# Sleep disturbance among Chinese survivors of childhood sexual abuse: associations with perceived discrimination and rumination

## TL;DR

This study finds that childhood sexual abuse is linked to sleep problems in Chinese adults, with discrimination and rumination playing key roles.

## Contribution

The study identifies perceived discrimination and rumination as mediators between childhood sexual abuse and adult sleep disturbance in a Chinese population.

## Key findings

- CSA survivors reported higher rates of insomnia and hypersomnia compared to non-survivors.
- Perceived discrimination and rumination partially explain the link between CSA and sleep disturbance.
- The study highlights the need for interventions targeting discrimination and coping strategies to improve sleep quality.

## Abstract

Although childhood sexual abuse (CSA) has been widely recognized for its association with sleep disturbance (SD) in adulthood, little is known about its associations with perceived discrimination (PD) and rumination. This study seeks to build upon existing literature by examining the impact of CSA on adult SD within a Chinese survivor sample while also investigating the mediating effects of PD and rumination on this association.

A total of 1,210 respondents completed the Childhood Sexual Abuse Questionnaire, the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self Report, the Perceived Discrimination Scale, and the Ruminative Response Scale.

Participants with CSA experiences reported higher scores of SD and greater rates of insomnia and hypersomnia than those without such experiences (47.79% vs. 29.30%; 20.71% vs. 9.46%). CSA, SD, PD, and rumination were positively related with each other. CSA could predict SD not only directly but also indirectly through the mediating effects of PD and rumination.

Due to the cross-sectional design, the study is unable to demonstrate causality but, rather, that there exist important associations that are worth further investigation.

This study examined a sample of Chinese survivors of CSA to establish the link between CSA and adult sleep disturbances (SD). Our findings not only confirm this association but also shed light on the intermediary roles of PD and rumination in shaping this relationship. It suggests that interventions designed to mitigate the sense of discrimination and to foster the adoption of positive coping strategies could be instrumental in enhancing the sleep quality of those who have been sexually abused in their childhood.