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Research Paper

Running head: SLEEP ARRANGEMENTS INFLUENCE INDEPENDENCE

Sleep Patterns Among Cross-Cultural Infants: How the Arrangements Influence Independence from Birth Through Childhood

Abstract
This study investigated sleep arrangements and their influence on children's ability to develop independence. It looks at 200 cross-cultural parent-child pairs and the parent's choice to either partake in a co-sleeping or independent sleeping arrangement. Data was collected through parent and teacher questionnaires as well as through observation of preschool aged children in a laboratory setting. The data analyzed early co-sleepers, reactive co-sleepers and independent sleepers. It was expected that independent sleepers would show signs of independence at an earlier age than those who partook in a co-sleeping arrangement, while early co-sleepers would show signs of independence before reactive co-sleepers. The study ultimately provided evidence that early co-sleepers and independent sleepers showed signs of independence around the same age while reactive co-sleepers took longer to adjust and become independent.

Sleep Patterns among Cross-Cultural Infants: How the Arrangements Influence Independence from Birth Through Childhood
This study is intended to investigate the different sleeping patterns among varying cultures and how those sleeping patterns influence a child's ability to achieve independence. Before we can look at independence however, it is important to discuss who opts for co-sleeping over solitary sleeping and their reasoning behind those decisions. Developmental Psychologists Morelli, Oppenheim, Rogoff and Goldsmith conducted a research experiment which juxtaposed two, geographically different communities to learn about the child sleeping patterns associated with each. Not only did they wish to discover the differences in the sleeping patterns of the children, but they also hoped to learn why the parents chose the decisions they did. The study focused...