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Do sleep problems mediate the link between adverse childhood experiences and delinquency in preadolescent children in foster care?
Author(s) -
Hambrick Erin P.,
Rubens Sonia L.,
Brawner Thomas W.,
Taussig Heather N.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of child psychology and psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.652
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1469-7610
pISSN - 0021-9630
DOI - 10.1111/jcpp.12802
Subject(s) - juvenile delinquency , psychology , poison control , population , injury prevention , foster care , psychiatry , clinical psychology , suicide prevention , developmental psychology , medicine , medical emergency , environmental health , nursing
Background Adverse childhood experiences ( ACE s) are associated with multiple mental and physical health problems. Yet, mechanisms by which ACE s confer risk for specific problems are largely unknown. Children in foster care typically have multiple ACE s and high rates of negative sequelae, including delinquent behaviors. Mechanisms explaining this link have not been explored in this population. Impaired sleep has been identified as a potential mechanism by which ACE s lead to delinquency in adolescents, because inadequate sleep may lead to poor executive function and cognitive control – known risk factors for delinquency. Methods Interviews were conducted with 516 maltreated children in foster care, ages 9–11 years, and their caregivers regarding child exposure to ACE s, sleep problems, engagement in delinquent acts, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, and current psychotropic medication use. ACE s data were also obtained from child welfare case records. Results After controlling for age, gender, race/ethnicity, placement type (residential, kin, foster), length of time in placement, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and current psychotropic medication use, sleep partially mediated the association between ACE s and delinquency. Conclusions Although delinquency is likely multiply determined in this population, improving sleep may be one important strategy to reduce delinquency.