Clinical and Demographic Correlates of Insomnia Symptoms in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

To examine demographic and clinical characteristics of sleep problems in autistic children.

The PAIRS mean was 21.8 ± 15 (range 0 to 63); 304 children were rated ≥ 33. PAIRS mean scores were higher in girls than boys (23.5 ± 14.7 vs. 21.3 ± 15.0, p = 0.044), in children ages 3–7 than those ages 8–12, (23.8 ± 15.4 vs. 21.2 ± 14.8, p = 0.022), in non-verbal children than verbal children (28.5 ± 14.7 vs. 20.5 ± 14.7, p < 0.001), and in children with evening chronotype than those with morning or neither preference (23.3 ± 14.8 vs. 20.8 ± 19.7, p < 0.01). Children with parent-reported below average IQ and children of parents without a college degree also had higher PAIRS scores. Those with ≥ 33 on PAIRS had higher scores on all ABC subscales. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression modeling showed that higher ABC Hyperactivity, ABC Social Withdrawal, and ABC Irritability scores, parent-reported below average IQ, and an evening chronotype significantly increased the odds of being rated ≥ 33 on the PAIRS.

PAIRS can be used for insomnia screening, as an outcome measure in clinical trials and in clinical care for autistic children.