Bedtime Schedules and Sleep Regulation among Children of Incarcerated Parents

Objectives To investigate variation by parental incarceration history in the bedtime schedules set for elementary-age children and whether sleep was effectively regulated. Study design We ran multivariate regression models estimating the relationship between parental incarceration and 6 measures of bedtime schedules and sleep regulation. Our sample included 9-year-olds in the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (n = 3246), a survey of children born in large US cities between 1998 and 2000 that has an oversample of unmarried mothers. Results Children's bedtime schedules did not differ at a statistically significant level by parental incarceration history, but children of ever- vs never-incarcerated fathers had lower odds of consistently adhering to a set bedtime. Children of ever-incarcerated fathers also slept for less time on average than did children of never-incarcerated fathers, and they had lower odds of obtaining sufficient sleep. Bedtime consistency partly mediated the association between paternal incarceration and total sleep duration. Conclusions Although caregivers set appropriate bedtime schedules for children of ever-incarcerated fathers, consistent adherence to those schedules may be particularly challenging given the structural hardships of paternal incarceration. Policymakers, researchers, and practitioners working to improve sleep among children of incarcerated fathers should focus on helping families to develop strategies for implementing bedtime schedules as consistently and effectively as possible.

Automated summary

Parental incarceration history does not significantly impact children's bedtime schedules, but children of incarcerated fathers have more challenges adhering to set bedtime and obtaining sufficient sleep compared to children of non-incarcerated fathers. Strategies for implementing and maintaining bedtime schedules may help improve sleep among children of incarcerated fathers.