: Parents’ perceptions of children’s sleep problems when using a weighted blanket could enhance the understanding of challenges faced by families with ADHD and sleep problems. This is in alignment with a client-centred approach. Acknowledging, what parents perceive as a problem in a family context. Aim: To explore changes in parents’ perceptions of their children’s sleep problems before and after participation in a sleep intervention with weighted blankets. Methods: Children with ADHD (n = 45) aged 6–14 participated in a sleep intervention with weighted blankets. Data-collection (baseline + 16-week) using the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire. Results: Common sleep problems, such as bedtime resistance, daytime sleepiness, sleep onset delay, and sleep duration, were reported to have improved in 50–75% of the children after using a weighted blanket, according to their parents. Changes were seen also for the less commonly reported parasomnias and nightly awakenings, and these problems were rarely perceived as persistent. Conclusions: Reported improvements covered various sleep domains, though some sleep issues persisted. Future evaluation of the effects of weighted blanket should assess multiple dimensions of sleep, before and after use. Significance: The client-centred approach, including parents’ perceptions of children’s sleep problems, is important in the evaluation of weighted blankets for children with ADHD.</p>}},
author = {{Lönn, Maria and Erlandsson, Lena Karin and Aili, Katarina and Svedberg, Petra and Jarbin, Håkan and Larsson, Ingrid}},
issn = {{1103-8128}},
keywords = {{Assistive technology; client-centred practice; emotional regulation; occupational therapy, sleep disorders}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
publisher = {{Taylor & Francis}},
series = {{Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy}},
title = {{Parents’ perceptions of sleep problems in children with ADHD when using weighted blankets}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/11038128.2025.2538474}},
doi = {{10.1080/11038128.2025.2538474}},
volume = {{32}},
year = {{2025}},
}