0953 Multifaceted Effect of Sleep Problems on Emotion Dysregulation in Individuals with ASD

Abstract Introduction Sleep disturbances are known to be closely linked to emotion dysregulation (ED) across various psychiatric disorders. In individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the complex interaction of diverse symptoms is assumed to underlie difficulties in emotion regulation, whereas the presence of ED may, in turn, exacerbate other symptoms. However, despite the high prevalence of sleep problems among children with autism, their impact on ED has not been well recognized. The present study aimed to examine how, and to what extent, sleep problems in children with autism influence the association between ED and ASD behaviors. Methods Ninety-five individuals with ASD (25 females; age: 10.56 ± 3.67 years; range: 4-17) participated in the study. The Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire and Child Behavior Checklist Dysregulation Profile were used to assess subjective sleep problems and ED, respectively. Other ASD behaviors were assessed using the Social Responsiveness Scale, 2nd Edition, the Repetitive Behavior Scale–Revised, and the Sensory Profile, 2nd Edition. Pearson correlation and regression analyses examined associations among ASD behaviors, ED, and sleep problems. To test the mediating effect of sleep problems on the relationship between ASD behaviors and ED as the outcome, Hayes’ PROCESS macro was used. Results 1) More severe parent-reported sleep problems were shown to be associated with greater ED severity. 2) Social communication, restricted and repetitive behaviors, and sensory sensitivity in children with autism were all significantly related to ED. 3) The mediation analyses revealed a significant indirect effect of social communication, restricted and repetitive behaviors, and sensory sensitivity on ED through sleep problems (β=0.37, 95%CI = [0.17 0.58], β=0.39, 95%CI = [0.19 0.62], and β=0.41, 95%CI = [0.20 0.66], respectively). Conclusion Our preliminary findings with cross-sectional data indicate that sleep problems are not merely co-occurring features of ASD but serve as a mediating factor through which core autistic behaviors and sensory experiences contribute to ED. This suggests that sleep disturbances exert multifaceted influences on the diverse symptom domains of autism, potentially serving as an aggravating factor. These results underscore the importance of targeting sleep problems as a potential therapeutic intervention for improving ED in individuals with autism. Support (if any)