Sleep Disturbances as a Mediator Between Childhood Maltreatment and Depressive Symptoms

• In Event: 20820 - Section on Medical Sociology Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table 8. The Life Course and Health I

Abstract

Child maltreatment is a significant public health concern with profound implications for mental health, particularly depressive symptoms in adulthood. While the direct relationship between child maltreatment and depression is well established, the role of sleep disturbances as a potential mediator remains underexplored. This study investigates the mediating effect of sleep disturbances in the association between childhood maltreatment and depressive symptoms among women using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). The analysis spans Wave 1 (1994) to Wave 5 (2018), incorporating sociodemographic controls such as race, age, parental education, and childhood income. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the CES-D-10 scale, with a clinically relevant cut point of 11 or higher. Sleep disturbances were measured in Waves 4 and 5, based on reported difficulty falling or staying asleep. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to examine direct and indirect pathways.
Findings indicate that childhood maltreatment is significantly associated with increased depressive symptoms (β = 1.224, p < 0.001) and a higher likelihood of experiencing sleep disturbances (β = 0.139, p < 0.001). In turn, sleep disturbances strongly predict depressive symptoms (β = 1.975, p < 0.001). Mediation analysis confirms a significant indirect effect of maltreatment on depression via sleep disturbances (β = 0.274, p < 0.001), indicating partial mediation. These results highlight the importance of addressing sleep disturbances in mental health interventions for individuals with a history of childhood maltreatment. Future research should explore additional mechanisms contributing to depression to inform targeted interventions.

Authors

• Mudasir Mustafa, University of West Florida

• Meredith Marten

• Saeed Ahmad, Utah State University