A NEW study has revealed that a history of trauma, whether experienced in childhood or adulthood, is significantly associated with persistent poor sleep quality in midlife women. The research, published in Menopause, found that women with trauma histories had higher odds of both poor subjective sleep quality and objectively measured disrupted sleep patterns over an extended period.
The study followed 167 women aged 40 to 60 for five years, assessing their sleep twice using both actigraphy (which objectively measures sleep patterns) and self-reported sleep quality via the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Researchers also collected data on trauma histories using the Child Trauma Questionnaire for childhood trauma and the Brief Trauma Questionnaire for adult trauma.
The results were striking: women with childhood trauma were twice as likely to experience persistent disruptions in sleep continuity, measured as wakefulness after sleep onset (WASO) of more than 30 minutes per night (odds ratio [OR]: 2.16). Meanwhile, women who had experienced trauma in adulthood were more than twice as likely to report poor subjective sleep quality over the study period (OR: 2.29). These associations held even after adjusting for a range of potential confounding factors, including age, body mass index, depressive symptoms, and other medical conditions.
Interestingly, trauma history was not linked to short total sleep time (less than 6 hours per night), suggesting that trauma primarily affects the quality rather than the quantity of sleep.
Dr. Karen Jakubowski, lead author of the study, emphasised the importance of recognising trauma as a factor in managing sleep problems among midlife women. “Our findings underscore the need for healthcare providers to consider trauma histories when addressing chronic sleep disturbances in midlife women,” she said.
The study highlights the long-term impact of trauma on health and the potential benefits of trauma-informed care approaches in managing sleep disturbances.
Aleksandra Zurowska, EMJ
Reference
Jakubowski K et al. Trauma history and persistent poor objective and subjective sleep quality among midlife women. Menopause. 2025;32(3):207-16.
