The Impact of Atopic Dermatitis on Children’s Sleep Duration and Their Mother’s Suicidal Ideation

PURPOSE: This study was performed to identify the effects of child’s atopic dermatitis (AD) on sleep duration and their moder’s suicidal ideation.

METHODS: The subjects were 2,845 mothers of preadolescent and adolescent children who participated in the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VI; 2013 and 2015). The data gathered were analyzed with a chi-square test and logistic regression using the SPSS 18.0 program for Windows.

RESULTS: With respect to the effect of a child’s AD on maternal sleep duration and suicidal ideation , sleep duration was statistically and significantly lower in mothers of children with AD (OR=1.477 in Model 1, OR= 1.552 in Model 2 and OR=1.547 in Model 3) than in mothers of children without AD. ) Although not statistically significant, suicidal ideation was higher in mothers of affected children (OR=1.348 in Model 1, OR=1.414, p=.252 in Model 2 and OR=1.109 in Model 3) than in mothers of non-affected children.

CONCLUSION: Mothers of children affected by atopic dermatitis suggest the development of nursing interventions for health maintenance because they can not rule out the possibility of depression or suicidal thoughts due to sleep disorders.