1
|
Mii AE, Coffey HM, McCoy K, Sonnen E, Meidlinger K, Huit TZ, May GC, Flood MF, Hansen DJ. Sleep, Emotional, and Behavioral Problems Among Youth Presenting to Treatment Following Sexual Abuse. JOURNAL OF CHILD & ADOLESCENT TRAUMA 2024; 17:411-423. [PMID: 38938946 PMCID: PMC11199425 DOI: 10.1007/s40653-023-00590-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Research indicates that sleep problems are fairly common in childhood. However, the relationship between child sexual abuse (CSA) and sleep problems and how sleep issues influence psychological symptoms in children presenting for treatment remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the presence of sleep problems and the association between sleep problems and psychological symptoms in youth presenting to treatment following CSA. Participants included 276 non-offending caregiver-child dyads at pre-treatment and 106 dyads at post-treatment. Youth were 6 to 19 years old and predominately female (82.9%). Caregivers were 23 to 72 years old and predominately female (87.4%). Youth and caregivers identified as predominately European American (76.6% and 86.0%, respectively). Results indicated that caregiver endorsement of a particular youth sleep problem (as measured by the Child Behavior Checklist sleep items) at pre-treatment ranged between 17.9 and 51.4%. Sleep problems were positively associated with psychological symptoms per caregiver- and youth self-report. Interestingly, a substantial proportion of youth reported decreased sleep problems at the end of treatment even though the treatment did not target sleep issues. This study highlights the commonality of sleep problems in children who experienced sexual abuse. Findings suggest that CSA interventions that do not directly address sleep may be missing a component that can contribute to successful recovery. The results provide preliminary evidence that sleep problems and mental health concerns among youth who experienced CSA are associated, indicating a need for further investigation into the association and potential implications for treatment. Other implications for future research and treatment following CSA are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Akemi E. Mii
- Department of Psychology Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0308 USA
| | - Hannah M. Coffey
- Department of Psychology Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0308 USA
| | - Kelsey McCoy
- Department of Psychology Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0308 USA
| | - Emily Sonnen
- Department of Psychology Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0308 USA
| | - Katie Meidlinger
- Department of Psychology Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0308 USA
| | - T. Zachary Huit
- Department of Psychology Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0308 USA
| | - Gina C. May
- Department of Psychology Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0308 USA
| | - Mary Fran Flood
- Department of Psychology Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0308 USA
| | - David J. Hansen
- Department of Psychology Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0308 USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Brown SM, Rodriguez KE, Smith AD, Ricker A, Williamson AA. Associations between Childhood Maltreatment and Behavioral Sleep Disturbances Across the Lifespan: A Systematic Review. Sleep Med Rev 2022; 64:101621. [PMID: 35367857 PMCID: PMC9441474 DOI: 10.1016/j.smrv.2022.101621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Childhood maltreatment has a range of long-term developmental and health consequences. Emerging research suggests that sleep disturbances may be a key behavioral health risk factor implicated in the relationship between maltreatment and poor health across the lifespan. This systematic review examined the association between maltreatment and behavioral sleep disturbances in childhood and adulthood. Studies were identified through PsycINFO, PubMed, and alternative search strategies such as Google Scholar and reference list checks, with an end date of July 2021. Quantitative, peer-reviewed articles examining behavioral sleep outcomes and/or characteristics among maltreatment-exposed samples were included. We assessed the potential risk of bias by examining study design and sleep and maltreatment assessment methods. Across 73 studies included in this review, there was a robust association between childhood maltreatment and behavioral sleep disturbances. Findings suggest that linkages between maltreatment and sleep outcomes diverge with respect to maltreatment characteristics, type of behavioral sleep disturbance assessed, use of subjective versus objective measures, and study design. Given that behavioral sleep disturbances are modifiable, more research is needed that incorporates objective measures of sleep and longitudinal designs to identify specific points of intervention to mitigate the potential long-term impacts of childhood maltreatment on health across socio-demographically diverse populations.
