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Childhood abuse as a risk factor for sleep problems in adulthood: evidence from a U.S. national study
Emily A Greenfield1, Chioun Lee, Elliot L Friedman
1School of Social Work, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 536 George St., New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. egreenf@ssw.rutgers.edu
Background:
Accumulating evidence indicates that stress impairs sleep quality. Few studies, however, have examined the extent to which early life stress can jeopardize sleep in adulthood.
Purpose:
Guided by a life course epidemiological perspective on health, this study examined associations between childhood abuse and adult sleep problems.
Methods:
We used data from 835 respondents in the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS). Self-report measures assessed the frequency of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse in childhood, as well as global and component indicators of sleep problems in adulthood.
Results:
Having experienced all three types of childhood abuse-even infrequently-was associated with global sleep pathology, as well as specific types of sleep problems. Reports of both frequent physical and frequent emotional abuse-even in the absence of sexual abuse-were also associated with poor sleep.
Conclusions:
Childhood abuse is a risk factor for individuals' long-term sleep problems.
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