Family system and sleep and circadian rhythm disorders in children and adolescents

Introduction: The aim of the article was to refer to the current psychological knowledge on the functioning of the family system, considered in the context of difficulties resulting from sleep disorders and circadian rhythm in children and adolescents. The considerations were based on the assumptions of the systemic theory of families and the theory of psychosocial development. Due to the increasingly common problems with maintaining the natural rhythm of life, division into day and night, special attention was paid to the importance of preventive measures, covering both the entire family system and the school environment and work of its members. Method: The method of content analysis of publications presenting the results of quantitative psychological studies on the functioning of family systems in a situation of psychological crisis, sleep disorders and circadian rhythm in children and adolescents and their relationship with the health behaviors of parents, as well as the effects that these disorders cause in children and adolescents was used in the review. Scientific databases such as PubMed, EBSCO, PsychArticle were used. Results: The presented results of the literature review allow for a greater understanding of the connections between family values, parents' health behaviors, parenting patterns, conditions stemming from the school environment and sleep and circadian rhythm disorders in children and adolescents. Conclusions: It was found that the family environment can both prevent the occurrence of numerous difficulties in the functioning of children and adolescents, as well as be their source or even contribute to their intensification. Awareness that sleep and circadian rhythm disorders occurring in children and adolescents disrupt their social and cognitive development, contribute to the deterioration of their health and significantly limit the implementation of compulsory schooling and learning, it seems necessary to take decisive preventive and therapeutic actions. Further exploration of the undertaken issue through conducting scientific research becomes a significant challenge, the results of which can contribute to the creation of effective psychological intervention programs supporting families in coping with crisis situations related to sleep and circadian rhythm disorders occurring in children and adolescents.