Mona El-Sheikh and her colleagues found that marital tension can set off a chain reaction in children, creating worry about the stability of the family which prevents them from relaxing and obtaining adequate sleep.  

El-Sheikh and her team invite parents and children to a lab in Haley Center where the children’s physiological activities--including heart rate, breathing, sweating and hormone secretion--are assessed. 

El-Sheikh fits a child with an Actigraph, a wristwatch-like device that records the amount and quality of a child's sleep, including tossing and turning.

Once the lab work is complete, the children return home where they continue their normal sleep routines for a week wearing an Actigraph.

Children are exposed to stressors like trying to solve a Rubik’s cube or listening to a tape of a mild argument while their activity continues to be monitored.

El-Sheikh also conducts interviews with parents and children about their sleep. Through this ongoing process, El-Sheikh and her collaborators continue to improve understanding of the effects of sleep disruptions in children.