Research
Mixed
Childhood sleep problems predict higher levels of depression and anxiety, but this relationship is not bidirectional (depression does not predict childhood sleep problems).
For children with persistent sleep issues, prioritize sleep hygiene and evaluation early, as this is a risk factor for developing depression and anxiety later. Treating sleep may mitigate this risk.
ModerateQualifiesMEDIUM confidence
Childhood sleep problems significantly predicted higher levels of depression and a combined depression/anxiety variable, but not vice-versa.
Why this rating
Based on 2 longitudinal studies in the review, but definitions of 'childhood sleep problems' were broad and inclusive.
Source
A Systematic Review Assessing Bidirectionality between Sleep Disturbances, Anxiety, and Depression
Pasquale K. Alvaro et al. · SLEEP · 2013
DOI 10.5665/sleep.2810
systematic_reviewCited 1,526×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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