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Postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder and behavioral insomnia in children: A Co-occurrence analysis and new

Hélène Voillet1, Florian Lecuelle2, Patricia Franco3

  • 1Faculty of Psychology, UniDistance Suisse, 3900, Brig, Switzerland.

Sleep Medicine
|April 5, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Maternal postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PP-PTSD) is linked to behavioral insomnia in young children. Early screening for PP-PTSD in pediatric clinics may improve infant sleep disorder management.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Maternal Mental Health
  • Child Psychology

Background:

  • Parental psychopathology is associated with childhood sleep disorders per the Cognitive and Emotional Model of Young Children's Insomnia (CEMYCI).
  • Postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PP-PTSD) related to birth trauma remains understudied in relation to pediatric insomnia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the co-occurrence between maternal PP-PTSD and behavioral insomnia in children aged 6 to 48 months.
  • To establish a potential link between maternal trauma and infant sleep disturbances.

Main Methods:

  • A preliminary cross-sectional study involving 674 mother-child dyads.
  • Maternal PP-PTSD assessed using the PCL-S scale.
  • Child behavioral insomnia assessed using the DIMS subscale of the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC).
  • Data analyzed using frequency tables and chi-square tests.

Main Results:

  • 16.0% of mothers reported PP-PTSD symptoms.
  • 50.7% of children met criteria for behavioral insomnia.
  • A significant association was found between maternal PP-PTSD and infant insomnia (OR = 2.54, p < 0.001).
  • Children with insomnia were more likely to have mothers with PP-PTSD (21.9%) compared to those without insomnia (9.9%).

Conclusions:

  • Maternal PP-PTSD is a potential risk factor for behavioral insomnia in young children.
  • Screening for PP-PTSD in pediatric sleep clinics may enhance clinical management.
  • Further longitudinal research is needed to confirm causality and explore interventions.
Abstract

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