Socioeconomic Status Moderates the Impact of Emotional but not Physical Childhood Abuse on Women’s Sleep

Abstract

A recent systematic review highlighted associations between childhood abuse and adult sleep quality, and the need for research focused specifically on women and the role of moderating variables. The objectives of the present study were (1) to assess the impact of frequent physical and emotional child abuse on adult sleep among women; and (2) to assess the role that childhood socioeconomic status (SES) could play in moderating these associations. In-person data were collected from women living in a mid-sized city in western Canada in 2019–2020 (N = 185; M age = 40 years). Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Physical and emotional abuse experienced often or very often in childhood were assessed using single items (yes or no). Childhood SES was assessed by a single item and dichotomized at the sample median. Linear regression models examined associations between each form of abuse and continuous adult sleep quality score adjusted for covariates. Statistically significant interactions were stratified and examined by child SES group. Frequent physical and emotional childhood abuse were each associated with clinically and statistically significant increases in past-month sleep problem scores among women in adjusted models. This association was moderated by childhood SES for emotional child abuse, but not physical child abuse. Findings suggest that growing up in an upper-middle to upper SES household may buffer the adverse impact of frequent emotional child abuse on later adult sleep, but may not promote resilience in the context of frequent physical child abuse.

Longitudinal trajectories of sleep quality in correlation with child maltreatment: a cohort of early adolescents

“…The participants who experienced emotional and physical abuse were categorized in the high-decreasing sleep score group. Our results are consistent with previous studies [30][31][32]. However, unlike previous studies, we took into consideration longitudinal changes in sleep quality.…”

The effect of adverse and positive experiences on inflammatory markers in Australian and UK children

“…It is also worthwhile for future research to explore potential effect modifiers such as socioeconomic status and gender in the associations between adverse/positive childhood experiences and inflammation. Prior research indicated both socioeconomic position and gender as modifiers of the relationship between adverse experiences and health outcomes ( Currie et al, 2021 ; Lacey et al, 2020 ). Further investigation will be helpful to understand the mechanisms linking these early life experiences and physiological dysfunction and to inform upstream intervention opportunities in practice.…”