Family Sleep: The Role of Culture and Health in Shaping Wellbeing and Healthcare Recommendations
Special Issue Editors
Interests: sleep; interpersonal outcomes; environmental factors; mental health
Interests: sleep; neurodevelopmental disorders; mental health; medical conditions; actigraphy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Sleep is a fundamental component of health and development across the lifespan and around the world. However, most existing sleep guidelines and healthcare recommendations were developed within Western contexts. Families across different countries and cultures may vary significantly in how they manage their sleep, particularly in relation to health conditions and mental health status.
This Special Issue of Healthcare aims to explore the diverse ways in which family sleep practices are shaped by cultural values, beliefs, caregiving dynamics, health conditions, and the growing influence of technology, as well as different environmental factors and healthcare systems. We particularly encourage studies that investigate how family stress, mental health challenges, caregiving responsibilities, medical and neurodevelopmental conditions, and environmental influences contribute to sleep disturbances or promote resilience. Research on interventions or public health strategies that support healthy sleep within families, especially those with complex medical or developmental needs, is strongly encouraged.
Importantly, we welcome large-scale data-driven studies, including those using longitudinal cohort data or national and international health databases. We also invite submissions that apply machine learning, predictive modelling, or AI-driven analytics to identify risk factors, sleep patterns, or intervention outcomes across diverse populations.
Cross-cultural research remains especially vital and under-represented. Understanding how cultural norms, parenting practices, and societal expectations shape sleep can offer crucial insights into the diversity of family experiences worldwide and support the development of inclusive, evidence-based healthcare recommendations.
All submissions should include clear, evidence-based healthcare recommendations to inform clinical practice, family support, or public health policy with the aim of improving sleep health and overall wellbeing.
Dr. Esther Yuet Ying LAU
Prof. Dr. Dagmara Dimitriou
Dr. Mustafa Jaafar
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- family sleep practices
- children’s sleep
- parenting
- cultural context
- technology
- sleep hygiene
- school performance
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
