Exploring the Relationship Between Childhood Trauma and Sleep Quality Among Young Adults: A Correlational Study

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between childhood trauma and sleep quality among young adults. Childhood trauma has been identified as a significant factor influencing psychological and emotional well-being, while sleep quality plays an important role in maintaining overall mental health. The objective of the study was to assess how different dimensions of childhood trauma are associated with sleep patterns in young adulthood. Data were collected from a sample of 100 young adults using standardized self-report measures. Childhood trauma was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), which measures five dimensions of trauma including emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect, while sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation was used to explore the relationship between childhood trauma and sleep quality. Statistical analysis of the data was conducted using Microsoft Excel for Mac (Version 16.106.3, Microsoft 365). The findings revealed that most forms of childhood trauma were positively correlated with sleep quality scores, indicating that higher exposure to traumatic experiences during childhood was associated with poorer sleep quality among young adults. Emotional abuse showed the strongest positive correlation with sleep disturbances, followed by sexual abuse, physical abuse, and physical neglect. Emotional neglect demonstrated a weak negative relationship with sleep quality in the present sample. The overall childhood trauma score also showed a moderate positive correlation with sleep quality, suggesting that cumulative exposure to adverse childhood experiences may contribute to sleep disturbances during young adulthood. These findings describe the relationship between childhood trauma and sleep quality within the sample of young adults included in this study.

Introduction

Early childhood experiences play a crucial role in shaping emotional development, coping mechanisms, and psychological functioning throughout life. While supportive environments promote healthy development, childhood trauma—such as emotional, physical, or sexual abuse and neglect—can disrupt development and lead to long-term psychological difficulties. Research shows that childhood trauma is associated with emotional dysregulation, anxiety, depression, and increased stress sensitivity. It can also affect biological processes, including sleep functioning, leading to problems such as insomnia, fragmented sleep, nightmares, and poor sleep quality.

Sleep quality is essential for psychological and physical well-being because it supports emotional regulation, cognitive functioning, and stress management. Poor sleep can cause irritability, difficulty concentrating, and increased vulnerability to mental health problems. Trauma-related stress and hyperarousal may interfere with the ability to fall asleep or maintain restful sleep, especially among young adults, who already experience significant developmental and social changes.

The present study aimed to examine the relationship between childhood trauma and sleep quality among young adults in India using a correlational research design. The sample consisted of 100 participants aged 18–35 years. Data were collected using standardized instruments: the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) to measure trauma experiences and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to assess sleep quality.

Statistical analysis using Pearson’s correlation revealed that most forms of childhood trauma—such as physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and physical neglect—were positively associated with poor sleep quality, meaning higher trauma levels were linked with greater sleep disturbances. Emotional abuse showed the strongest relationship with sleep problems, while emotional neglect showed a weak negative correlation. The overall trauma score also showed a moderate positive correlation with sleep disturbances.

The findings indicate that childhood trauma is significantly related to sleep quality among young adults, rejecting the study’s null hypothesis. These results align with previous research showing that early adverse experiences increase stress sensitivity, emotional dysregulation, and sleep disturbances. Overall, the study highlights the importance of understanding how childhood trauma can affect sleep and psychological well-being in young adulthood, particularly within the Indian context.

Conclusion

The present study examined the relationship between childhood trauma and sleep quality among young adults. The findings indicated that several dimensions of childhood trauma were associated with variations in sleep quality within the sample. Emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and physical neglect showed positive correlations with sleep quality scores, with emotional abuse demonstrating the strongest association with sleep disturbances. Although emotional neglect showed a weak negative correlation, the overall findings suggest that early adverse experiences may be associated with sleep patterns during young adulthood. These results contribute to existing literature highlighting the relationship between childhood trauma and sleep quality among young adults.

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Copyright © 2026 Vidisha Kumari, Dr. Neerja Pandey. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.