The relationship between gross motor function impairment in cerebral palsy and sleeping issues of children and caregivers

To investigate, among children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP), the relationship between impairment of the gross motor function and: (i) child sleep disorders; (ii) the need for nocturnal support; and (iii) the quality of sleep of their caregivers. For children, we considered their scores on the gross motor function measure (GMFM-88) and on the sleep disturbance scale for children (SDSC), besides analyzing qualitative features about their sleep. For caregivers, we considered their scores in the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI). Our sample was comprised of 87 participants with mean age of 11.4 years old (±3.4). We observed correlations between GMFM-88 and disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep (DIMS) (r = −0.22; p = 0.039), sleep–wake transition disorders (SWTD) (r = 0.26; p = 0.017) and disorders of arousal (DA) (r = 0.23; p = 0.033). Children receiving nocturnal support presented lower scores in the GMFM-88 (p = 0.001) and higher scores in the SDSC (p = 0.029). For the caregivers, we found no correlation between GMFM-88 and PSQI. Nonetheless, their PSQI scores correlated with the SDSC scores (r = 0.24; p = 0.027). Impairment of the gross motor function correlated with DIMS and the need for nocturnal support but might not have an impact on the caregivers’ sleep, which in turn correlated with child sleep disorders. •Higher motor impairment in children with CP increases the need for nocturnal support.•Children with CP have sleeping problems that increase the need for nocturnal support.•Disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep are related to higher motor impairment in children with CP.•Higher motor impairment in children with CP does not influence the sleep quality of their caregivers.•Sleeping problems of children with CP influence the sleep quality of their caregivers.