Insomnia In Children Increases The Risk Of Mood, Anxiety Disorders In Adulthood, Study Claims

News: Childhood insomnia symptoms that persist into adulthood are strong determinants of mood and anxiety disorders in young adults, according to a new longitudinal study.

Researchers collected data from 700 children with a median age of 9 years and followed up 8 years later with 421 participants in the adolescence stage (median age of 16 years) and now 15 years later with 492 of them when they were in the young adulthood phase (median age of 24 years).

Insomnia symptoms in childhood were reported by parents and self-reported in adolescence and young adulthood. Self-report of a diagnosis or treatment for depressive and/or anxiety disorders defined the presence of internalizing disorders. The results were adjusted for factors like sex, race/ethnicity, any prior history of internalizing disorders or use of medications for mental health problems.

Researchers found that insomnia symptoms persisting from childhood through adolescence and into adulthood were associated with a 2.8-fold increased risk of internalizing disorders. Children whose anxiety symptoms improved over time were not at increased risk of having a mood or anxiety disorder as young adults.

“We found that about 40% of children do not outgrow their insomnia symptoms in the transition to adolescence and are at risk of developing mental health disorders later on during early adulthood,” said lead author Julio Fernandez-Mendoza. The results highlight the need for early interventions to address insomnia symptoms in children.

To Know More You May Refer To:

Wickrama, K. A., Klopack, E. T., & O’Neal, C. W. (2021). Midlife family financial strain, sense of control and pain in later years: An investigation of rural husbands and wives. Stress and Health. https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.3038