Abstract
BackgroundA victim of child abuse can often develop mental illness. The early detection of mental illness of children could be supported by observing sleep quality. Therefore, we examined the relationship between sleep quality and the changes in child abuse by the child’s own parents over the study period.MethodsData from the 2011–2013 Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey was used, and 2012 was set as the baseline. Adolescents who had poor sleep quality in 2011 were excluded from the analysis to obtain the final study population of 1276 adolescents aged 14 and 15 years. The generalized estimating equation model (GEE) was used for statistical analysis.ResultsChildren who had experienced and/or were currently experiencing child abuse showed significantly poorer sleep quality (current year abuse only: odds ratio [OR] = 0.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.41, 0.79; prior year abuse only: OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.52, 0.99; continuous abuse: OR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.39, 0.80) compared to children who had no experience of child abuse.ConclusionChild abuse remains a traumatic experience that influences the quality of sleep and hinders the child’s proper psychological development. We suggest approaching this issue at both the community and national levels to protect the victims.
Highlights
Child maltreatment is a universal problem that causes severe damage to children, with long-term consequences
This study aimed to focus on the children who are experiencing or experienced abuse by their own parents in recent years and its effect on those children’s sleep quality
A total of 1276 subjects were selected at baseline after eliminating children who had poor sleep quality in the prior year
Summary
Child maltreatment is a universal problem that causes severe damage to children, with long-term consequences. The increasing number of reports of child maltreatment has become a major concern for children’s well-being [1, 2]. Child maltreatment occurs in the forms of child abuse and neglect of those younger than 18 years [3]. The highest number of child maltreatment occurred in children younger than 3 years [6]. The early detection of mental illness of children could be supported by observing sleep quality. We examined the relationship between sleep quality and the changes in child abuse by the child’s own parents over the study period. Adolescents who had poor sleep quality in 2011 were excluded from the analysis to obtain the final study population of 1276 adolescents aged 14 and 15 years. The generalized estimating equation model (GEE) was used for statistical analysis
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call