Their Sleep Means More Harmony

Maternal Perspectives and Experiences of Preschoolers' Sleep in Ethnically and Socioeconomically Diverse Families in Aotearoa/New Zealand

Bibliographic Data

ID4685376
AuthorsDiane Muller (0000-0003-2497-8946, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand, corresponding author), Sarah-Jane Paine (0000-0002-0447-9069, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand), Lora J Wu (0000-0003-0957-5946, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand), T Leigh Signal (0000-0002-3414-1982, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand)
Year2019
Volume29
Issue14
Pages2023-2034
Publication date2019-12-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueQualitative Health Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1049-7323 • E-ISSN: 1552-7557
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1049732319842156
PMID30973062
OpenAlexW2940185843
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited56

Viewing sleep through a socioecological lens, maternal perceptions, and experiences of preschoolers' sleep were explored using semistructured interviews with 15 Māori (indigenous) and 16 non-Māori mothers, with low- and high socioeconomic position. Thematic analysis identified four themes: child happiness and health, maternal well-being, comfort and connection, and family functioning and harmony. Mothers perceived healthy preschooler sleep as supporting children's mental and physical health, parents' sleep/wake functioning, family social cohesion and emotional connectedness, and poor preschooler sleep as negatively influencing child, maternal and family well-being. Although many experiences were shared, some perceptions of sleep and sleep practices differed between mothers. Influences included health paradigms, socioeconomic circumstances, maternal autonomy, employment, parenting approaches, and societal expectations. Healthy preschooler sleep is valued by mothers and may play a protective role in family health and resilience. Preschooler sleep initiatives need to be responsive to maternal perspectives and address societal drivers of sleep experiences

Aotearoa · Developmental psychology · Ethnic group · Ethnically diverse · Psychiatry · Qualitative research · Sociology · Anthropology · Clinical Psychology · Early Childhood Education and Development · Gender Studies · Infant Development and Preterm Care · Medicine · Psychology · Sleep and related disorders · Gerontology

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