Public research record
A multi-method pilot exploration of a brief behavioral sleep intervention for school-aged children: feasibility, acceptability, and initial evaluation.
Frontiers in sleep · 2026
- DOI 10.3389/frsle.2026.1731331
- PMID 42164624
- PMCID PMC13183519
Study snapshot
What this research can tell you
- What is this?
- An indexed scholarly work. The study design is not available in this public record.
- Who did it?
- Wright ID, Crandall G, Baldwin S, et al.
- What did they study?
- Population details are not available in this public record.
- How should I read it?
- FamilyPhD does not assign a strength rating without enough structured study detail.
What was found
The structured finding summary is not available. The study abstract is shown below.
Limitations
Structured limitations are not available in this public record. Absence here does not mean the study has no limitations.
Where FamilyPhD has used it
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From the publication record
Study abstract
The abstract is publication text, not a FamilyPhD recommendation.
Objectives
Parents often lack knowledge regarding healthy sleep practices, and little is known about whether a brief behavioral intervention emphasizing mastery, personalization, motivation, and modeling can increase parental knowledge of childhood sleep and promote child sleep health outcomes. This multi-method pilot study aimed to (1) assess parental knowledge of healthy child sleep practices, (2) determine the preliminary efficacy of a brief, personalized sleep intervention on parental self-efficacy and child sleep behaviors, and (3) examine the feasibility, acceptability, and parent-perceived impact of the intervention on child sleep health and parental knowledge.
Methods
54 Parent-child dyads in a community sample participated in a 7-day baseline sleep assessment before attending a brief behavioral intervention appointment designed to improve child sleep. Two weeks later, parents completed an additional sleep assessment, participated in a qualitative interview, and reviewed actigraphy data to evaluate changes in child sleep.
Results
Parental knowledge of healthy child sleep practices improved significantly following the intervention ( p < 0.001, ηp 2 = 0.245). Self-reported child sleep disturbance ( p = 0.041, ηp 2 = 0.084), pediatric insomnia severity ( p < 0.001, ηp 2 = 0.213), and parental self-efficacy ( p = 0.036, ηp 2 = 0.088) also significantly improved.
Objective
sleep measures (sleep duration, onset latency) did not change ( p 's > 0.05), and sleep efficiency declined ( p = 0.001). Qualitative feedback indicated the intervention was acceptable and feasible.
Discussion
The pilot brief behavioral intervention improved parents' perception of child sleep health, parental self-efficacy, and parental sleep knowledge. Despite limited changes in objective sleep measures, findings from this predominantly subclinical, community-based sample suggest that brief, personalized behavioral interventions may be a feasible and acceptable approach for promoting sleep health and supporting families. Future investigations, including randomized control trials and longer follow-up periods, are warranted.
