Family-Based Treatment for Sleep Problems in Peri-Puberty: Preliminary Outcomes from a Group Telehealth Program Evaluation
Article
Acosta, J, Parent, J, McMakin, DL. (2026). Family-Based Treatment for Sleep Problems in Peri-Puberty: Preliminary Outcomes from a Group Telehealth Program Evaluation
. Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 10.1080/23794925.2026.2687463
Acosta, J, Parent, J, McMakin, DL. (2026). Family-Based Treatment for Sleep Problems in Peri-Puberty: Preliminary Outcomes from a Group Telehealth Program Evaluation
. Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 10.1080/23794925.2026.2687463
Background: Sleep problems in adolescence are pervasive and associated with physical, psychological, and functional impairment. Around the transition from childhood to adolescence (i.e. peri-puberty), sleep is vulnerable to disruption, and disturbances have been shown to prospectively predict internalizing conditions. Youth’s sleep health and habits are embedded within the family context and, as such, are influenced by familial factors, with parenting practices being one of them. Objective: The current study utilized a program evaluation framework to evaluate pre- to post-treatment changes in youth sleep, mental health, and parenting practices following a family-based sleep program for teens delivered in a group format via telehealth. Additionally, the feasibility and acceptability of the program were evaluated. Method: A total of six peri-pubertal participants (age M = 11.8, SD = 2.1) with a history of sleep problems and anxiety, and their parents, participated in the program. Youth and parents reported on the youth’s sleep and mental health, as well as on parents’ nighttime and general parenting practices at pre- and post-treatment assessments. Results: Findings revealed general within-subject improvements in the youth’s sleep and mental health. Nighttime and general parenting practices at post-treatment also trended in favorable directions. Feasibility and acceptability were favorable and are discussed in the context of challenges encountered, lessons learned, and clinical implications. Conclusions: Preliminary findings lend support for the involvement of parents as active participants in sleep interventions for peri-pubertal adolescents and highlight the promise of continued work in this area. Efforts to address the pervasiveness and gravity of poor sleep health during peri-puberty may benefit from a transactional family-based framework.
