Insufficient sleep among parents of children with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities: Findings from the 2011–2018 National Health Interview Survey

Background Parents of children with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) face greater health risks, yet insufficient sleep among this group has been understudied. Prior research has relied on small, condition-specific samples. This study examined the prevalence of insufficient sleep among parents of children with and without IDD in a nationally representative sample. Methods We analyzed 2011–2018 National Health Interview Survey data, including parents of children with IDD (n = 3378) and without IDD (n = 54,645). Multivariable logistic regression estimated adjusted odds ratios (AOR) of insufficient sleep (<6 h vs. ≥6 h), controlling for child and parent-level sociodemographic characteristics. Results 40.54 % of parents of children with IDD reported insufficient sleep compared to that of 34.50 % in parents of children without IDD (AOR = 1.20, 95 %CI:1.09–1.33). Parents of children with IDD reporting high income or a college degree were not significantly associated with insufficient sleep. Conclusions Parents of children with IDD are more likely to experience insufficient sleep than parents of children without IDD, though this association may be weaker among higher-income and college-educated parents. Targeted efforts to improve sleep health among low-income and low-education families may help prevent adverse health outcomes in this population. What this paper adds This study offers the first nationally representative estimates of insufficient sleep among parents of children with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD). Findings show that these parents are significantly more likely to experience insufficient sleep compared to parents of children without IDD. Importantly, the association was prominent in adults with lower income and lower educational attainment. These results underscore the need for targeted sleep health interventions to support families of children with IDD, particularly those with fewer socioeconomic resources.