Maternal insomnia and child social-emotional outcomes: following families over time
Official title: Longitudinal examination of the impact of maternal insomnia on offspring social-emotional outcomes
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11208690 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study tests whether treating a mother’s sleep problems during pregnancy and after birth improves her child’s social and emotional development by age 2–4 years.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $819,721 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MH141203-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11208690 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant people diagnosed with insomnia and their offspring are eligible, with follow-up through early childhood.
✕Less likely to help
Pregnant people without insomnia or children who do not show social-emotional difficulties may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will extend follow-up of mother–child pairs from an existing cohort to see if a digital sleep therapy for pregnant people with insomnia improves their children’s social-emotional skills by ages 2 to 4. Pregnant participants with insomnia are randomized to a cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) delivered digitally or to a sleep hygiene control, then followed through the first year after birth and then up to age 4. The study will collect data on weather, behavior, and emotional development to understand causal pathways between prenatal/postpartum sleep and child outcomes. By using an established cohort, the project aims to provide clearer evidence that improving maternal sleep can support healthier development in children.”,
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could guide prenatal care to support better mental health and development in children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show associations; this project aims to establish causal links via a randomized design.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Felder, Jennifer Nicole — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Felder, Jennifer Nicole
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.