P036 Trajectories of emotional and behavioural problems in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children: Role of sleep and cultural attachment

PURPOSE: This study explored the link between sleep and emotional and behavioural problems and assessed whether cultural attachment reduces the risk of emotional and behavioural problems in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) children. METHODS: The data from wave 5 to wave 10 of the Footprints in Time cohort were used. Multi-trajectory modelling was used to identify sleep trajectories using weekday sleep duration, weekday bedtimes, wake times, and sleep problems (waves 5, 7 & 10). Trajectories of emotional and behavioural problems were derived from the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) data (waves 6, 8 & 10). Cultural attachment assessment included the knowledge of Indigenous language, clan, people, family stories/history and other cultural practice. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the link between sleep and emotional and behavioural problems. RESULTS: Analysis of sleep data from 1270 Indigenous children (50.6% females, mean age 6.3 years (±1.5)) identified four distinct trajectories: early sleepers/early risers (19.3%); early/long sleepers (22.1%), normative sleepers (47.8%), and late sleepers (10.8%). Three emotional and behavioural problem trajectories emerged: low stable (49.1%), high decreasing (40.5%), and high stable (10.4%). Early sleepers//early risers (OR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.28–0.82) and children with strong cultural attachment (OR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.27–0.82) had lower odds of being in the high emotional and behavioural problem trajectory group. CONCLUSIONS: Early bedtime in children may reduce the risk of future emotional and behavioural problems. The protective effect of cultural attachment further highlights the need for strengths-based approaches to reduce mental health issues in Indigenous children.