Helping the parents : parental perceptions of well-being when implementing child sleep interventions

Abstract

Few qualitative studies on parental perceptions of sleep interventions have been conducted, and little is known about parents’ subjective well-being in this context. This study explored parental experiences of subjective well-being when implementing child sleep interventions. Ten parents who approached a sleep consultancy for assistance with their children’s sleep problems participated in this qualitative study. Data was collected through in-depth interviews and results were analysed thematically. Three key themes were identified: (1) parents as experts, (2) sleep interventions as a team effort, and (3) improvements in well-being are multifaceted. Findings indicate that parental well-being during sleep interventions may be influenced by their knowledge and beliefs, and participants highlighted a need for additional support, including peer support. Parent’s perceptions of subjective well-being in the context of behavioural sleep interventions may influence program adherence and completion. Parents may experience improvements in well-being after the intervention, attributable to enhanced routine, child well-being and improved sleep. The findings from this study may assist practitioners to develop more tailored interventions, subsequently minimizing parental distress during intervention implementation.