Childhood abuse, parental death and divorce are linked to adult insomnia symptoms

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-06/aaos-cap061416.php

Public Release: 14-Jun-2016
Childhood abuse, parental death and divorce are linked to adult insomnia symptoms
Experiences during childhood are associated with poor sleep as adults
American Academy of Sleep Medicine

According to a new study, child adversities, which are known to play an important role in mental and physical health, are also associated with poor sleep.

Child abuse, parental divorce and parental death, where shown to be associated with higher rates of adult insomnia. Mild insomnia was uniquely predicted by childhood abuse and divorce, and moderate-severe insomnia was uniquely predicated by childhood abuse and parental death.

"Good quality sleep is an important part of health. People who don't sleep well are more likely to have worse physical and mental health. In particular, insomnia can lead to decreased quality of life, increased rates of depression, and even increased risk of heart disease," said senior author, Michael Grandner, PhD MTR, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology and Medicine, and Director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona. Karla Granados, the undergraduate student who is the lead author, notes, "The fact that events that happen during childhood can have an impact on sleep many years later can help use better understand how sleep is related to health and better target our efforts addressing sleep problems in the real world."

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tags: child abuse