Parents’ Own Health-Related Experiences of a Weighted Blanket Intervention for Children with ADHD and Sleep Problems : A Mixed Methods Study
(2026) In European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education 16(5).- Abstract
Background: Parents of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and sleep problems can experience challenges and negative health effects. The aim of this study was to explore parents’ own health-related experiences as their child with ADHD and sleep problems underwent a sleep intervention with a weighted blanket. Methods: A convergent mixed methods design was undertaken. Sociodemographic and questionnaire data were collected from 68 parents at baseline and at the 16-week follow-up. Paired-samples t-tests were used to analyze the data. An inductive qualitative content analysis was used to analyze interviews with 21 parents after the follow-up. An integrative analysis was performed and assessed for confirmation,... (More)
Background: Parents of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and sleep problems can experience challenges and negative health effects. The aim of this study was to explore parents’ own health-related experiences as their child with ADHD and sleep problems underwent a sleep intervention with a weighted blanket. Methods: A convergent mixed methods design was undertaken. Sociodemographic and questionnaire data were collected from 68 parents at baseline and at the 16-week follow-up. Paired-samples t-tests were used to analyze the data. An inductive qualitative content analysis was used to analyze interviews with 21 parents after the follow-up. An integrative analysis was performed and assessed for confirmation, expansion, or disconfirmation. Results: At the follow-up, parents reported improvements in their own health status (EQ-5D-3L—index 0.83 ± 0.15 vs. 0.87 ± 0.13; p = 0.034), in well-being (Outcome Rating Scale—individual 7.08 ± 2.22 vs. 7.55 ± 1.82; p = 0.045), and in family life (the Brief Child and Family Phone Interview—family comfort score 5.62 ± 1.62 vs. 5.14 ± 1.66; p = 0.003). Parents’ health-related experiences were described as: (1) having a sense of well-being, including being well rested, sustaining energy, reaching a state of calm, and finding hope, (2) balancing family life, including reclaiming personal sphere and nurturing relationships, and (3) managing everyday life, including keeping to the daily schedule and dealing with household chores. The integrative analysis resulted in the overarching themes of health through: (1) inner strength (confirmed), (2) recovery (expanded), (3) close relationships (confirmed), and (4) social engagements (expanded). Conclusions: The findings suggest that sleep interventions for children with ADHD and sleep problems may also be associated with positive changes in aspects of parents’ health, well-being, and family life.
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- author
- Malmborg, Julia S. ; Svedberg, Petra ; Nygren, Jens ; Jarbin, Håkan LU and Larsson, Ingrid
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-05
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, convergent mixed methods, experiences, health status, parent, sleep intervention, sleep problems, well-being
- in
- European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education
- volume
- 16
- issue
- 5
- article number
- 57
- publisher
- MDPI AG
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:42188202
- scopus:105040213148
- ISSN
- 2174-8144
- DOI
- 10.3390/ejihpe16050057
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- d6f1719c-49c4-47e6-a5c2-e36b12b021b8
- date added to LUP
- 2026-07-03 13:05:57
- date last changed
- 2026-08-28 18:08:48
@article{d6f1719c-49c4-47e6-a5c2-e36b12b021b8,
abstract = {{<p>Background: Parents of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and sleep problems can experience challenges and negative health effects. The aim of this study was to explore parents’ own health-related experiences as their child with ADHD and sleep problems underwent a sleep intervention with a weighted blanket. Methods: A convergent mixed methods design was undertaken. Sociodemographic and questionnaire data were collected from 68 parents at baseline and at the 16-week follow-up. Paired-samples t-tests were used to analyze the data. An inductive qualitative content analysis was used to analyze interviews with 21 parents after the follow-up. An integrative analysis was performed and assessed for confirmation, expansion, or disconfirmation. Results: At the follow-up, parents reported improvements in their own health status (EQ-5D-3L—index 0.83 ± 0.15 vs. 0.87 ± 0.13; p = 0.034), in well-being (Outcome Rating Scale—individual 7.08 ± 2.22 vs. 7.55 ± 1.82; p = 0.045), and in family life (the Brief Child and Family Phone Interview—family comfort score 5.62 ± 1.62 vs. 5.14 ± 1.66; p = 0.003). Parents’ health-related experiences were described as: (1) having a sense of well-being, including being well rested, sustaining energy, reaching a state of calm, and finding hope, (2) balancing family life, including reclaiming personal sphere and nurturing relationships, and (3) managing everyday life, including keeping to the daily schedule and dealing with household chores. The integrative analysis resulted in the overarching themes of health through: (1) inner strength (confirmed), (2) recovery (expanded), (3) close relationships (confirmed), and (4) social engagements (expanded). Conclusions: The findings suggest that sleep interventions for children with ADHD and sleep problems may also be associated with positive changes in aspects of parents’ health, well-being, and family life.</p>}},
author = {{Malmborg, Julia S. and Svedberg, Petra and Nygren, Jens and Jarbin, Håkan and Larsson, Ingrid}},
issn = {{2174-8144}},
keywords = {{attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; convergent mixed methods; experiences; health status; parent; sleep intervention; sleep problems; well-being}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{5}},
publisher = {{MDPI AG}},
series = {{European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education}},
title = {{Parents’ Own Health-Related Experiences of a Weighted Blanket Intervention for Children with ADHD and Sleep Problems : A Mixed Methods Study}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe16050057}},
doi = {{10.3390/ejihpe16050057}},
volume = {{16}},
year = {{2026}},
}