Insomnia symptoms, behavioral/emotional problems, and suicidality among adolescents of insomniac and non-insomniac parents

Xianchen Liu; Zhongtang Zhao; Cunxian Jia

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2015.05.023

Insomnia symptoms, behavioral/emotional problems, and suicidality among adolescents of insomniac and non-insomniac parents

Psychiatry Res. 2015 Aug 30;228(3):797-802. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2015.05.023. Epub 2015 May 30.

Authors

Xianchen Liu¹, Zhongtang Zhao², Cunxian Jia²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology & Health Statistics, Shandong University School of Public Health and Center for Suicide Prevention Research, Jinan, China; The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA. Electronic address: xliu69@uthsc.edu.
² Department of Epidemiology & Health Statistics, Shandong University School of Public Health and Center for Suicide Prevention Research, Jinan, China.

PMID: 26096660
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2015.05.023

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine insomnia symptoms, behavioral problems, and suicidality among adolescents of insomniac parents (IP) and non-insomniac parents (NIP). A family survey of sleep and health was conducted among 1090 adolescents and their parents in Jinan, China. Adolescents completed a sleep and health questionnaire to report their sleep and mental health problems. Parents reported their insomnia symptoms and history of mental disorders. Insomnia, behavioral problems, and suicidal behavior were compared between IP adolescents and NIP adolescents. IP adolescents were more likely than NIP adolescents to report insomnia symptoms, use of sleep medication, suicidal ideation, suicide plan, and suicide attempt. IP adolescents scored significantly higher than NIP adolescents on withdrawn and externalizing behavioral problems. After adjustment for demographics and behavioral problems, parental insomnia remained to be significantly associated with adolescent suicidal ideation and suicide plan. Our findings support the need for early screening and formal assessment of sleep and mental health in adolescents of insomniac parents.

Keywords: Adolescent; Behavioral/emotional problems; Family study; Insomnia; Suicidality.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Affective Symptoms / epidemiology*
Affective Symptoms / psychology*
Child of Impaired Parents / psychology*
China
Emotions
Female
Health Surveys
Humans
Male
Problem Behavior / psychology*
Psychopathology
Risk Assessment / statistics & numerical data
Self-Injurious Behavior / epidemiology*
Self-Injurious Behavior / psychology*
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / epidemiology*
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / psychology*
Suicidal Ideation*
Suicide, Attempted / psychology*
Suicide, Attempted / statistics & numerical data*