Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Life Sciences and Public Health Department, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
Eur J Pediatr. 2024 Oct;183(10):4445-4455. doi: 10.1007/s00431-024-05718-w. Epub 2024 Aug 12.
Numerous studies have identified connections between child maltreatment and sleep-related issues. However, poor is known on potential links between sleep patterns and day-to-day functioning, along with psychopathology in maltreated youths. Additionally, existing research on the relationship between sleep difficulties and maltreatment often lacks investigation into specific sleep difficulty profiles across different age ranges. The current study aimed to determine the prevalence of diverse sleep disturbance profiles in a sample of maltreated children and adolescents, exploring distinct sleep disorder profiles based on sex, age, and the type of maltreatment experienced. Potential variations in adaptive and psychopathological profiles between maltreated children with and without sleep disturbances were also explored. This retrospective study included 91 children and adolescents (56% males, 44% females), aged 6 to 17, with a history of maltreatment (physical maltreatment, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, or neglect), referring for a neuropsychiatric and psychological evaluation at a pediatric hospital. Data were obtained through a retrospective file review. Sleep difficulties were measured through the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children; cognitive abilities, adaptive skills, and emotional and behavioral features were also investigated. Among maltreated youth, difficulties in initiating and maintaining sleep were the most frequently observed by caregivers. Poor sex differences emerged, whereas adolescents exhibited more daytime somnolence than school-age children. Children with sleep difficulties exhibited more anxiety symptoms and worse global functioning in comparison with children without sleep difficulties.Conclusion: Considering the vital impact of sleep quality on healthy development, practitioners should offer tailored services to child maltreatment victims. Enhancing the sleep quality of these children could help foster their resilience.
许多研究已经确定了儿童虐待与睡眠相关问题之间的联系。然而，对于睡眠模式与日常生活功能以及受虐待青年的精神病理学之间的潜在联系知之甚少。此外，现有的关于睡眠困难与虐待关系的研究往往缺乏对不同年龄范围的特定睡眠困难模式的调查。本研究旨在确定受虐待儿童和青少年样本中不同睡眠障碍模式的流行情况，根据性别、年龄和所经历的虐待类型，探索不同的睡眠障碍模式。还探讨了睡眠障碍与非睡眠障碍受虐待儿童之间适应性和精神病理学特征的潜在差异。这项回顾性研究包括 91 名年龄在 6 至 17 岁之间、有过虐待史（身体虐待、性虐待、心理虐待或忽视）的儿童和青少年（56%为男性，44%为女性），他们曾在一家儿童医院进行神经精神和心理评估。数据是通过回顾病历获得的。睡眠困难通过儿童睡眠障碍量表进行测量；还调查了认知能力、适应技能以及情绪和行为特征。在受虐待的青少年中，最常被照顾者观察到的是入睡和维持睡眠困难。性别差异不明显，而青少年比学龄儿童表现出更多的日间嗜睡。与无睡眠困难的儿童相比，有睡眠困难的儿童表现出更多的焦虑症状和更差的整体功能。结论：鉴于睡眠质量对健康发展的重要影响，临床医生应为儿童虐待受害者提供定制服务。提高这些儿童的睡眠质量有助于培养他们的适应力。
