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Mii AE, Coffey HM, McCoy K, Sonnen E, Meidlinger K, Huit TZ, May GC, Flood MF, Hansen DJ. Sleep, Emotional, and Behavioral Problems Among Youth Presenting to Treatment Following Sexual Abuse. JOURNAL OF CHILD & ADOLESCENT TRAUMA 2024; 17:411-423. [PMID: 38938946 PMCID: PMC11199425 DOI: 10.1007/s40653-023-00590-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Research indicates that sleep problems are fairly common in childhood. However, the relationship between child sexual abuse (CSA) and sleep problems and how sleep issues influence psychological symptoms in children presenting for treatment remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the presence of sleep problems and the association between sleep problems and psychological symptoms in youth presenting to treatment following CSA. Participants included 276 non-offending caregiver-child dyads at pre-treatment and 106 dyads at post-treatment. Youth were 6 to 19 years old and predominately female (82.9%). Caregivers were 23 to 72 years old and predominately female (87.4%). Youth and caregivers identified as predominately European American (76.6% and 86.0%, respectively). Results indicated that caregiver endorsement of a particular youth sleep problem (as measured by the Child Behavior Checklist sleep items) at pre-treatment ranged between 17.9 and 51.4%. Sleep problems were positively associated with psychological symptoms per caregiver- and youth self-report. Interestingly, a substantial proportion of youth reported decreased sleep problems at the end of treatment even though the treatment did not target sleep issues. This study highlights the commonality of sleep problems in children who experienced sexual abuse. Findings suggest that CSA interventions that do not directly address sleep may be missing a component that can contribute to successful recovery. The results provide preliminary evidence that sleep problems and mental health concerns among youth who experienced CSA are associated, indicating a need for further investigation into the association and potential implications for treatment. Other implications for future research and treatment following CSA are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akemi E. Mii
- Department of Psychology Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0308 USA
| | - Hannah M. Coffey
- Department of Psychology Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0308 USA
| | - Kelsey McCoy
- Department of Psychology Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0308 USA
| | - Emily Sonnen
- Department of Psychology Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0308 USA
| | - Katie Meidlinger
- Department of Psychology Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0308 USA
| | - T. Zachary Huit
- Department of Psychology Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0308 USA
| | - Gina C. May
- Department of Psychology Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0308 USA
| | - Mary Fran Flood
- Department of Psychology Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0308 USA
| | - David J. Hansen
- Department of Psychology Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0308 USA
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Chandler-Mather N, Crichton A, Shelton D, Harris K, Donovan C, Dawe S. Carer-reported sleep disturbance and carer- and teacher-rated executive functioning in children with prenatal alcohol exposure and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Child Neuropsychol 2024:1-22. [PMID: 38607688 DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2024.2337715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Children with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) have high rates of sleep disturbance and marked difficulties with executive functioning (EF). Sleep disturbance has been associated with poorer EF across development in typically developing children. The contribution of insomnia symptoms and nightmares to EF difficulties in children with PAE and FASD is unclear. The current study examined whether caregiver-reported insomnia symptoms and nightmares predicted difficulties with EF in children with PAE who were assessed at FASD diagnostic clinics. Archival data on 116 children with PAE assessed at FASD diagnostic clinics were extracted from databases. Children were assigned to a preschool-age group (3.1 to 5.9 years, n = 40) and a school-age group (5.9 to 10.9 years, n = 76). Insomnia symptoms and nightmares were measured using items extracted from the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) while EF was measured using the caregiver and teacher Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) rating forms. Bootstrapped regression models were used examine the effects of insomnia symptoms and nightmares on domains of EF in each group while adjusting for potential confounds. For preschool children, insomnia symptoms were associated with greater daytime tiredness while nightmares were associated with greater difficulties with Emergent Metacognition according to their teachers. For school-age children, insomnia symptoms predicted greater EF difficulties across most domains according to their caregivers but not teachers. Sleep disturbance may compound EF impairments in children with PAE and should be screened for as part of FASD diagnostic assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ali Crichton
- Victorian Fetal Alcohol Service, Monash Children's Hospital, Clayton, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Doug Shelton
- Gold Coast University Hospital, Southport, Australia
| | - Katrina Harris
- Victorian Fetal Alcohol Service, Monash Children's Hospital, Clayton, Australia
| | - Caroline Donovan
- School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Sharon Dawe
- School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
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Avidan AY. The Clinical Spectrum of the Parasomnias. Sleep Med Clin 2024; 19:1-19. [PMID: 38368057 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2023.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Parasomnias are defined as abnormal movements or behaviors that occur in sleep or during arousals from sleep. Parasomnias vary in frequency from episodic events that arise from incomplete sleep state transition. The framework by which parasomnias are categorized and diagnosed is based on the International Classification of Sleep Disorders-Third Edition, Text Revision (ICSD-3-TR), published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. The recent Third Edition, Text Revision (ICSD-3-TR) of the ICSD provides an expert consensus of the diagnostic requirements for sleep disorders, including parasomnias, based on an extensive review of the current literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alon Y Avidan
- Department of Neurology, UCLA Sleep Disorders Center, UCLA, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 710 Westwood Boulevard, RNRC, C153, Mail Code 176919, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1769, USA.
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