Maternal depression and its association with sleep problems and emotional and behavioral problems in preschool children

In the first comprehensive examination of its kind, we investigated the association between maternal depression and preschoolers’ sleep problems, as well as factors that influence children’s sleep. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was administered to mothers of children in nine kindergartens and nursery schools across six Japanese prefectures. The sample included 232 mother–child pairs (children’s average age = 61.72 months; 51.29% boys; mothers’ average age = 38.38 years). Mothers’ depression and parenting behaviors were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Parenting Behavior Checklist to Promote Preschoolers’ Sleep, respectively. Children’s sleep problems and emotional and behavioral problems were assessed using the Japanese Sleep Questionnaire for Preschoolers and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, respectively. Mothers reported on their children’s duration of daytime activity and screen time. Thirty-two percent of mothers had more than minimal depressive symptoms. Path analysis revealed that children’s emotional and behavioral problems, and sleep problems were associated with maternal depression (β = 0.24, β = 0.21). Furthermore, children’s emotional and behavioral problems, duration of daytime activity, and parenting behaviors to promote children’s sleep were associated with children’s sleep problems (β = 0.45, β =  − 0.09, β =  − 0.45). The values of GFI (0.99), AGFI (0.95), and RMSEA (0.05) showed a good fitness of the model. The results suggest the necessity of assessing children’ sleep problems and emotional and behavioral problems when considering mothers’ mental health problems in the future.