Association Between Childhood Behavioral Problems and Insomnia Symptoms in Adulthood

Abstract

IMPORTANCE Life-course determinants of insomnia, particularly the long-term association of childhood behavioral problems with insomnia later in life, are unknown. As childhood behaviors are measurable and potentially modifiable, understanding their associations with insomnia symptoms may provide novel insights into early intervention strategies to reduce the burden. OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between behavioral problems at 5, 10, and 16 years of age and self-reported insomnia symptoms at 42 years of age. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cohort study used data from the United Kingdom 1970 Birth Cohort Study, an ongoing large-scale follow-up study. Participants were followed up from birth (1970) to age 42 years (2012). Missing data were imputed via multiple imputation. Statistical analysis was performed from February 1 to July 15, 2019. EXPOSURES Behavior measured at 5, 10, and 16 years of age using the Rutter Behavioral Scale (RBS). Children's behavior was classified as normal (Յ80th percentile), moderate behavioral problems (>80th to Յ95th percentile), and severe behavioral problems (>95th percentile) based on their RBS score. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Self-reported difficulties initiating or maintaining sleep (DIMS) were collected using a self-administered questionnaire at 42 years of age. Log-binomial logistic regression, adjusted for several potential confounders, was used to estimate the association of childhood behavioral problems with insomnia symptoms in adulthood. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to check robustness of the findings. RESULTS Participants were followed up from a baseline age of 5 years (n = 8050; 3854 boys and 4196 girls), 10 years (n = 9090; 4365 boys and 4725 girls), or 16 years (n = 7653; 3575 boys and 4078 girls) until age 42 years. There was a 39% higher risk of DIMS

Is Japan’s child allowance effective for the well-being of children? A statistical evaluation using data from K-CHILD study

“…Also, due to the difficulties in assessing mental distress related to family financial issues, we could not fully examine how the family process changed. Behavior problems at school was related to academic achievements [64], future earnings [65] and adult health [66], and self-rated health was shown to predict future health [67], mortality [68] and quality of life [67]. Child overweight is one of the serious global problems.…”

The need to promote sleep health in public health agendas across the globe

“…Sleep deficiency, defined as insufficient sleep (eg, duration of sleep <6 h per night), sleep disturbances (eg, irregular sleep and nightmares), or sleep disorders (eg, insomnia, sleep apnoea, and restless legs syndrome), adversely affects health across the entire lifespan. First, children are particularly vulnerable to sleep deficiency 6 that leads to behavioural problems 7 early in life, and has been associated with sleep deficiency into adulthood. 8 The appendix ( p 29 ) provides sleep disturbance data among adolescents from the global school-based student health survey in 93 countries which shows an estimated average prevalence of 9·6%, ranging from 3·0% in Myanmar to 28·2% in Samoa (for data by country, see appendix pp 30 – 31 ).…”

Association between adverse childhood experiences and sleep quality, emotional and behavioral problems and academic achievement of children and adolescents

“…In the United States, approximately 10.8 million children aged 3–17 years old had current depression, anxiety or behavioral problems [ 17 ]. In addition, emotional and behavioral problems in early childhood can trigger health risk behaviors in later childhood and also increase the risk of clinical mental illness and physical health problems in the future [ 18 , 19 ]. Thus, extensively exploring factors affecting the genesis of emotional and behavioral problems in childhood are important and meaningful.…”