Article
Details
Citation
Kitsaras G, Pretty IA & Allan J (2022) Bedtime Routines Intervention for Children (BRIC) project: results from a non-randomised feasibility, proof-of concept study. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 8, Art. No.: 79. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-022-01039-7
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Bedtime routines are highly recurrent family activities with implications for children's wellbeing, development and health.
AIMS: The objective of this study is to co-develop and test in a feasibility, proof-of-concept study a bedtime routines intervention using text messages aimed at first-time parents with young children.
METHODS: Fifty first-time parents with children aged 1-3 years were recruited for this study. Parents received a text message-based intervention for 7-consecutive nights which provided support and information on achieving optimal bedtime routines. Parents completed pre- and post-intervention questionnaires focusing on children's sleep, bedtime routines and parental mood disturbance. Feedback was provided at the end of the study.
RESULTS: Recruitment target and high retention with 98%, or 49 out of 50 participants completing the study were achieved. Pre- and post-intervention, there were improvements in total children's sleep with children sleeping longer and having less disrupted sleep overall (MD = -?7.77 (SD = 17.91), t(48) = -?3.03, p = .004, CI (-?12.91, -?2.63) and in overall quality of bedtime routines (MD = -?5.00, SD = 7.01, t(48) = -?4.98, p < .001, CI (-?7.01, -?2.98). Parental mood disturbance decreased pre- to post-intervention (MD = 5.87, SD = 15.43, t(48) = 2.66), p = .010, CI (1.44, 10.30). Parents provided positive feedback about the intervention and valued the support that was provided to them.
CONCLUSIONS: Bedtime routines were successfully altered with short-term benefits for children's sleep and parental mood. Future research will need to utilize a more robust, longitudinal approach for a definite exploration of sustained changes in bedtime routines and their long-term implications for children and parents.
Keywords
Child; Wellbeing; Sleep; Parenting; Behaviour change
Journal
Pilot and Feasibility Studies: Volume 8
Status | Published |
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Funders | |
Publication date | 05/02/2022 |
Publication date online | 06/04/2022 |
Date accepted by journal | 30/03/2022 |
URL | |
Publisher | BioMed Central |
ISSN | 2055-5784 |
eISSN | 2055-5784 |
People (1)
Professor in Psychology, Psychology