Sleep disturbance in adopted children with a history of maltreatment

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate whether children with a history of maltreatment and current behaviour problems demonstrate greater sleep disruption than controls; and also whether sleep disturbances are associated with these behavioural problems using standardised carer report measures. Sixty-three participants were assessed using the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) (Owens, Spirito and McGuinn, 2000) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) (Goodman, et al., 2003). Thirty-four participants aged 5–12 years were recruited via Adoption UK – Scotland. Inclusion criteria included a history of maltreatment (confirmed from social work documents) with associated social/behavioural problems. Twenty-nine controls with no psychiatric or maltreatment history, also aged 5–12 years, were recruited from two general practices.Mean CSHQ total sleep difficulty scores were significantly higher in maltreated children than in controls (48.9 vs 23.6, P < 0.001). Rates of clinically significant sleep problems (total sleep score>41) were also higher in the maltreatment group at 50% compared to 12% in controls (P = 0.002). There was a significant association between high scores on the CSHQ and the SDQ (P < 0.000). Overall, this study suggests that behaviourally disturbed children with a history of maltreatment experience significant sleep disruption, which is in turn associated with their behavioural disturbance. This has clear implications for both clinical assessment and intervention with this vulnerable group and is worthy of further research.