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. 2020 Sep 16;14(3):311-319.
doi: 10.1007/s40653-020-00318-w. eCollection 2021 Sep.

Sleep as a Moderator of Young Children's Traumatic Stress and Behavior Problems: a Treatment-Referred Sample

Glenn R Mesman  1 , Sufna G John  1 , Elissa H Dougherty  1 , Nicola A Edge  2 , Joy L Pemberton  1 , Karin L Vanderzee  1 , Lorraine M McKelvey  2
Affiliations

Sleep as a Moderator of Young Children's Traumatic Stress and Behavior Problems: a Treatment-Referred Sample

Glenn R Mesman et al. J Child Adolesc Trauma. .

Abstract

Empirical evidence suggests young children who have experienced trauma are at risk of developing sleep problems and behavior difficulties, but it is unclear of the specific relation between these behavioral health concerns. The primary purpose of the study is to determine whether sleep problems moderate the relation between traumatic stress and behavior problems in a sample of young children referred for treatment. A secondary purpose is to explore if sleep problems also moderate the relation between specific domains of traumatic stress (i.e., intrusion, avoidance, arousal) and behavior problems. Data from 170 preschoolers ages 3 through 5 referred for treatment were gathered at intake and utilized in this study. Results indicate sleep problems moderate the effect of overall traumatic stress on behavior problems. This statistical finding also was found with intrusive symptoms, and the moderation analyses approached significance with avoidance and arousal. Our findings highlight the importance for clinicians to assess for sleep problems when young children who have experienced trauma are referred to them for treatment, particularly if a low level of overall traumatic stress is present.

Keywords: Behavior problems; Sleep problems; Trauma; Young children.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure of InterestOn behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Figures

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Total Posttraumatic Stress and Sleep Problems Predicting Behavior Problems
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Posttraumatic Stress Avoidance and Sleep Problems Predicting Behavior Problems
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Posttraumatic Stress Intrusion and Sleep Problems Predicting Behavior Problems
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Posttraumatic Stress Arousal and Sleep Problems Predicting Behavior Problems
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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