– Sleep problems are part of a broader picture of mental ill-health

Researcher Viktor Schønning on the study:

What do you consider the most important finding in the study?

– The most important finding is that adolescents with experiences of violence have significant sleep problems compared to their peers in the general population. The control group from Ung@hordaland provides an important basis for comparison and shows how significant the differences are between adolescents who have experienced violence and their peers. Specifically, sleep latency and nocturnal awakenings were clearly different between the groups, and we see that psychological distress largely explains these problems.

What was the motivation for this study?

– We know from previous research that childhood violence can lead to a range of health problems, but sleep has received relatively little attention in this context. Because sleep is so important for mental and physical health, we wanted to examine more closely how experiences of violence are related to sleep problems in adolescence.

How can they be used?

– The findings underscore the importance of assessing sleep problems in adolescents who have experienced violence. Many of these adolescents may benefit from tailored sleep treatment in addition to other mental health care. The findings may be relevant for all healthcare professionals working with adolescents.

Were there any findings that surprised you?

– Yes, we did not observe a significant increase in the prevalence of insomnia, which is defined as persistent difficulties falling asleep, maintaining sleep, or waking too early. We had expected this group to have a higher prevalence of such sleep problems. However, there was a weak trend, so this is something that should be investigated further in future studies.

What does the study say about the connection between mental health and sleep?

– We found that psychological distress could explain the connection between experiences of violence and sleep onset problems as well as nocturnal awakenings. This means that sleep problems are largely part of a broader picture of mental ill-health in this group.

What is your advice to professionals working with children and young people exposed to violence and abuse?

– It is important to include questions about sleep in the assessment and treatment of adolescents with experiences of violence. Sleep difficulties and psychological difficulties can mutually reinforce each other, and therefore both should be assessed. It is also important to offer treatment for both psychological difficulties and sleep problems to those who need it.

Are there any limitations in the study that are important to mention?

– An important one is that the sample size was relatively small when this article was written, so larger studies may be needed to confirm the findings. In addition, this article is based on cross-sectional data, so we cannot definitively say what comes first – sleep problems or psychological distress.

What do you hope the study can achieve?

I hope that the study contributes to increased awareness of sleep problems in adolescents exposed to violence, and that it becomes a natural part of assessment in healthcare. We know that good sleep is important for mental health and quality of life, and we must ensure that this group receives the help they need.

Read more about the study here.