Does Bed Sharing with an Infant Influence Parents’ Sexual Life? A Scoping Review in Western Countries
Abstract
:1. Introduction
1.1. Defining Types of Sleeping Arrangements
1.2. Why Focus on Marital/Sexual Life of the Parents?
2. Methods
2.1. Search Strategy
2.2. Study Selection Process
2.3. Data Extraction and Synthesis
3. Results
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Appendix A
Authors | Publication Year | Country | Sample | Design | Definition of Bed Sharing | Measurements | Measurements on Marital Relationship/Satisfaction/Sexual Life etc. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ball, Hooker, and Kelly | 2000 | United Kingdom | 36 sets of parents | Qualitative, prospective, | Study focused on triadic co-sleeping (no a priori definition was provided by the authors) | Semi-structured interview at pre-birth on expectations/intentions regarding sleep arrangements; semi-structured interview at 10 weeks following birth assessing implemented sleeping arrangements | Semi-structured interview at 10 weeks following birth assessing effect of the baby on the parents’ relationship and family |
Germo, Chang, Keller, and Goldberg | 2007 | United States | 100 mothers and 38 fathers of pre-school aged children | Quantitative, cross-sectional | Defined as (a) solitary sleepers; (b) early bed sharers who slept in the parents’ bed for part or all of the night prior to 12 months of age, (c) early co-sleepers who either slept in the parents’ room exclusively or alternated between parents’ room and their bed, and (d) reactive co-sleepers who began co-sleeping after the first year or were early bed sharers or co-sleepers who returned to the parent bedroom after an extended period of solitary sleep | Sleep Practices Questionnaire (SPQ; [18]) completed at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months for mothers and 6, and 12 months for fathers | For mothers, marital intimacy was assessed using an adapted version of the Personal Assessment of Intimacy in Relationships [43]; for fathers, an adapted version of Braiker and Kelley’s four-factor intimate relationship scale [44]. |
Messmer et al. [19] | 2012 | Canada | 81 bed sharing mothers who had given birth to their first child between 6 and 12 months prior to the study | Quantitative, cross-sectional | Defined as mothers who responded positively to the item: “Do you ever, or did you in the past, share your bed with your baby either for the whole night or part of the night?” | Questionnaire designed for this study based on Ramos’ Family Sleep Survey [31] | Marital relationship was assessed by the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) [32] Sexual satisfaction was measured by a specifically designed question assessed on a 5-point scale |
Teti et al. [37] | 2015 | United States | 149 mothers examined at and across 1 and 6 months of infant age | Quantitative, prospective | Defined as infant having slept in the same bed with their parents. Other classifications were solitary sleep, room sharing, and combination | Sleep Practices Questionnaire (SPQ; [18]) completed at the 1st and 6th month | Marital Adjustment Test (MAT; [45]) Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) [32] |
Teti et al. | 2016 | United States | 139 families at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of infant age | Quantitative, prospective | Aggregated data across all five age points created five sleep arrangements: (1) consistent solitary sleeping (from 1–12 months); (2) early switch to solitary sleep (infant switched to solitary sleep by 3 or 6 months); (3) late switch to solitary sleep (infant switched to solitary sleep by 9 or 12 months); (4) consistent co-sleeping (room sharing or bed sharing from 1 through 12 months); and (5) inconsistent co-sleeping (non-specific sleep pattern across the first year) | Sleep Practices Questionnaire (SPQ; [18]) completed at the 1st and 6th month | Marital Adjustment Test (MAT; [45]) Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) [32] |
Dodd and Jackiewicz [46] | 2015 | Australia | 24 mothers (Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal) who had birthed within the previous 2–12 months | Qualitative, cross-sectional | Defined as either one or both parents sleeping with the infant on the bed or on a couch intentionally or accidently | Semi-structured interview and focus groups discussions | Semi-structured interview and focus groups discussions on sexual and emotional intimacy (partner’s fear of losing it) |
References
