Adverse childhood experiences affect sleep duration for up to 50 years later
Abstract
Study Objectives: The main objective for this study was to assess the association of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and subsequent short sleep duration among adults. Methods: This cross-sectional examination used data from the 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a nationwide telephone-administered survey. Participants completed a standardized questionnaire to report childhood experiences of abuse, neglect, household challenges, and sleep time. Multinominal logistic regression analyses included survey weighting procedures and adjusted for age, race, education, income, sex, and body mass index; associations were also examined by age strata, using age as a proxy for time since ACEs occurred. Results: Complete data were available for 22 403 adults (mean age = 46.66 years) including 14 587 (65%) with optimum sleep duration (7–9 h/night) and 2069 (9%) with short sleep duration (<6 h/night). Compared with adults with optimum sleep duration, the number of ACEs was associated with the odds of short sleep duration (odds ratio [OR] = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.16 to 1.28), and the odds increased as the number of ACEs increased. The association held for each decade of age until the 60s, although the magnitude attenuated. Mental health challenges or poor physical health did not account for the association. Conclusion: ACEs increased the odds of chronic short sleep duration during adulthood and showed both a time-dependent and dose–response nature. These associations were independent of self-reported mental health challenges or poor physical health. The association of ACEs with short sleep duration throughout the adult lifespan emphasizes the importance of child health and identifying underlying psychological challenges in adults with sleep difficulties.
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Each ACE exposure is independently associated with a 22% increased risk of short sleep duration in adults (mean age 47 years).
“each ACE exposure is independently associated with a 22% increased risk of short sleep duration in adults (mean age 47 years)”
From The effects of sleep disruption on metabolism, hunger, and satiety, and the influence of psychosocial stress and exercise: A narrative review (2024) · cites this paper as [141]
Exposure to 5 or more ACEs is associated with a 3.5-fold increase in odds of short sleep duration compared to individuals with no ACEs.
“exposure to 5 or more ACEs is associated with a 3.5-fold increase in odds of short sleep duration when compared to individuals with no ACEs.”
From The effects of sleep disruption on metabolism, hunger, and satiety, and the influence of psychosocial stress and exercise: A narrative review (2024) · cites this paper as [141]
Two recent population studies indicate a dose-response relationship between degree of exposure to ACEs and sleep disturbance.
“Two recent population studies indicate that there is a dose-response relationship between the degree of exposure to ACEs and sleep disturbance.”
From The effects of sleep disruption on metabolism, hunger, and satiety, and the influence of psychosocial stress and exercise: A narrative review (2024) · cites this paper as [141]
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- Authors
- Sullivan, K., Rochani, H., Huang, L.-T., Donley, D. K., & Zhang, J.
- Affiliations
- Georgia Southern University (US)
- Northern Michigan Neurology, Traverse City, MI
- Corresponding author
- Sullivan, Kelly
- Venue
- Sleep
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2019-05-21
- Volume
- 42
- Issue
- 7
- ISSN
- 0161-8105 (ISSN-L)
- 1550-9109
- OpenAlex
- W2946617886
- Cited by
- 73
- References
- 31
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 5
- FWCI
- 7.31
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- academic.oup.com/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model (vor)
- Locations
- SLEEP (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Child Welfare and Adoption
- Keywords
- adverse childhood experiences, short sleep duration, chronic sleep deprivation, childhood abuse, child neglect, long-term health effects, dose-response relationship, adult mental health, physical health
- MeSH terms
- Adverse Childhood Experiences, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Child, Child Abuse, Cross-Sectional Studies, Family Characteristics, Female, Humans, Income, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, Male, Mental Health, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Body Mass Index, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Young Adult
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