Clear associations of sleep, cognitive performance, and behavioral problems have been demonstrated in meta-analyses of studies in adults. This meta-analysis is the first to systematically summarize ...all relevant studies reporting on sleep, cognition, and behavioral problems in healthy school-age children (5-12 years old) and incorporates 86 studies on 35,936 children. Sleep duration shows a significant positive relation with cognitive performance (r = 0.08, confidence interval CI 0.06, 0.10). Subsequent analyses on cognitive subdomains indicate specific associations of sleep duration with executive functioning (r = 0.07, CI 0.02, 0.13), with performance on tasks that address multiple cognitive domains (r = 0.10, CI = 0.05, 0.16), and with school performance (r = 0.09, CI 0.06, 0.12), but not with intelligence. Quite unlike typical findings in adults, sleep duration was not associated with sustained attention and memory. Methodological issues and brain developmental immaturities are proposed to underlie the marked differences. Shorter sleep duration is associated with more behavioral problems (r = 0.09, CI 0.07, 0.11). Subsequent analyses on subdomains of behavioral problems showed that the relation holds for both internalizing (r = 0.09, CI 0.06, 0.12) and externalizing behavioral problems (r = 0.08, CI 0.06, 0.11). Ancillary moderator analyses identified practices recommended to increase sensitivity of assessments and designs in future studies. In practical terms, the findings suggest that insufficient sleep in children is associated with deficits in higher-order and complex cognitive functions and an increase in behavioral problems. This is particularly relevant given society's tendency towards sleep curtailment. (Contains 5 figures and 5 tables.)
Summary Although bright light therapy seems a promising treatment for sleep problems, research shows inconclusive results. This meta-analysis is the first to systematically review the effect of light ...therapy on sleep problems in general and on specific types of sleep problems in particular (circadian rhythm sleep disorders, insomnia, sleep problems related to Alzheimer's disease and dementia). Fifty-three studies with a total of 1154 participants were included. Overall effects and effects on separate circadian and sleep outcomes were examined. We calculated Hedges' g effect sizes and we investigated the effects of twelve moderators (design-related, treatment-related, participant-related). Light therapy was found effective in the treatment of sleep problems in general ( g = 0.39), and for circadian rhythm sleep disorders ( g = 0.41), insomnia ( g = 0.47), and sleep problems related to Alzheimer's disease/dementia ( g = 0.30) specifically. For circadian rhythm sleep disorders, effects were smaller for randomised controlled trials. For insomnia, we found larger effects for studies using a higher light intensity, and for sleep problems related to Alzheimer's disease/dementia larger effects were found for studies with more female participants. There was indication of publication bias. To conclude, light therapy is effective for sleep problems in general, particularly for circadian outcomes and insomnia symptoms. However, most effect sizes are small to medium.
Objective: To investigate the effect of melatonin treatment on sleep, behavior, cognition, and quality of life in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and chronic sleep onset ...insomnia. Method: A total of 105 medication-free children, ages 6 to 12 years, with rigorously diagnosed ADHD and chronic sleep onset insomnia participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial using 3 or 6 mg melatonin (depending on body weight), or placebo for 4 weeks. Primary outcome parameters were actigraphy-derived sleep onset, total time asleep, and salivary dim light melatonin onset. Results: Sleep onset advanced by 26.9 plus or minus 47.8 minutes with melatonin and delayed by 10.5 plus or minus 37.4 minutes with placebo (p less than 0.0001). There was an advance in dim light melatonin onset of 44.4 plus or minus 67.9 minutes in melatonin and a delay of 12.8 plus or minus 60.0 minutes in placebo (less than 0.0001). Total time asleep increased with melatonin (19.8 plus or minus 61.9 minutes) as compared to placebo (-13.6 plus or minus 50.6 minutes; p = 0.01). There was no significant effect on behavior, cognition, and quality of life, and significant adverse events did not occur. Conclusion: Melatonin advanced circadian rhythms of sleep-wake and endogenous melatonin and enhanced total time asleep in children with ADHD and chronic sleep onset insomnia; however, no effect was found on problem behavior, cognitive performance, or quality of life. (Contains 1 figure and 3 tables.)
