Date of Graduation

2016

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

PhD

College

Eberly College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

Christina L Duncan

Committee Co-Chair

Amy Fiske

Committee Member

Cheryl B McNeil

Committee Member

Hawley E Montgomery-Downs

Committee Member

Amy K Root

Abstract

Youth with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may be at increased risk for sleep difficulties due to the inflammatory nature of their disease. Moreover, previous research has demonstrated that children and adolescents with IBD experience impairment across a variety of psychosocial domains. However, the current literature has yet to examine the complex interplay between sleep, disease-related symptoms, and psychosocial factors such as mood and health-related quality of life in youth with both types of IBD (i.e., Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine sleep patterns and associated factors, including pain, disease activity, mood, and health-related quality of life, in children and adolescents with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. A sample of 25 children and adolescents with IBD (Mage = 14.25; range = 10-18 years; 56% male) and their caregivers were recruited from a pediatric gastroenterology clinic in West Virginia. Results indicated no significant association for sleep with abdominal pain, negative affect, or positive affect. However, significant associations were revealed among sleep and patient age, disease activity, and health-related quality of life. Youth with IBD also demonstrated greater sleep disturbance than previously published data using normatively developing samples. Findings of the current study suggest that children and adolescents with IBD experience significant sleep disturbance, which may impact their disease activity and psychosocial functioning. Consequently, healthcare providers should screen for and address sleep difficulties to optimize better outcomes in their pediatric patients.

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