Sleep problems in children are extremely common and can be very disruptive and upsetting for families
The Lights Out programs have been developed by a group of researchers led by Professor Caroline Donovan at Griffith University, to improve the sleep of children aged 3-12 years. The programs are based in cognitive-behaviour therapy and target behavioural sleep problems (difficulties falling asleep or staying asleep, oppositional behaviour at bedtime, and difficulties falling asleep without parental assistance).
A number of clinical trials have been conducted on the Lights Out programs, and have shown that they are effective in improving child sleep and other child (anxiety and behaviour problems) and parent (sleep, anxiety and self-efficacy) outcomes.
Learn more about the Lights Out Online program
Lights Out has been adapted into various modalities
Face-to-face
Online
Videoconferencing
Research team
Professor Caroline Donovan
BA(Hons), PhD (Clinical Psychology)
Professor Donovan is a Clinical Psychologist and Professor within the School of Applied Psychology. Her research interests lie in child sleep and mental health disorders, digital interventions, and body image. In collaboration with colleagues, she developed the BRAVE-ONLINE program for youth anxiety disorders, the Lights Out program for child sleep, and the Momentum platform for youth mental health. She has published 126 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters.
Dr Evren Etel
BSc (Psychology), MA (Developmental Psychology), PhD (Developmental Psychology)
Dr. Etel holds a PhD in Developmental Psychology and is a Research Fellow at the School of Applied Psychology at Griffith University. Her research focuses on enhancing health and developmental outcomes for children and their families. She has worked on projects identifying modifiable parenting factors that may improve health and developmental outcomes, as well as quality of life for children with chronic health conditions.
Meri Grajdan
BPsych (Hons), PhD candidate, HDR Student Teaching Fellow
Meri is a PhD candidate in the School of Applied Psychology. Her PhD research focuses on supporting parents of anxious children aged 7 to 12 years through the Momentum digital mental health platform. As an HDR Student Teaching Fellow, Meri also tutors students in undergraduate psychology courses. She is currently working in a research assistant role under the supervision of Professor Caroline Donovan and Dr Evren Etel, with current projects focusing on digital programs for child and adolescent anxiety, depression, and sleep problems.
Amy Shiels
BPsychSc (Hons), BEd (Primary), PhD (Clinical Psychology) candidate
Amy is a PhD (Clinical Psychology) candidate in the School of Applied Psychology. Her PhD research focuses on behavioural sleep problems and nighttime fears in preschool aged children. She is currently working as a psychologist in a private practice while also delivering videoconference assistance to parents enrolled in the Lights Out Online program for child sleep. Amy has worked as a research assistant under the supervision of Professor Caroline Donovan since 2017, with research projects focusing on child behavioural sleep problems, child anxiety and parenting.
Dr Renata A. Mendes
BPsych (Hons), PhD
Dr Mendes holds a PhD in Educational Psychology and Personality and is a Research Fellow at the School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University. She also works with Queensland Health, conducting research involving children and adolescents with primary eating disorders. Her current projects focus on child and adolescent mental health, including anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and eating disorders.
Dr Kristyn Sommer
BPsycSc (Hons), PhD
Dr Kristyn Sommer is a Research Fellow in the School of Applied Psychology at Griffith University and a Jacobs Foundation Research Fellow. Her research examines how children learn from emerging technologies and the role of digital environments in their cognitive and social development. In the Lights Out program, she is adapting and translating the intervention for new modalities such as app-based interfaces and podcast-style formats.
Anneke Vos
BBehavSc (Hons), PhD (Clinical Psychology) candidate
Anneke is a PhD (Clinical Psychology) candidate in the School of Applied Psychology. Her PhD research focuses on comorbid anxiety and depression in adolescents, in the context of the Momentum self-directed online platform. She is currently working in a research assistant role under the supervision of Professor Caroline Donovan and Dr Evren Etel, with current projects focusing on digital programs for child and adolescent anxiety, depression, and sleep problems.
Matilda O'Neil
BPsychSc (Hons)
Matilda holds a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) from The University of Queensland. She is passionate about identifying and implementing evidence-based psychological interventions to improve child sleep outcomes, with other interests including co-occurring mental and physical health conditions and adult substance use disorders. She is currently working in a research assistant role under the supervision of Professor Caroline Donovan, with current projects focusing on digital programs for child behavioural sleep problems
Current research trials
Currently, the program is being developed and trialled in the following formats:
- A randomised controlled trial of Lights Out Online with a videoconferencing adjunct.
- Development of Lights Out Online for children with Neurodisability, in collaboration with the Queensland Children's Hospital Respiratory and Sleep Medicine Service.
- A randomised controlled trial of Lights Out Online.
We are also partnering with Cogniss to adapt Lights Out into an app!
Research Publications
Supporting organisations
The Lights Out program is generously supported by the following organisations.
Other sleep resources
Momentum
If your child is between 7 and 17, and is experiencing sleep issues, anxiety, depression, or a combination of these, you may be interested in the Momentum online program. Developed by researchers from the University of Southern Queensland, in collaboration with Professor Caroline Donovan and her team, Momentum is a free, open-access, self-directed platform that offers tailored programs for young people experiencing mental health problems.
Sleep with Kip
Sleep with Kip is a book series developed by paediatrician Professor Harriet Hiscock at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute. The website includes a variety of research links and helpful information on evidence-based strategies to target baby and child sleep.
The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne
On their website they offer a fact sheet related to child and adolescent sleep problems, outlining factors that can affect sleep, strategies to improve bedtime behaviour and sleep, and options to get support. It also includes a video on healthy sleep habits.
Australasian Sleep Association
The Australasian Sleep Association is the peak scientific body in Australia and New Zealand that represents clinicians and researchers working in sleep health. The below webpage discusses sleep health in childhood, and contains four videos on child sleep by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, as well as an online learning course covering sleep in babies from six months onwards.
Sleep Health Foundation
The Sleep Health Foundation is a not for profit charity that aims to raise awareness about the value of sleep and how to improve it. They were founded by the Australasian Sleep Association. The website includes a variety of different articles on topics such as bedwetting, sleep apnoea, nightmares, behavioural sleep problems and technology and sleep, among others.
Parentline
Offers free counselling and support for parents and carers. In addition to more general parenting information, their website also includes sleep-specific content and tips. You can either call them on 1300 30 1300, click the link below to go to their website.
HealthyChildren.org
A paediatrician-backed parenting website focused on improving the health and well-being of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. The website includes a variety of evidence-based information and resources, and is supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Nemours KidsHealth
A website that contains a variety of articles, videos, slideshows, and tools aimed at helping families and parents to support children and teenagers. The resources are reviewed and approved by doctors, and cover a wide variety of topics, including sleep.
Raisingchildren.net.au
An Australian parenting website that provides free, reliable, up-to-date information, supported by the Australian government. You can sort by 'age group' and review numerous topics pertinent to child and adolescent health, including sleep, behaviour, nutrition, among others.
Contact us
Lights Out Program Research Lead
Professor Caroline Donovan
Griffith University, Mount Gravatt Campus
Psychology Building (M24) Room 2.21
176 Messines Ridge Rd, Mount Gravatt QLD 4122
Phone: (07) 3735 3401
Email: c.donovan@griffith.edu.au