Long-term study finds children with insomnia likely to suffer as adults

ACCORDING to new research led by scientists at Penn State College of Medicine, children with insomnia symptoms are likely to persist with them as young adults and are significantly more likely to develop an insomnia disorder in early adulthood compared to children who do not have difficulty sleeping.

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The study, published today in the journal Pediatrics, is the first long-term cohort study to describe the developmental trajectories of childhood insomnia symptoms through adolescence and into young adulthood.

"Young adulthood is a stage in life where there is a documented increase in the severity and prevalence of physical and mental health problems such as cardiovascular disease and suicide rates," said Julio Fernandez-Mendoza, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral health.

"Sleep disorders, especially sleep apnea and insomnia, are linked with poorer cardiovascular and mental health. Given that up to 25 per cent of children, 35 per cent of adolescents and 45 per cent of young adults suffer from insomnia symptoms, we were interested in learning how these symptoms evolve over time as the child grows into adulthood.”

The team’s longitudinal study, which began in the year 2000, was designed as a random, population-based study of children, ages 5-12 years. Children and their parents provided reports of the children's insomnia symptoms, defined as moderate-to-severe difficulties initiating and/or maintaining sleep.