The impact of COVID-19 on sleep for autistic children: A systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Up to 80% of children with autism experience behavioural sleep problems, predominantly relating to bedtime resistance, sleep anxiety, sleep dysregulation, and shorter duration, which are associated with increased autistic symptom expression and emotional and behavioural difficulties. Researchers predicted the COVID-19 pandemic would worsen sleep and behavioural difficulties for autistic children, due to their need for routine and certainty. This systematic review is the first to focus on delineating the role of sleep disturbance in exacerbating autistic symptoms and internalising and externalising behaviours during the pandemic.

Method

In this PROSPERO registered systematic review, we aggregated and synthesised findings from empirical studies from 2020 onwards tha

SUBMITTER: Lewis S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9868385 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature