RESEARCH PAPER
Adult attachment style and mental health are associated with disturbed sleep in mothers co-sleeping with their children
1
Faculty of Psychology, SWPS University, Sopot, Poland
Submission date: 2025-04-24
Final revision date: 2026-04-08
Acceptance date: 2026-09-17
Online publication date: 2026-11-03
Corresponding author
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Background:
Co-sleeping is common among mothers of young children, but its implications for maternal well-being remain controversial. The present study investigated whether attachment style, maternal mental health, and co-sleeping frequency predict sleep disturbances among mothers who co-sleep with children aged 0-5 years.
Participants and procedure:
A cross-sectional survey was completed by 672 mothers (mean age 31 ± 4.82 years), who regularly co-sleep with their children aged 0-5 years. Participants completed three questionnaires – the Athens Insomnia Scale, the General Health Questionnaire-12, and the Experiences in Close Relationships – and provided information on the number of children they had.
Results:
Maternal mental health emerged as the strongest predictor of disturbed sleep, followed by insecure attachment styles (anxious and avoidant). The number of children predicted greater sleep disturbances only in the context of anxious attachment. Although co-sleeping frequency was not an independent predictor of disturbed sleep, sensitivity analyses indicated that mothers who co-slept consistently or infrequently with their child reported better sleep and mental health outcomes than those with irregular co-sleeping routines.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest that poorer mental health, insecure attachment, and inconsistent sleep routines may be associated with poorer maternal sleep quality. Further research is needed to determine whether psychological resilience, stable routines, and access to support may help improve maternal sleep, mental health, and overall quality of early caregiving.
Co-sleeping is common among mothers of young children, but its implications for maternal well-being remain controversial. The present study investigated whether attachment style, maternal mental health, and co-sleeping frequency predict sleep disturbances among mothers who co-sleep with children aged 0-5 years.
Participants and procedure:
A cross-sectional survey was completed by 672 mothers (mean age 31 ± 4.82 years), who regularly co-sleep with their children aged 0-5 years. Participants completed three questionnaires – the Athens Insomnia Scale, the General Health Questionnaire-12, and the Experiences in Close Relationships – and provided information on the number of children they had.
Results:
Maternal mental health emerged as the strongest predictor of disturbed sleep, followed by insecure attachment styles (anxious and avoidant). The number of children predicted greater sleep disturbances only in the context of anxious attachment. Although co-sleeping frequency was not an independent predictor of disturbed sleep, sensitivity analyses indicated that mothers who co-slept consistently or infrequently with their child reported better sleep and mental health outcomes than those with irregular co-sleeping routines.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest that poorer mental health, insecure attachment, and inconsistent sleep routines may be associated with poorer maternal sleep quality. Further research is needed to determine whether psychological resilience, stable routines, and access to support may help improve maternal sleep, mental health, and overall quality of early caregiving.
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