Sleep problems are common in children and can have an effect on behavioral and emotional functioning. Despite the importance of sleep for children’s health, there is a lack of studies on this topic in Brazil. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of behavioral intervention for sleep problems in young children and to investigate the effects on their daytime behavior. Sixty-two children (ages 1–5; M = 2.3, SD = 1.3) with bedtime problems and night waking were randomized to a parent-based intervention or a wait list control group. After the waiting period, the wait list participants were offered treatment. The intervention was composed of five sessions over 2 months, during which the parents were educated on their child’s sleep and received guidance on the establishment of sleeping schedules and routines and on the use of extinction and positive reinforcement techniques. Sleep patterns and behavior problems were assessed with parent-report measures. Sleep patterns were also assessed with actigraphy. Assessments were completed at pre-intervention, post-intervention, 1-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up. Children who received intervention showed greater baseline to post-treatment improvements in sleep latency, night waking, behavior such as resisting going to bed, the desire to sleep with their parents, and daytime behavior than the control group. These improvements were maintained at follow-up. We concluded that behavioral parent-based intervention is effective in improving the quality of sleep and the diurnal behavior of children. This study provides initial support for use of this protocol in psychology clinics/schools. Brazilian clinical trials registration, RBR-4kxxd5. Retrospectively registered on December 13, 2016.

中文翻译：

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针对儿童睡眠问题的行为干预：巴西随机对照试验

睡眠问题在儿童中很常见，可能会影响行为和情绪功能。尽管睡眠对儿童健康至关重要，但巴西仍缺乏有关该主题的研究。这项研究的目的是评估行为干预对幼儿睡眠问题的功效，并研究其对白天行为的影响。将有就寝时间和夜间醒来的62名儿童（1-5岁； M = 2.3，SD = 1.3）随机分配到基于父母的干预或等待名单对照组中。等待期过后，为等待名单参与者提供了治疗。这项干预措施由两个月内的五次会议组成，在此期间，父母对孩子的睡眠进行了教育，并获得了有关制定睡眠时间表和例行程序以及使用消光和积极强化技术的指导。睡眠模式和行为问题通过父母报告的方法进行评估。睡眠模式也通过书法进行评估。在干预前，干预后，1个月的随访和6个月的随访中完成评估。接受干预的儿童与对照组相比，在治疗后的睡眠潜伏期，夜间醒来，抗拒入睡，渴望与父母睡眠以及白天行为等方面表现出更大的基线改善。这些改进在后续行动中得以维持。我们得出的结论是，基于父母的行为干预可以有效改善儿童的睡眠质量和昼夜行为。这项研究为在心理诊所/学校使用该协议提供了初步的支持。巴西临床试验注册，RBR-4kxxd5。追溯注册于2016年12月13日。