- Thoman, E.B. Co-sleeping, an ancient practice: Issues of the past and present, and possibilities for the future. Sleep Med. Rev. 2006, 10, 407–417. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ball, H.L.; Tomori, C.; McKenna, J.J. Toward an Integrated Anthropology of Infant Sleep. Am. Anthropol. 2019, 121, 595–612. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Mileva-Seitz, V.R.; Bakermans-Kranenburg, M.J.; Battaini, C.; Luijk, M.P.C.M. Parent-child bed-sharing: The good, the bad, and the burden of evidence. Sleep Med. Rev. 2017, 32, 4–27. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The Changing Concept of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Diagnostic Coding Shifts, Controversies Regarding the Sleeping Environment, and New Variables to Consider in Reducing Risk. Pediatrics 2005, 116, 1245–1255. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Luijk, M.P.C.M.; Mileva-Seitz, V.R.; Jansen, P.W.; van IJzendoorn, M.H.; Jaddoe, V.W.V.; Raat, H.; Hofman, A.; Verhulst, F.C.; Tiemeier, H. Ethnic differences in prevalence and determinants of mother–child bed-sharing in early childhood. Sleep Med. 2013, 14, 1092–1099. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Morelli, G.A.; Rogoff, B.; Oppenheim, D.; Goldsmith, D. Cultural variation in infants’ sleeping arrangements: Questions of independence. Dev. Psychol. 1992, 28, 604–613. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Nelson, E.A.; Taylor, B.; Jenik, A.; Vance, J.; Walmsley, K.; Pollard, K.; Freemantle, M.; Ewing, D.; Einspieler, C.; Engele, H.; et al. International Child Care Practices Study: Infant sleeping environment. Early Hum. Dev. 2001, 62, 43–55. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Tahhan, D.A. Depth and Space in Sleep: Intimacy, Touch and the Body in Japanese Co-sleeping Rituals. Body Soc. 2008, 14, 37–56. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Chung, S.; An, H. Cultural Issues of Co-Sleeping in Korea. Sleep Med. Res. 2014, 5, 37–42. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Willinger, M.; Ko, C.-W.; Hoffman, H.J.; Kessler, R.C.; Corwin, M.J. Trends in Infant Bed Sharing in the United States, 1993-2000. Arch. Pediatr. Adolesc. Med. 2003, 157, 43. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Blair, P.S.; Ball, H.L. The prevalence and characteristics associated with parent-infant bed-sharing in England. Arch. Dis. Child. 2004, 89, 1106–1110. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Smith, L.A.; Geller, N.L.; Kellams, A.L.; Colson, E.R.; Rybin, D.V.; Heeren, T.; Corwin, M.J. Infant Sleep Location and Breastfeeding Practices in the United States, 2011–2014. Acad. Pediatr. 2016, 16, 540–549. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Mosko, S.; Richard, C.; McKenna, J. Maternal Sleep and Arousals During Bedsharing With Infants. Sleep 1997, 20, 142–150. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- McKenna, J.J.; Volpe, L.E. Sleeping with baby: An internet-based sampling of parental experiences, choices, perceptions, and interpretations in a western industrialized context. Infant Child Dev. 2007, 16, 359–385. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ball, H.L. Triadic bed-sharing and infant temperature. Child. Care. Health Dev. 2002, 28, 55–58. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Ball, H.L.; Hooker, E.; Kelly, P.J. Parent-Infant Co-Sleeping: Fathers’ Roles and Perspectives. Infant Child Dev. 2000, 9, 67–74. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ramos, K.D. Intentional versus reactive cosleeping. Sleep Res. Online 2003, 5, 141–147. [Google Scholar]
- Goldberg, W.A.; Keller, M.A. Co-sleeping during infancy and early childhood: Key findings and future directions. Infant Child Dev. 2007, 16, 457–469. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Messmer, R.; Miller, L.D.; Yu, C.M. The Relationship Between Parent-Infant Bed Sharing and Marital Satisfaction for Mothers of Infants. Fam. Relat. 2012, 61, 798–810. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Stewart, S.D.; Riegle, A.L. Musical Beds: The “Typical” Night of Parents and Children Who Co-Sleep; 2014 Working Paper Series; Bowling Green State University’s Center for Family and Demographic Research: Bowling Green, OH, USA, 2014. [Google Scholar]
- Walton, I. Wait six weeks. In Sexuality and Motherhood; Books For Midwives: Cheshire, UK, 1994; pp. 97–107. [Google Scholar]
- Serrano Drozdowskyj, E.; Gimeno Castro, E.; Trigo López, E.; Bárcenas Taland, I.; Chiclana Actis, C. Factors Influencing Couples’ Sexuality in the Puerperium: A Systematic Review. Sex. Med. Rev. 2020, 8, 38–47. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Leeman, L.M.; Rogers, R.G. Sex After Childbirth. Obstet. Gynecol. 2012, 119, 647–655. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Škodi Zakošek, T. Sexual Activity during Pregnancy in Childbirth and after Childbirth. In Sexology in Midwifery; InTech: London, UK, 2015. [Google Scholar]
- Glazener, C.M.A. Sexual function after childbirth: Women’s experiences, persistent morbidity and lack of professional recognition. BJOG An Int. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 1997, 104, 330–335. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Spock, B. Baby and Child Care; Pocket Books: New York, NY, USA, 1976. [Google Scholar]
