Interactive Effects of Parental Separation and Socioeconomic Status on Child Sleep Quality and Child Development

Abstract

Prior research demonstrates an association between parental divorce and separation and a range of negative child outcomes, including sleep difficulties. We used the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing longitudinal dataset to examine whether associations between parents ending a romantic relationship (i.e., parental relationship dissolution) and child sleep quality are moderated by maternal socioeconomic status and race/ethnicity. Although there were no statistically significant differences in the association between a parental relationship dissolution and child sleep by race/ethnicity, findings suggest a significant moderating role of maternal education, such that the association between a parental relationship dissolution and child sleep was stronger for children in middle childhood whose mothers report higher versus lower levels of education. Such findings emphasize the need to support all families, including those with more resources, during the process of parental divorce and separation so that we can prevent the development of psychopathology among children who experience this very common adverse childhood experience.