The Fourth Shift

While a great deal of research has looked at sleep and children's sleep patterns the sociological effects of childrens sleep on that of their parents, has been largely ignored. Last year a sociological study examined how couples with children have their sleep influenced by caring for their child or children.

The key concerns were not only related to caring for young children and their physical needs at night, but also how the nature of caring for older children impacts on parents sleep. A number of couples aged 20-59 with both younger and older children took part in the study which involved completing auditory sleep dairies, individual in depth interviews, and follow up interviews.

It is not really a surprise to find that the physical and emotional care of young children at night was largely provided by women, with a lack of explicit negotiation between partners about who should provide this care, even when the woman returns to work. Overall considerably more women than men continued their daytime and evening employment, as well as undertaking a third shift, or sentient activity, for their family into the night. This resulted in a fourth shift where physical caring and sentient activities continued.

As a consequense mothers were more likely to subjugate their sleep needs to those of the family. Fathers, in general, did not undertake this fourth night time shift. Those fathers who did, were more likely to be fathers of older children who were staying out late at night, with their focus of concern being the safety of the children.

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