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Systematic review on the association between sleep-related hyperarousal and child maltreatment

Angela Pfaff1, Andreas Jud2, Angelika Schlarb1

  • 1Universität Bielefeld, Germany.

Sleep Medicine
|June 25, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Child maltreatment (CM) can lead to adult sleep deficiencies, potentially explained by hyperarousal. This review found evidence linking CM experiences to sleep-related hyperarousal, particularly somatic, highlighting a need for more research.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Trauma Studies

Background:

  • Child maltreatment (CM) is linked to persistent sleep deficiencies extending into adulthood.
  • Hyperarousal is a proposed mechanism connecting CM and insomnia, but empirical research is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review existing literature on the association between child maltreatment and sleep-related hyperarousal.

Main Methods:

  • A PRISMA-guided systematic literature review was performed.
  • Academic databases were searched for empirical studies on child maltreatment and sleep, with no publication year restrictions.

Main Results:

  • Thirteen studies involving 1469 participants met the inclusion criteria.
  • A tendency towards sleep-related hyperarousal, especially somatic, was observed in individuals with CM experiences.
  • Cortical and cognitive hyperarousal were infrequently examined.

Conclusions:

  • Evidence suggests a link between child maltreatment and hyperarousal, manifesting as heightened nighttime activity and altered heart rate variability.
  • Recognizing CM in patients with sleep issues is crucial for therapists.
  • Further rigorous research is necessary to fully understand the CM-sleep problem relationship.
Abstract

Keywords:
Child maltreatmentCognitive hyperarousalCortical hyperarousalPhysiological hyperarousalSleepSomatic hyperarousal

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