Publications by authors named "Lauren Covington"
Background: Cross-sectional research has suggested associations between diet, sleep and obesity, with sparse longitudinal research.
Objectives: To identify longitudinal mechanistic associations between sleep, diet and obesity.
Methods: We used longitudinal data from a sample of Black adolescent girls.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) influence the relationship between sleep patterns and obesity in U.S. adolescents.
- It analyzes data from over 24,000 adolescents, revealing that 33% are overweight or obese, and ACEs impact this connection, particularly in those with sleep issues.
- The findings suggest that while longer sleep typically reduces obesity risk, this effect is less pronounced in adolescents experiencing ACEs, indicating a need for targeted interventions for those affected by childhood adversity.
Objective Daytime sleepiness is common in youth with asthma (YWA). Treatments designed to mitigate daytime sleepiness in YWA require an understanding of the primary causes of this problem. We examined respiratory- and non-respiratory-related factors associated with daytime sleepiness in YWA.
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- Youth facing adversity are at higher risk for poor sleep health, and this study investigates how sex and age influence this relationship.
- Data from over 32,000 U.S. youth were analyzed, focusing on a social cumulative risk index and sleep patterns.
- Results indicate that younger school-age children are more affected by social risk factors in terms of short sleep duration, while sex did not significantly impact the relationship.
- Further exploration is needed to understand these dynamics and their implications on sleep health in children.
Article Synopsis
- This study investigates how sleep interacts with social determinants of health (like race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status) to influence overweight and obesity among adolescents.
- Results show that better sleep is linked to lower obesity risk mainly in White adolescents and those from higher-income families or with more educated caregivers, while Hispanic adolescents and those from lower SES backgrounds did not show this benefit.
- The findings highlight the need for tailored obesity prevention strategies that consider the unique situations of racial/ethnic minorities and lower SES groups, as their relationship with sleep and weight is different.
Objective: To identify longitudinal bidirectional associations between unique sleep trajectories and obesity and hypertension among Black, adolescent girls.
Design, Setting, And Participants: Longitudinal data were from a randomized controlled trial (2009-2013) implemented in schools serving low-income communities aimed at preventing obesity among adolescent girls (mean age = 12.2 years (standard deviation ± 0.
Sleep-wake regulation is established during early childhood and contributes to life-long health. The family context is critical to the development of child sleep-wake regulation. The primary aim of this systematic review was to elucidate family-level constructs (outside of bedtime parenting) that contribute to early childhood (age 0-5 years) sleep health.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Habits surrounding health behaviors (i.e., sleep, physical activity, diet) are developed in toddlerhood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Poverty is a risk for short sleep duration and limited physical activity. This study describes sleep, physical activity, and sedentary behavior of Women, Infants, and Children-eligible toddlers and the proportion of toddlers meeting recommendations for sleep and physical activity, and examines associations with body mass index z scores and poverty.
Participants/measurements: A total of 101 toddlers (12-32 months) from low-income families (62% African American) wore 24-hour ankle accelerometers over 3-7 consecutive days.
Study Objectives: The aims of this study were to examine (1) relationships among implementing a bedtime routine, nighttime awakenings, and nighttime sleep duration in toddlers from low-income, minority families and (2) differences in maternal and household characteristics between mothers who did versus those who did not implement a nightly bedtime routine for their toddler.
Methods: Data were collected from mothers of toddlers on maternal and household characteristics and toddler sleep, measured using the Children's HealthWatch Survey and the Extended Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire (BISQ). A path analysis model was tested to investigate whether nighttime awakenings mediated the relation between implementing a bedtime routine and toddlers' nighttime sleep duration.
Objectives: (1) To examine toddler sleep in a low-income sample by comparing sleep diaries and actigraphy and (2) to assess whether toddlers are meeting the National Sleep Foundation recommendations (11-14 hours of sleep/24 hours and bedtime before 9 PM).
Methods: A convenience sample of mother-toddler dyads was recruited from 2 health care sites serving low-income communities. An actigraph was placed on the toddler's ankle and was worn for 3 days and nights.
Objective: To examine the bidirectional effects of objectively measured nighttime sleep and sedentary activity among toddlers.
Method: Actical accelerometer data were analyzed for 195 toddlers participating in an obesity prevention trial (mean age = 27 months). Toddlers wore the accelerometers for up to 7 consecutive days.
Objective: Childhood sleep problems are associated with insufficient parental sleep and adverse maternal mental health symptoms, which may be exacerbated when mothers/toddlers co-sleep (i.e., bed/room sharing).
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