Objective prenatal sleep and adverse childhood experiences in a proof-of-concept observational mixed methods study

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Sleep Medicine
• Psychoneuroimmunology
• Perinatal Mental Health

Background:

• Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are increasingly recognized as risk factors for adult health outcomes.
• Sleep disturbances are a potential mechanism linking early life adversity to physiological dysregulation.
• Understanding the impact of ACEs on maternal physiology during pregnancy is crucial for identifying at-risk individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between objectively measured sleep patterns and exposure to ACEs in pregnant adults.
• To determine if specific sleep parameters, particularly sleep stages, are associated with ACEs.
• To explore the potential of sleep metrics as biomarkers for early adversity during pregnancy.

Main Methods:

• An observational study involving 50 first-time pregnant adults during their second trimester.
• Continuous 30-day monitoring using wearable physiological devices to collect sleep stage estimates, heart rate, and physical activity.
• Statistical analyses including regression modeling and classification models to assess the relationship between ACEs and sleep variables.

Main Results:

• Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep duration was the sleep variable most strongly associated with ACE exposure.
• Participants with a history of ACEs exhibited significantly greater REM sleep duration.
• REM sleep duration accurately distinguished between participants with and without ACEs (75.56% accuracy) and was a significant predictor in regression models.

Conclusions:

• Objective measures of sleep, specifically REM sleep duration, show a significant association with adverse childhood experiences in pregnant individuals.
• These findings suggest a distinct physiological sleep signature linked to early life adversity during pregnancy.
• Further research into sleep patterns may offer novel insights into the long-term health implications of ACEs for maternal well-being.