Collapse
|
3
|
Downey C, Crummy A. The impact of childhood trauma on children's wellbeing and adult behavior. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF TRAUMA & DISSOCIATION 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejtd.2021.100237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
|
4
|
Heikkilä AR, Lapinleimu H, Virtanen I, Rönnlund H, Raaska H, Elovainio M. Changes in objectively measured sleep among internationally adopted children in 1-year follow-up during the first years in new families. Front Pediatr 2022; 10:948010. [PMID: 36160771 PMCID: PMC9500395 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.948010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychosocial risks and environmental changes experienced by internationally adopted children may predict sleep problems, which are incidentally among the main concerns of adoptive parents. Several questionnaire studies have found sleep of internationally adopted children to be problematic, but none of those used an objective measure in a controlled study. OBJECTIVE To determine whether the objectively recorded sleep of internationally adopted children is worse than their controls who are living with their biological parents. METHODS To this case-control part of the Finnish Adoption Study, we recruited children who were adopted internationally to Finland between October 2012 and December 2016. Simultaneously, control children were recruited from 16 daycare centers. To assess sleep in children, actigraphy recordings were made twice, 1 year apart, between December 2013 and April 2018. In the adopted group, the first assessment took place 10 months after they had arrived in their families. The associations between adoption status and sleep parameters were analyzed using linear mixed modeling and adjusted for multiple potential confounders, including child age. RESULTS Seventy-eight internationally adopted children (boys 64%) aged 1-7 years and 99 controls (boys 53%) aged 2-6 years attended the first sleep recording. The recordings showed that the internationally adopted children slept longer (B = 0.48, 95% CI 0.23-0.73, P < 0.001) than the controls. There were no significant differences in sleep fragmentation or sleep efficiency between the groups. During the 1-year follow-up, the sleep patterns of the adopted children approached those of the controls. CONCLUSIONS The internationally adopted children spent more time in bed and slept more than their control children in both recordings. However, their sleep patterns were not very different from those of their peers and the differences appeared to vanish during the first years in their new family.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Riitta Heikkilä
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Pediatrics, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Helena Lapinleimu
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Irina Virtanen
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.,Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Hanni Rönnlund
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Kaarina Health Center, Kaarina, Finland
| | - Hanna Raaska
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marko Elovainio
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Health Services Research, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Mesman GR, John SG, Dougherty EH, Edge NA, Pemberton JL, Vanderzee KL, McKelvey LM. Sleep as a Moderator of Young Children's Traumatic Stress and Behavior Problems: a Treatment-Referred Sample. JOURNAL OF CHILD & ADOLESCENT TRAUMA 2021; 14:311-319. [PMID: 34471450 PMCID: PMC8357896 DOI: 10.1007/s40653-020-00318-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Empirical evidence suggests young children who have experienced trauma are at risk of developing sleep problems and behavior difficulties, but it is unclear of the specific relation between these behavioral health concerns. The primary purpose of the study is to determine whether sleep problems moderate the relation between traumatic stress and behavior problems in a sample of young children referred for treatment. A secondary purpose is to explore if sleep problems also moderate the relation between specific domains of traumatic stress (i.e., intrusion, avoidance, arousal) and behavior problems. Data from 170 preschoolers ages 3 through 5 referred for treatment were gathered at intake and utilized in this study. Results indicate sleep problems moderate the effect of overall traumatic stress on behavior problems. This statistical finding also was found with intrusive symptoms, and the moderation analyses approached significance with avoidance and arousal. Our findings highlight the importance for clinicians to assess for sleep problems when young children who have experienced trauma are referred to them for treatment, particularly if a low level of overall traumatic stress is present.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Glenn R. Mesman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham St., #554, Little Rock, AR 72205-7199 USA
| | - Sufna G. John
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham St., #554, Little Rock, AR 72205-7199 USA
| | - Elissa H. Dougherty
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham St., #554, Little Rock, AR 72205-7199 USA
| | - Nicola A. Edge
- Department of Family and Preventative Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham St., #530, Little Rock, AR USA
