Parents’ perceptions of sleep problems in children with ADHD when using weighted blankets

Background Parents’ perceptions of children’s sleep problems when using a weighted blanket could enhance the understanding of challenges faced by families with ADHD and sleep problems. This is in alignment with a client-centred approach. Acknowledging, what parents perceive as a problem in a family...

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Main Authors: Maria Lönn, Lena-Karin Erlandsson, Katarina Aili, Petra Svedberg, Håkan Jarbin, Ingrid Larsson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/11038128.2025.2538474
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author Maria Lönn
Lena-Karin Erlandsson
Katarina Aili
Petra Svedberg
Håkan Jarbin
Ingrid Larsson
author_facet Maria Lönn
Lena-Karin Erlandsson
Katarina Aili
Petra Svedberg
Håkan Jarbin
Ingrid Larsson
author_sort Maria Lönn
collection DOAJ
description Background Parents’ perceptions of children’s sleep problems when using a weighted blanket could enhance the understanding of challenges faced by families with ADHD and sleep problems. This is in alignment with a client-centred approach. Acknowledging, what parents perceive as a problem in a family context.Aim To explore changes in parents’ perceptions of their children’s sleep problems before and after participation in a sleep intervention with weighted blankets.Methods Children with ADHD (n = 45) aged 6–14 participated in a sleep intervention with weighted blankets. Data-collection (baseline + 16-week) using the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire.Results Common sleep problems, such as bedtime resistance, daytime sleepiness, sleep onset delay, and sleep duration, were reported to have improved in 50–75% of the children after using a weighted blanket, according to their parents. Changes were seen also for the less commonly reported parasomnias and nightly awakenings, and these problems were rarely perceived as persistent.Conclusions Reported improvements covered various sleep domains, though some sleep issues persisted. Future evaluation of the effects of weighted blanket should assess multiple dimensions of sleep, before and after use.Significance The client-centred approach, including parents’ perceptions of children’s sleep problems, is important in the evaluation of weighted blankets for children with ADHD.
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spelling doaj-art-5e252cee143848d3ba4340b6420973072025-08-20T03:09:32ZengTaylor & Francis GroupScandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy1103-81281651-20142025-12-0132110.1080/11038128.2025.2538474Parents’ perceptions of sleep problems in children with ADHD when using weighted blanketsMaria Lönn0Lena-Karin Erlandsson1Katarina Aili2Petra Svedberg3Håkan Jarbin4Ingrid Larsson5Department of Health and Care, School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, SwedenDepartment of Health and Care, School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, SwedenDepartment of Health and Sport, School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, SwedenDepartment of Health and Care, School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, SwedenDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Halmstad, SwedenDepartment of Health and Care, School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, SwedenBackground Parents’ perceptions of children’s sleep problems when using a weighted blanket could enhance the understanding of challenges faced by families with ADHD and sleep problems. This is in alignment with a client-centred approach. Acknowledging, what parents perceive as a problem in a family context.Aim To explore changes in parents’ perceptions of their children’s sleep problems before and after participation in a sleep intervention with weighted blankets.Methods Children with ADHD (n = 45) aged 6–14 participated in a sleep intervention with weighted blankets. Data-collection (baseline + 16-week) using the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire.Results Common sleep problems, such as bedtime resistance, daytime sleepiness, sleep onset delay, and sleep duration, were reported to have improved in 50–75% of the children after using a weighted blanket, according to their parents. Changes were seen also for the less commonly reported parasomnias and nightly awakenings, and these problems were rarely perceived as persistent.Conclusions Reported improvements covered various sleep domains, though some sleep issues persisted. Future evaluation of the effects of weighted blanket should assess multiple dimensions of sleep, before and after use.Significance The client-centred approach, including parents’ perceptions of children’s sleep problems, is important in the evaluation of weighted blankets for children with ADHD.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/11038128.2025.2538474Assistive technologyclient-centred practiceemotional regulationoccupational therapy, sleep disorders
spellingShingle Maria Lönn
Lena-Karin Erlandsson
Katarina Aili
Petra Svedberg
Håkan Jarbin
Ingrid Larsson
Parents’ perceptions of sleep problems in children with ADHD when using weighted blankets
Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy
Assistive technology
client-centred practice
emotional regulation
occupational therapy, sleep disorders
title Parents’ perceptions of sleep problems in children with ADHD when using weighted blankets
title_full Parents’ perceptions of sleep problems in children with ADHD when using weighted blankets
title_fullStr Parents’ perceptions of sleep problems in children with ADHD when using weighted blankets
title_full_unstemmed Parents’ perceptions of sleep problems in children with ADHD when using weighted blankets
title_short Parents’ perceptions of sleep problems in children with ADHD when using weighted blankets
title_sort parents perceptions of sleep problems in children with adhd when using weighted blankets
topic Assistive technology
client-centred practice
emotional regulation
occupational therapy, sleep disorders
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/11038128.2025.2538474
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