Adolescent-Reported Sleep/Wake Patterns in the Relationships Between Inhibitory Control and Internalizing and Externalizing Problems

OBJECTIVE: Youth with poorer inhibitory control are more likely to experience internalizing and externalizing problems, placing them at risk for poorer psychological, academic, and social functioning. Modifying inhibitory control is challenging; therefore, research is needed to identify alternative targets to reduce internalizing and externalizing problems in youth. Sleep/wake patterns may serve as alternative targets, given their relationships with poorer inhibitory control and greater internalizing and externalizing problems. This study examines the mediating role of sleep/wake patterns in the relationships between youth inhibitory control and internalizing and externalizing problems. METHOD: One hundred fifty-five adolescent (ages 12-15 years) and parent dyads completed the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Pediatric Symptom Checklist, and Adolescent Sleep-Wake Scale, short version. Bootstrapped mediations examined indirect relationships between inhibitory control and internalizing and externalizing through sleep/wake patterns. RESULTS: Analyses revealed that problematic sleep/wake patterns partially mediated the relationship between poorer inhibitory control and greater internalizing, explaining 19% of the variance in internalizing problems. In addition, problematic sleep/wake patterns partially mediated the relationship between poorer inhibitory control and greater externalizing, explaining 58% of the variance in externalizing problems. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that sleep/wake patterns may be a mechanism through which deficits in inhibitory control increase youth risk for internalizing and externalizing problems. Because sleep/wake patterns are frequently modified through adoption of health behaviors conducive to good sleep, assessing for problematic patterns in adolescents who present with internalizing and externalizing problems may offer providers a relatively modifiable target to reduce the emotional and behavioral problems of youth with poorer inhibitory control abilities.