CHILD‑SLEEP

The CHILD‑SLEEP project investigates children’s sleep as well as the significance of the family environment and genetics for sleep.

Identifying sleep disorders helps families with children. Childhood sleep disorders, whose underlying factors are still not well understood, are a major issue in Finland. It is known, however, that a child’s sleep difficulties often become a burden for the entire family.

By identifying the causes of sleep disorders, it will be possible in the future to develop new treatment methods and create ways to prevent sleep disorders and their potential long‑term effects.

Goals

The CHILD‑SLEEP project examines the development of early sleep and circadian rhythm, as well as their significance for health. We investigate the role of the family environment and genetics in this process. In addition, we study the mechanisms behind sleep disorders and the effects of a sleep‑education program.

Our aim is to improve the prevention, early identification, and treatment of sleep disorders. The research cohort provides material that also enables broader examination of the importance of early development and the growth environment – both for childhood and for later well‑being.

Implementation

The CHILD‑SLEEP project is carried out as four subprojects.

The project is implemented as a national research consortium consisting of research groups from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, the Pirkanmaa Hospital District, and the Universities of Eastern Finland, Tampere, and Helsinki, in collaboration with the Tampere Health Centre.

The sub‑projects investigate:

factors regulating sleep in early childhood (epidemiological project)
the effectiveness of a sleep‑education program in preventing childhood sleep problems (sleep‑guidance project)
the family environment and sleep (family project)
molecular mechanisms of sleep and circadian rhythm (molecular‑genetic project)