Short sleep duration in childhood is linked with inflammation and long-term depression
Submitted by Rebekah Amos
Sleep problems are a risk factor for future depression, but it is not clear if long-term sleep problems in childhood lead to lasting depression later in life. We also do not know the biological processes that might contribute to this.
To answer this question, we used a large sample of almost 7,000 children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) birth cohort. Using this cohort, we measured the relationship between sleep problems in childhood and lasting depression in young adulthood, and whether increased levels of inflammation in the body bridged this link.
We found that children who consistently slept fewer hours from 6 months to 7 years old were almost 2 times more likely to have lasting depression in young adulthood. We also found that children who consistently slept fewer hours had higher levels of bodily inflammation, and this inflammation was linked to an increased likelihood of having a lasting form of depression.
From this research, we now know that consistently sleeping fewer hours during childhood is linked to long-term depression in young adults, and inflammation plays a role in this. By tackling short sleep duration and inflammation in children, we might better prevent lasting forms of depression from developing in young adults.
I’m a parent - what does this mean for me?
If your child struggles with sleep, try to improve their sleep hygiene - for example, getting them to bed earlier and at similar time each night, reducing screen time before bed, and encouraging physical activity during the day. Creating a calm sleep environment is a useful way of improving sleep and the possible issues that can emerge from getting less sleep than necessary.
I’m a clinician – what does this mean for me?
For young people presenting with depression symptoms and who are sleeping less, you may want to explore psychological and family-based interventions to improve sleep patterns and counteract the negative effects of shorter sleep duration.