Dysregulation and sleep in 12- to 18-month-olds with elevated behavior problems: The moderating role of material hardship

Sleep problems, including longer sleep onset latency, frequent night wakings, and shorter nighttime sleep duration, are common during late infancy and are associated with elevated dysregulation, yet little is known about whether material hardship strengthens this association. The current study examined whether financial strain and food insecurity moderated associations between infant dysregulation and sleep outcomes in 200, 12- to 18-month-old infants with elevated behavior problems from a predominantly Hispanic/Latine sample. Caregivers completed measures of infant dysregulation, sleep, financial strain, and food insecurity. Higher infant dysregulation was associated with longer time to fall asleep, more night wakings, and shorter nighttime sleep duration. Greater financial strain and food insecurity were also associated with poorer sleep outcomes. In addition, the association between dysregulation and time to fall asleep was stronger among infants whose families experienced greater financial strain and higher food insecurity. Findings suggest that sleep onset latency may be particularly sensitive to the combined influence of infant dysregulation and material hardship, highlighting bedtime processes as a potential target for intervention and an important focus for future longitudinal research.