The purpose of this study is twofold: First, it discusses and derives personality types based on Big Five traits. Second, it compares their associations with career success. After deriving both a ...statistical and content‐wise meaningful two‐type solution referring to a resilient and a distressed profile, the explanatory value for both objective (i.e., promotions and income) and subjective career success (i.e., self‐reported career success and career satisfaction) is tested for both traits and types. For objective career success, only traits appeared to be relevant predictors. For subjective career success, types appeared to have explanatory value as well, next to traits. This study concludes with a short discussion of its implications and possible further research avenues.
For a long time, public and semipublic organizations have borrowed Human Resource Management (HRM) practices from the private sector to enhance employee performance. Numerous scholars argue, however, ...that business-like practices are less effective outside the private sector context because of sector-specific conditions. Based on the ability–motivation–opportunity model, we performed a three-level meta-analysis to investigate differences in effects of HRM practices on individual performance across sectors. Our study shows that significant differences exist between sectors, but the expectation that the effects of HRM practices are largest in the private sector and smallest in the public sector is not supported. More specifically, the differences between the public, semipublic, and private sector are not straightforward. In this respect, we encourage future scholars to further examine these differences.
This study examined the importance of one's social work environment in the light of prevention of premature leave from the nursing profession. A research model with social support (from direct ...supervisor and close colleagues) as predictor and intention to leave as the dependent variable has been tested, while controlling for job satisfaction and age. Moreover, we have studied the impact of nurses’ age upon the prevalence of social support from both parties.
Data were obtained from 17,524 registered female nurses working in hospitals throughout Europe (Belgium, Germany, Finland, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, and Slovakia).
Our findings indicated that a lack of job satisfaction is an important risk factor in the light of nurses’ turnover as for most countries the intention to leave cannot be buffered by social support from one's close colleagues. However, in general, social support from one's direct superior appeared to contribute negatively to the intention to leave the profession, over and above job satisfaction and age. As regards age effects, in line with our expectation, we have found a significant negative relationship between age and social support from close colleagues, while the hypothesis regarding the relationship between age and supervisory support could not be confirmed.
Given its importance in the light of preventing premature leave, we advocate not to neglect the possible positive effects of social support from important key figures like nurses’ direct supervisor and close colleagues. It is necessary for health care institutions to carefully pay attention to finding opportunities to obtain more social support for all staff members. In Section
5, limitations and practical implications of this study are dealt with.
Summary
Childhood obesity is associated with significant health consequences. Although several intervention programmes for children result in weight loss or stabilization in the short‐term, ...preventing relapse after treatment remains an important challenge. This systematic review summarizes the evidence about maintenance interventions after treatment in childhood obesity. Studies were identified by searching PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL and SocINDEX. The primary outcome measure for this review was body mass index standard deviation score (BMI‐Z‐score). Data were pooled using quality effect models.
Eleven studies (1,532 participants, age 2–18 years) were included, covering a wide range of maintenance approaches. Included studies varied widely in methodological quality. Pooled analysis showed that the BMI‐Z‐score of maintenance intervention participants remained stable, whereas control participants experienced a slight increase. No differences were observed regarding intensity and duration of therapy. A slight preference for ‘face‐to‐face’ versus ‘on distance’ interventions was shown. In summary, this review shows that, although there is limited quality data to recommend one maintenance intervention over another, continued treatment does have a stabilizing effect on BMI‐Z‐score. Considering the magnitude of the problem of childhood obesity, this is an important finding that highlights the need for further research on weight loss maintenance.
Background
Whereas short and problematic sleep are associated with psychological problems in adolescence, causality remains to be elucidated. This study therefore utilized the discordant monozygotic ...cotwin design and cross‐lagged models to investigate how short and problematic sleep affect psychological functioning.
