Investigating the mechanisms underpinning sleep problems and links to mental ill health in autistic children and adolescents In a nutshellWe wanted to learn more about how sleep and mood affect one other on a daily basis for autistic teenagers. We also wanted to know more about what else might influence the sleep and mood of autistic teenagers. This includes things like sensory sensitivities (being sensitive to light, sound, or touch), traits related to being autistic, sleep patterns, and aspects of the environment where they are sleeping.This study was designed with input from a team of autistic people and parents of autistic young people who have lived experience of sleep problems. Care was taken to maximise accessibility for autistic participants in terms of things such as the length of involvement, wording on mood questionnaires, and timing/frequency of smartphone notifications.OutputsWe are still working on getting all the findings from this project published. We will add papers here as they become available. Associations of autism diagnosis, traits, and genetic liability with subsequent night-time sleep duration trajectories from infancy to adolescenceLead ContactReesha ZahirFundingWellcome Trust Poster for sleep and mood study for autistic young people This article was published on Thursday 13 October 2022
