Sleep in the Postpartum: Characteristics of First-Time, Healthy Mothers
Table 1
Comparisons of 2 and 6 months’ nighttime and daytime variables.
Variables
2 months
6 months
t
df
Sig.
Mean
SD
Mean
SD
Nighttime variables
Poor sleep quality (SSC)1
0.86
0.92
0.84
0.96
0.16
36
.872
Insomnia Severity Scale (ISI)2
9.14
4.89
7.51
5.42
1.79
36
.081
Difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep (DIMS)
Sleep onset problem (SSC)1
0.43
0.69
0.51
0.77
−0.65
36
.520
Sleep maintenance problem (SSC)1
0.65
0.92
0.65
0.82
0.00
36
1.000
Waking too early (SSC)1
1.11
1.49
1.11
1.26
0.00
35
1.000
Nighttime TST, mother (diary)
6.29
1.15
7.22
0.80
−4.03
35
.000
Nighttime TST, infant (diary)
7.76
1.07
9.14
1.01
−6.45
35
.000
Number of nighttime sleep episodes, mother (diary)
2.44
0.72
2.02
0.95
2.83
35
.008
Number of nighttime sleep episodes, infant (diary)
3.20
0.98
2.41
1.24
3.84
35
.000
Daytime variables
Fatigue Scale (ESFS)3
9.05
4.85
8.35
4.50
0.96
36
.345
Sleepiness Scale (ESFS)4
6.32
4.18
4.65
4.07
2.81
36
.008
Nonrefreshing sleep (SSC)1
0.81
0.91
0.73
0.99
0.55
36
.584
Sleep
Daytime TST, mother (diary)
0.93
0.68
0.50
0.54
4.10
35
.000
Daytime TST, infant (diary)
4.53
1.21
3.05
0.91
8.11
35
.000
Number of daytime sleep episodes, mother (diary)
0.74
0.42
0.47
0.44
3.95
35
.000
Number of daytime sleep episodes, infant (diary)
3.42
1.00
2.79
0.84
5.90
35
.000
Mood
Anxiety (GAD-7)5
4.78
3.43
3.22
3.18
2.68
36
.011
Depression (EPDS)6
7.11
3.85
5.95
3.27
1.88
36
.068
SSC: Sleep Symptom Checklist. All variables: 0–3 Likert scale: the lower the value the better the functioning; 2ISI: Insomnia Severity Index, Scores >= 15 indicate moderate severity; 3ESFS: Empirical Fatigue Scale. The lower the scores the better the functioning. Range = 0–19; 4ESFS: Empirical Sleepiness Scale. The lower the scores the better the functioning. Range = 0–18; 5GAD: Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, 7: Sores >= 10 indicate a possible anxiety disorder; 6EPDS: The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale: Scores >= 13 indicate possible depression.