Methods
Adolescent twins (N = 12,803, 13–20 years, 42% male) completed questionnaires on sleep and psychological functioning repeatedly over a two‐year interval. Monozygotic twin pairs were classified as concordant or discordant for sleep duration and trouble sleeping. Resulting subgroups were compared regarding internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and subjective well‐being.
Results
Cross‐sectional analyses indicated associations of worse psychological functioning with both short sleep and problematic sleep, and cross‐lagged models indicate bidirectional associations. Longitudinal analyses showed that an increase in sleep problems experienced selectively by one individual of an identical twin pair was accompanied by an increase of 52% in internalizing problem scores and 25% in externalizing problem scores. These changes were significantly different from the within‐subject changes in cotwins with unchanged sleep quality (respectively, 3% increase and 5% decrease). Psychological functioning did, however, not worsen with decreasing sleep duration.
Conclusions
The findings suggest that sleep quality, rather than sleep duration, should be the primary target for prevention and intervention, with possible effect on psychological functioning in adolescents.
Sleep problems are highly prevalent in ADHD and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Better insight in the etiology is of clinical importance since intervention and prevention strategies of sleep problems ...are directed at underlying mechanisms. We evaluated the association of sleep problems and sleep patterns with sleep hygiene (behavioral/environmental practices that influence sleep quality, e.g. caffeine use), access to electronic media, chronotype, and anxiety/depression in children aged 6–12 years with ADHD, ASD, or typical development (TD) using parental questionnaires. ANOVA and linear regression analyses were adjusted for age and sex. Children with ADHD and ASD showed more sleep problems (63.6 and 64.7%, vs 25.1% in TD) and shorter sleep duration than controls, while differences between ADHD and ASD were not significant. Sleep hygiene was worse in ADHD and ASD compared to TD, however, the association of worse sleep hygiene with more sleep problems was only significant in ASD and TD. There was a significant association of access to electronic media with sleep problems only in typically developing controls. Chronotype did not differ significantly between groups, but evening types were associated with sleep problems in ADHD and TD. Associations of greater anxiety/depression with more sleep problems were shown in ADHD and TD; however, anxiety/depression did not moderate the effects of chronotype and sleep hygiene. We conclude that sleep problems are highly prevalent in ADHD and ASD, but are differentially related to chronotype and sleep hygiene. In ASD, sleep problems are related to inadequate sleep hygiene and in ADHD to evening chronotype, while in TD both factors are important. Clinical implications are discussed.
Chronic sleep onset insomnia with late melatonin onset is prevalent in childhood, and has negative daytime consequences. Melatonin treatment is known to be effective in treating these sleep problems. ...Bright light therapy might be an alternative treatment, with potential advantages over melatonin treatment. In this study, we compare the effects of melatonin and bright light treatment with a placebo condition in children with chronic sleep onset insomnia and late melatonin onset.
Eighty-four children (mean age 10.0 years, 61% boys) first entered a baseline week, after which they received melatonin (N = 26), light (N = 30), or placebo pills (N = 28) for 3 to 4 weeks. Sleep was measured daily with sleep diaries and actigraphy. Before and after treatment children completed a questionnaire on chronic sleep reduction, and Dim Light Melatonin Onset (DLMO) was measured. Results were analyzed with linear mixed model analyses.
Melatonin treatment and light therapy decreased sleep latency (sleep diary) and advanced sleep onset (sleep diary and actigraphy), although for sleep onset the effects of melatonin were stronger. In addition, melatonin treatment advanced DLMO and had positive effects on sleep latency and sleep efficiency (actigraphy data), and sleep time (sleep diary and actigraphy data). However, wake after sleep onset (actigraphy) increased with melatonin treatment. No effects on chronic sleep reduction were found.
We found positive effects of both melatonin and light treatment on various sleep outcomes, but more and stronger effects were found for melatonin treatment.
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