Work

0681 Racial/Ethnic Disparities in the Relationship Between Traumatic Childhood Experiences and Suboptimal Sleep Dimensions among Adult Women: Findings from the Sister Study

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: While prior studies have found an association between some adverse childhood experiences and poor sleep in adulthood, few studies have incorporated a broader set of traumatic childhood experiences (TCEs) or investigated potential racial/ethnic differences in the TCE-sleep relationship. Using a large national cohort of U.S. women enrolled in the Sister Study from 2003-2009, we investigated the TCE-sleep relationship among White, Black, and Hispanic/Latina women. Self-reported TCEs occurring before 18 years of age included sexual, physical, and psychological/emotional trauma, household dysfunction, and natural disasters/major accidents. Sleep characteristics included average sleep duration per day (short: <7 hours vs. recommended: 7-9 hours), sleep onset latency >30 vs. ≤30 minutes, night awakenings ≥ 3 times per night ≥3 times per week (no/yes), and napping: ≥3 vs. <3 times per week. Using log-binomial regression to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) for adverse sleep characteristics, we investigated race/ethnicity-specific associations and if race/ethnicity modified relationships between TCEs and sleep. Among 40,082 women, 55% reported at least one TCE (White: 54%, Black: 62%, Hispanic/Latina: 57%), 28% reported short sleep; 17% longer onset latency; 14% night awakenings; and 10% frequent napping. Compared to within-race/ethnicity counterparts without TCEs, Whites with a history of any TCE type had a higher prevalence of every sleep characteristic ranging from 8-63%; however, associations were less consistent among Blacks and Hispanic/Latinas. Compared to Whites with no TCEs, women reporting any TCE had a higher prevalence of short sleep: (PRWhites=1.09, 95% Confidence Interval (CI):1.05-1.13, PRBlacks=2.14, 95%CI:2.03-2.25, and PRHispanics/Latinas=1.48, 95%CI:1.36-1.61); longer onset latency: (PRWhites=1.23, 95%CI:1.17-1.30, PRBlacks=1.79, 95%CI:1.64-1.95, and PRHispanics/Latinas=1.84, 95%CI:1.65-2.05); and frequent napping: (PRWhites=1.17, 95%CI:1.10-1.25, PRBlacks=1.45, 95%CI:1.27-1.65, and PRHispanics/Latinas=1.61, 95%CI:1.37-1.90). Across traumas, household dysfunction had the greatest impact on sleep characteristics among Blacks and psychological/emotional trauma appeared particularly strong among Hispanics/Latinas when compared to Whites with no TCEs. TCEs were positively associated with an increased prevalence of multiple sleep dimensions in adulthood. Racial/ethnic minority women with TCEs appear more negatively affected in ways that likely contribute to sleep-related disparities. Support (If Any)

Source: SLEEP

DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsz067.679