Child Abuse Exposure and Adult Sleep Continuity Disturbance, Sleep Duration, and Bedroom Safety

While prior research has shown that early life events can impact sleep during adulthood. However, the specific aspects of sleep affected in those who experienced abuse as a child and potential environmental factors that may help ameliorate these difficulties is less understood.

The present cross-sectional study examined the relationship between abuse as a child and several key dimensions of poor sleep (sleep quality, insomnia symptoms and typical sleep duration). Additionally, perceived bedroom safety was examined as a potential moderator.

A sample of 1,002 individuals completed measures of current sleep problems and perceived levels of safety in the bedroom. Additionally, participants indicated whether they had been exposed to physical or sexual abuse as a child. 204 participants reported being abused during childhood, defined as sexual or physical abuse.

A series of linear regressions demonstrated - a) associations between a history of abuse as a child and adult poorer sleep quality, increased insomnia symptomology, and shorter sleep durations and b) these associations, in the main, were moderated by current perceived bedroom safety. Of those who had experienced abuse as a child, perceiving the bedroom as a safe environment was associated with a 52% reduction in perceived poor sleep quality, 19% reduction in insomnia symptoms and 37% increase in sleep duration compared to those who currently slept in an environment they perceived to be unsafe.

While childhood abuse is associated with worse sleep health, these self-reported results indicate that the adult perception of safe bedroom mitigates that association.