Cosleeping and sleep problems in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

There exist inconsistent findings about the relation between cosleeping and sleep problems in children. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess these relations and compared their cross-cultural differences. We searched the EMBASE, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science databases. A random effect model was used, and subgroup analysis by culture group was performed. By including fifteen qualified studies, this meta-analysis revealed that increased bedtime resistance, sleep anxiety, night waking, and parasomnia were shown from children cosleeping with others. Cosleeping children from the West performed more bedtime resistance and night waking, while those children from the East showed more parasomnia. In general, cosleeping is associated with several sleep disturbances for children, including bedtime resistance, sleep anxiety, night waking, and parasomnia, and the cultural differences do exist between the West and East. The findings provide initial evidence of the influence of cosleeping on children’s sleep problems. More studies on the related topic are needed from diverse cultures in the future.