Personality factors in mothers of children who wake at night

A group of 32 mothers with children who wake three or more times at night were compared to a group of 32 mothers who have children with no sleep problems. All subjects included in the study were Caucasian, over the age of 18, and were married. Their children were matched on age, birth order, and sex. Each mother completed the Eysenck Personality Inventory. It was hypothesised that mothers who present with children who have sleep disturbances would be more introverted than mothers who have children with no sleep problems. It was also hypothesised that mothers who present with children who have sleep disturbances would be less stable than mothers who have children with no sleep disturbances. Both hypotheses were supported. The implications of these results concerning the development and management of sleep disturbances are discussed.