| | - Joy L. Pemberton
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham St., #554, Little Rock, AR 72205-7199 USA
| | - Karin L. Vanderzee
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham St., #554, Little Rock, AR 72205-7199 USA
| | - Lorraine M. McKelvey
- Department of Family and Preventative Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham St., #530, Little Rock, AR USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zajac L, Prendergast S, Feder KA, Cho B, Kuhns C, Dozier M. Trajectories of sleep in Child Protective Services (CPS)-referred children predict externalizing and internalizing symptoms in early childhood. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2020; 103:104433. [PMID: 32126399 PMCID: PMC7716882 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have established links between poor sleep and negative developmental outcomes. However, it remains unclear whether young maltreated children demonstrate atypical sleep patterns and whether sleep duration is associated with emotional and behavioral problems. OBJECTIVE Explore trajectories of sleep among Child Protective Services (CPS)-referred children and examine whether sleep duration is significantly associated with externalizing and internalizing symptoms, even when controlling for the home environment. PARTICIPANTS Participants included 197 children (Mage at first assessment = 10.24 months, SD = 6.39) whose parents were referred to CPS due to allegations of maltreatment. METHODS Parents completed sleep diaries for their children at up to five time-points and the preschool version of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) when children were approximately 2 years of age (Mage = 26.40 months, SD = 3.36). The Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment Scale (HOME) assessed the quality of the early home environment. RESULTS Results from latent growth curve modeling demonstrated that CPS-referred children significantly varied (B = 3.28, SE = 0.90, p < .001) in the amount they slept in a 24-hour period at baseline (i.e., 4.1 months of age), and the amount of total sleep in a 24-hour period significantly decreased across time (B1 = -0.03, SE = 0.01, p < .001). When controlling for characteristics of the home environment, total sleep in a 24-hour period at baseline significantly inversely predicted externalizing (B = -1.03, SE = 0.06, p < .001) and internalizing symptoms (B = -0.19, SE = 0.03, p < .001) in early childhood. CONCLUSIONS This study is an important first step in exploring trajectories of sleep among CPS-referred children. Findings underscore sleep as a promising target for interventions aimed at promoting regulation and highlight the need for future research to examine sleep in maltreated children as a predictor of later developmental outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kenneth A Feder
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Baiden P, Tadeo SK, Tonui BC, Seastrunk JD, Boateng GO. Association between insufficient sleep and suicidal ideation among adolescents. Psychiatry Res 2020; 287:112579. [PMID: 31627959 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.112579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Revised: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to examine the association between insufficient sleep and suicidal ideation among adolescents. Data for this study came from the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. A sample of 13,659 adolescents aged 14-18 years (51.8% female) were analyzed using logistic regression with suicidal ideation as the outcome variable and insufficient sleep as the main explanatory variable. Of the 13,659 adolescents, 2,409 representing 17.6% experienced suicidal ideation during the past 12 months and three out of four adolescents (75.2%) had insufficient sleep on an average school night. Controlling for all other predictors, the odds of experiencing suicidal ideation were 1.35 times higher for adolescents who had insufficient sleep relative to those who had sufficient sleep on an average school night (AOR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.16-1.58). Other factors associated with suicidal ideation include female gender, sexual minority, history of traditional bullying and cyberbullying victimization, feeling sad or hopeless, being slightly or very overweight, and substance use. Physical activity was inversely associated with suicidal ideation. School counselors, clinicians, and practitioners should consider adequate sleep as an important intervention in suicide prevention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philip Baiden
- The University of Texas at Arlington, School of Social Work, 211 S. Cooper St., Box 19129, Arlington, TX, 76019, United States.
| | - Savarra K Tadeo
- The University of Texas at Arlington, School of Social Work, 211 S. Cooper St., Box 19129, Arlington, TX, 76019, United States
| | - Betty C Tonui
- The University of Texas at Arlington, School of Social Work, 211 S. Cooper St., Box 19129, Arlington, TX, 76019, United States
| | - Jaylon D Seastrunk
- The University of Texas at Arlington, Department of Psychology, 501 Nedderman Dr, Box 19528, Arlington, TX, 76019, United States
| | - Godfred O Boateng
- The University of Texas at Arlington, Public Health Program, Department of Kinesiology, 500 W. Nedderman Dr, Box 19407, Arlington, TX, 76019, United States
| |
Collapse
|