Clear link between violence and poor sleep
This systematic literature review is the first to specifically examine the connection between children exposed to violence and abuse and various forms of sleep disorders. The study synthesizes findings from 26 previous research articles and demonstrates clear links between childhood experiences of violence and specific sleep problems.
Original title: Childhood maltreatment and sleep in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Authors: Viktor Schønning, Børge Sivertsen, Mari Hysing, Anders Dovran,
Kristin G. Askeland
Year of publication: 2021
Journal: Sleep Medicine Reviews
Key findings:
- Children exposed to violence and abuse were nearly four times more likely to report symptoms of insomnia compared to children without such experiences.
- Sleep duration was significantly shorter in children and adolescents exposed to maltreatment, with an average reduction of 12 minutes per night.
- The risk of nightmares was more than three times higher for children with experiences of violence compared to their peers.
- The study revealed significant variation in how sleep and maltreatment were measured in the included studies, indicating a need for more standardized measurement methods.
Summary
Through an extensive literature search, 1,530 articles were identified, of which 26 studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies included children and adolescents aged 5–18 and measured various aspects of sleep, including insomnia, sleep duration, and nightmares. The meta-analysis showed that experiences of violence have a significant negative impact on sleep. This underscores the need for screening and interventions for sleep problems in children exposed to maltreatment.
The study is published in Sleep Medicine Reviews
Other published articles from the survey
Children are not receiving the assistance they require
Children and young people who have experienced violence and abuse during childhood often require extensive …
Experience more mental health problems than other children
Children and adolescents who have experienced maltreatment have more mental health problems compared to oth…
Sleep Problems in Adolescents Exposed to Violence
Adolescents who have experienced violence in childhood may have an increased risk of sleep disturbances. Th…
Health Cohort for Children and Adolescents Exposed to Violence and Abuse
How do violence and abuse affect children and adolescents in the long term? The Triple-S study is the first…
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