Childhood maltreatment exposure and physical functional limitations in late adulthood: examining subjective sleep quality in midlife as a mediator

Abstract

<b>Objective:</b> The present study had three major aims: 1) To identify sub-groups of adults with differing combinations of childhood maltreatment exposures, 2) to understand the association of childhood maltreatment sub-group membership with subjective sleep quality in midlife, and 3) to assess poor sleep quality in midlife as a mechanism between childhood maltreatment sub-group membership and physical functional limitations in late adulthood. <b>Design:</b> Data come from the Biomarker project of the Midlife Development in the United States study (<i>n</i> = 1251). <b>Outcome measures:</b> The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (Buysse et al., 1989) was used to assess sleep quality in midlife. Functional limitations in late adulthood were measured using a version of the SF-36 (Brazier et al., 1992). <b>Results:</b> Two vulnerable childhood maltreatment sub-groups emerged (Physical and Emotional Maltreatment Sub-group, <i>n</i> = 49, and Sexual Abuse Sub-group, <i>n</i> = 105) and a normative sub-group (<i>n</i> = 1087; low exposure to childhood maltreatment). Poor sleep quality in midlife mediated the association between both maltreatment sub-groups and functional limitations in late adulthood. <b>Conclusion:</b> Results highlight the role of sleep in linking childhood maltreatment with functional impairments in adulthood and offer a potential target for interventions to improve quality of life in older adults.