The Interplay of Child Sleep Disturbances, Maternal Burnout, and Marital Quality in Iranian Mothers

This study examined the relationships between child sleep disturbances, maternal burnout, and marital quality among Iranian mothers. Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 564 married mothers of preschool-aged children (aged 5-6 years) through validated questionnaires: the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire , the Parental Burnout Assessment , and the Quality of Marriage Index . A structural equation model (SEM) was used to test hypothesized associations among the variables. The final model demonstrated excellent fit to the data. Results indicated a significant positive correlation between child sleep disturbances and maternal burnout ( r = 0.374, p < 0.001) and significant negative correlations between maternal burnout and marital quality ( r = -0.368, p < 0.001) and between child sleep disturbances and marital quality ( r = -0.217, p < 0.001). In the measurement model, strong indicators were identified for each latent variable, including night wakings (β = 0.683) and parasomnias (β = 0.533) for child sleep disturbances, and contrast with the previous maternal self (β = 0.909) and emotional exhaustion (β = 0.864) for maternal burnout. These findings advance theoretical understanding by highlighting key interconnections between child sleep, maternal well-being, and relational outcomes within a specific cultural context. The results underscore the importance of a systemic approach in examining how child sleep disturbances and maternal burnout jointly relate to marital quality, with implications for family well-being interventions.