Cortisol awakening response in mothers of young children with sleep problems. Effects of an internet-based treatment program(Mini-KiSS Online)

Brandhorst I, Bernhardt C, Hautzinger M, Schlarb A. Die Cortisol-Aufwachreaktion bei Müttern junger Kinder mit Schlafproblemen. Effekte eines internetbasierten Behandlungsprogramms (Mini-KiSS Online). Somnologie. 2017;21(1):53-66.Background. Sleep problems in young children are common and provoke clinically significant stress in their parents. Studies indicate that the treatment of the child's sleep problem can simultaneously reduce maternal stress. Objectives. In the present study we aimed to investigate, if maternal stress can be reduced by an Internet-based treatment program for sleep disturbances in young children (Mini-KiSS Online). The research also investigated whether the cortisol awakening response is a suitable tool for the detection of a central nervous stress response to such a change. Materials and methods. Mothers (N = 23) of young children (six months to four years) with sleep problems were randomized to either the treatment or waiting-list control condition. Pre-and post-measurement assessed maternal distress by subjective questionnaires and physiologically by cortisol awakening response. The sleep behaviour of the child was assessed using a sleep-diary and the sleep behaviour of mothers using a questionnaire. Results. Mini-KiSS Online partially reduced stress and improved child and maternal sleep. Reductions in cortisol level did not reach statistical significance. There was an association between reductions in subjective stress and cortisol level. Conclusion. The cortisol awakening response seems to be an appropriatemeasure to detect stress in mothers of sleep-disturbed young children. However, larger sample sizes seem to be necessary to identify changes between measurement points