Childhood Sleep Problems Predispose to Adult Crime

• In Event: Reduced Sleep as a Risk Factor for Antisocial and Criminal Behavior

Abstract

Background. While cross-sectional research has documented a relationship between sleep problems and antisocial behavior, longitudinal research on sleep problems and adult crime is very sparse. This study tests the hypothesis that childhood sleep problems represent a risk factor for adult crime.

Methods. 1,165 boys and girls from Mauritius were assessed on sleep problems by their caregiver when aged 11 years. Outcome data consisted of age 11 parent-reported aggressive and non-aggressive antisocial behavior, age 15 self-report conduct disorder, age 17 parent-rated conduct disorder, age 23 self-report crime, age 23 court convictions, and age 23 clinically-assessed antisocial personality disorder.

Results. Sleep problems at age 11 were significantly associated with age 11 aggressive (p < .0001) and non-aggressive (p < .0001) antisocial behavior, age 15 conduct disorder (p = .008), age 17 conduct disorder (p < .0001), and age 23 self-report crime (p = .012), criminal convictions (p = .001), and antisocial personality disorder (p = .002).

Conclusions. Results replicate and extend our prior findings from a much smaller English study of daytime sleepiness at 15 and crime at 29. If future experimental research can document a causal relationship between sleep problems and crime, simple sleep hygiene educational interventions for sleepy teenagers could potentially reduce future crime.

Authors

• Adrian Raine, University of Pennsylvania

• Peter Venables, University of York