We all know the frustration of tossing and turning through the night, only to wake up feeling dizzy and irritable the next morning. While occasional sleep struggles are normal, persistent sleep disturbances may indicate deeper underlying health issues.
A study published in Development and Psychopathology suggests that childhood trauma could be one of the reasons behind sleep issues in young adults. According to the research, individuals who faced maltreatment during childhood often experience disrupted sleep due to impaired emotional regulation processes. Intrigued by this study? Keep reading as we delve more.
Canva
Understanding the connection between childhood trauma and sleep
Childhood trauma can be in various forms, including emotional abuse, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. While these experiences are widely known to contribute to mental health challenges like anxiety and depression, their impact on sleep is often neglected.
The study, which examined nearly 2,000 Chinese youths, found that different types of childhood trauma influenced sleep quality in distinct ways. Emotional abuse, in particular, showed the strongest link to sleep disturbances, likely due to its impact on a person’s sense of safety and emotional well-being. Those who had experienced physical and emotional abuse as children were more likely to have trouble sleeping in young adulthood, highlighting the long-lasting effects of early life adversity.
Other findings in the study
One of the key findings of the study was the role of emotional regulation in this connection. Researchers focused on two primary emotional regulation strategies:
Cognitive Reappraisal: The ability to reinterpret negative situations more positively or neutrally, helping individuals manage emotional distress more effectively.
Expressive Suppression: The act of hiding emotions outwardly while still experiencing them internally. While this can help avoid immediate conflict, it often leads to long-term psychological stress.
The study found that individuals who had suffered physical and emotional abuse were less likely to use cognitive reappraisal, making it harder for them to manage negative emotions. Meanwhile, those who had endured sexual abuse were more likely to engage in expressive suppression, bottling up their emotions rather than processing them.
Both of these emotional coping patterns were associated with poorer sleep quality, suggesting that unresolved emotional distress plays a significant role in sleep disturbances.
Why traditional sleep solutions may not work
The findings also highlight why common sleep remedies, such as maintaining a bedtime routine, reducing screen time, and practicing relaxation techniques, may not be enough for individuals with a history of trauma. If the underlying issue is unprocessed emotional distress, then the key to improving sleep might lie in addressing emotional regulation itself.
Canva
Therapeutic approaches such as mindfulness, emotional regulation training, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) can be effective in helping individuals reframe negative thought patterns and develop healthier emotional coping mechanisms. CBT-I, in particular, has been shown to help people fix their mental associations with sleep, reducing anxiety and improving rest quality.
So, if you've tried every sleep hack in the book but still struggle to rest, it might be worth exploring the emotional factors from the past. Addressing unresolved trauma and learning healthier ways to manage emotions could be the missing piece in achieving the deep, restorative sleep you deserve.