- Weissbluth, M. Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child: A Step-by-Step Program for a Good Night’s Sleep; Ballantine Books: New York, NY, 1999. [Google Scholar]
- Stein, M.T.; Colarusso, C.A.; McKenna, J.T.; Powers, N.G. Cosleeping (bedsharing) among infants and toddlers. J. Dev. Behav. Pediatr. 1997, 18, 408–412. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Arksey, H.; O’Malley, L. Scoping studies: Towards a methodological framework. Int. J. Soc. Res. Methodol. 2005, 8, 19–32. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Keller, M.A.; Goldberg, W.A. Co-sleeping: Help or hindrance for young children’s independence? Infant Child Dev. 2004, 13, 369–388. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ramos, K.D. Parent-Child Co-Sleeping in the Context of Parental Belief Systems; University of Missouri-Columbia: Columbia, MO, USA, 2001. [Google Scholar]
- Spanier, G.B. Measuring Dyadic Adjustment: New Scales for Assessing the Quality of Marriage and Similar Dyads. J. Marriage Fam. 1976, 38, 15. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Teti, D.M.; Shimizu, M.; Crosby, B.; Kim, B.-R. Sleep arrangements, parent–infant sleep during the first year, and family functioning. Dev. Psychol. 2016, 52, 1169–1181. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Germo, G.R.; Chang, E.S.; Keller, M.A.; Goldberg, W.A. Child sleep arrangements and family life: Perspectives from mothers and fathers. Infant Child Dev. 2007, 16, 433–456. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Davies, P.T.; Cummings, E.M. Marital conflict and child adjustment: An emotional security hypothesis. Psychol. Bull. 1994, 116, 387–411. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Rhoades, K.A.; Leve, L.D.; Harold, G.T.; Mannering, A.M.; Neiderhiser, J.M.; Shaw, D.S.; Natsuaki, M.N.; Reiss, D. Marital hostility and child sleep problems: Direct and indirect associations via hostile parenting. J. Fam. Psychol. 2012, 26, 488–498. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
- Teti, D.M.; Crosby, B.; McDaniel, B.T.; Shimizu, M.; Whitesell, C.J. Marital And Emotional Adjustment In Mothers And Infant Sleep Arrangements During The First Six Months. Monogr. Soc. Res. Child Dev. 2015, 80, 160–176. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Teti, D.M.; Crosby, B. Maternal Depressive Symptoms, Dysfunctional Cognitions, and Infant Night Waking: The Role of Maternal Nighttime Behavior. Child Dev. 2012, 83, 939–953. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- O’Hara, M.W. Postpartum depression: What we know. J. Clin. Psychol. 2009, 65, 1258–1269. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ramos, K.D.; Youngclarke, D.; Anderson, J.E. Parental perceptions of sleep problems among co-sleeping and solitary sleeping children. Infant Child Dev. 2007, 16, 417–431. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hatton, R.E.M.; Gardani, M. Maternal perceptions of advice on sleep in young children: How, what, and when? Br. J. Health Psychol. 2018, 23, 476–495. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
- Daws, D.; Rementeria, A. Finding Your Way with Your Baby—The Emotional Life of Parents and Babies; Routledge: Oxfordshire, UK, 2015. [Google Scholar]
- Schaefer, M.T.; Olson, D.H. Assessing Intimacy: The Pair Inventory*. J. Marital Fam. Ther. 1981, 7, 47–60. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Braiker, H.; Kelley, H. Conflict in the development of close relationships. In Social Exchange in Developing Relationships; Burgess, R., Huston, T., Eds.; Academic Press: Cambridge, MA, USA, 1979; pp. 135–168. [Google Scholar]
- Locke, H.J.; Wallace, K.M. Short marital adjustment and prediction tests: Their reliability and validity. Marriage Fam. Living 1959, 21, 251–255. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Dodd, J.; Jackiewicz, T. The negotiations of involved fathers and intensive mothers around shared-bed sleeping with infants (co-sleeping). Heal. Sociol. Rev. 2015, 24, 213–225. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. |
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Vousoura, E.; Ekizoglou, C. Does Bed Sharing with an Infant Influence Parents’ Sexual Life? A Scoping Review in Western Countries. Sexes 2021, 2, 406-414. https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes2040032
Vousoura E, Ekizoglou C. Does Bed Sharing with an Infant Influence Parents’ Sexual Life? A Scoping Review in Western Countries. Sexes. 2021; 2(4):406-414. https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes2040032
Chicago/Turabian StyleVousoura, Eleni, and Chryssa Ekizoglou. 2021. "Does Bed Sharing with an Infant Influence Parents’ Sexual Life? A Scoping Review in Western Countries" Sexes 2, no. 4: 406-414. https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes2040032