Sleep Disturbances During Childhood Can Predict Adult Alcohol Consumption: A Longitudinal Cohort Study

Sleep disturbances (SDs) in childhood can negatively impact behavioral and emotional control, which can lead to an increase in risky behaviors, such as substance use, including alcohol.

Data from 2,132 subjects who participated in the French TEMPO cohort from 1991 to 2018 were used. Sleep disturbances observed from ages 3 to 16 years defined our exposure. Alcohol use in adulthood was measured by alcohol consumption trajectories ascertained by using Group-Based Trajectory Modeling (GBTM) and constitutes our outcomes. The association between sleep disturbances in childhood and alcohol consumption trajectories was studied using multinomial logistic regression.

Sleep disturbances at ≤ 16 years were observed in 26.7% of participants. Three alcohol use trajectories were defined: "light-drinkers", "moderate-drinkers", and "heavy-drinkers". Accounting for many confounders, we found statistically significant associations between sleep disturbances and alcohol use trajectories. Using "light-drinkers" trajectory as reference, we found that compared to children with no sleep disturbances, those with sleep disturbances had a higher likelihood to be in the "moderate-drinkers" (ORa = 1.51; 95% CI = 1.09-2.10) and "heavy-drinkers" trajectory (ORa = 2.34; 95% CI = 1.27-4.34).

This study suggests that sleep disturbances in childhood are associated with an increased risk of higher alcohol consumption in adulthood and highlights the importance of healthy sleep, particularly in children and adolescents, to prevent the onset of certain risky behaviors.