Adverse experiences in childhood and adolescence in relation to sleep health in adulthood: An overview of systematic reviews and a global evidence map
Abstract
Adversities in childhood and adolescence (ACA) can disrupt biological, developmental, and behavioral processes, potentially contributing to poorer sleep in adulthood. However, the certainty of the evidence of this association remains unclear. To synthesize and evaluate evidence of associations between ACA and adult sleep health (≥18 years) across World Health Organization regions while considering benevolent and risk factors, we conducted an overview of systematic reviews/meta-analyses. Using a predefined protocol, we systematically reviewed records published from database (n = 5) inception to February 2026, synthesized results, and performed quality and bias appraisal using validated tools, which allowed for assessment of the overall certainty of evidence. Twelve systematic reviews, including one relevant meta-analysis, were identified. ACA exposure was consistently associated with poorer sleep (e.g., insomnia symptoms, nightmares, higher arousals) in adulthood. Confidence in findings was generally critically low, and risk of bias was high, resulting in low certainty, overall. Evidence was concentrated in Regions of the Americas and Europe, with no representation from low-income countries. Reviews broadly summarized ACA-sleep associations, limiting synthesis of potential moderation by benevolent and risk factors. ACAs appear associated with poorer sleep health in adulthood; however, certainty remains low. More research across global populations is needed.
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BibTeX
@article{gaston2026adverse,
title = {{Adverse experiences in childhood and adolescence in relation to sleep health in adulthood: An overview of systematic reviews and a global evidence map}},
author = {Symielle Gaston and Wensu Zhou and Rupsha Singh and Tracy Shields and Alicia Livinski and Susan Redline and Jean-Philippe Chaput and Karen Spruyt and Fang Han and Judith Owens and Chandra Jackson},
journal = {Sleep Medicine Reviews},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.smrv.2026.102350},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05791054v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Adverse experiences in childhood and adolescence in relation to sleep health in adulthood: An overview of systematic reviews and a global evidence map
AU - Symielle Gaston
AU - Wensu Zhou
AU - Rupsha Singh
AU - Tracy Shields
AU - Alicia Livinski
AU - Susan Redline
AU - Jean-Philippe Chaput
AU - Karen Spruyt
AU - Fang Han
AU - Judith Owens
AU - Chandra Jackson
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/10
JO - Sleep Medicine Reviews
DO - 10.1016/j.smrv.2026.102350
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05791054v1
AB - Adversities in childhood and adolescence (ACA) can disrupt biological, developmental, and behavioral processes, potentially contributing to poorer sleep in adulthood. However, the certainty of the evidence of this association remains unclear. To synthesize and evaluate evidence of associations between ACA and adult sleep health (≥18 years) across World Health Organization regions while considering benevolent and risk factors, we conducted an overview of systematic reviews/meta-analyses. Using a predefined protocol, we systematically reviewed records published from database (n = 5) inception to February 2026, synthesized results, and performed quality and bias appraisal using validated tools, which allowed for assessment of the overall certainty of evidence. Twelve systematic reviews, including one relevant meta-analysis, were identified. ACA exposure was consistently associated with poorer sleep (e.g., insomnia symptoms, nightmares, higher arousals) in adulthood. Confidence in findings was generally critically low, and risk of bias was high, resulting in low certainty, overall. Evidence was concentrated in Regions of the Americas and Europe, with no representation from low-income countries. Reviews broadly summarized ACA-sleep associations, limiting synthesis of potential moderation by benevolent and risk factors. ACAs appear associated with poorer sleep health in adulthood; however, certainty remains low. More research across global populations is needed.
SN - 1087-0792
ER -