Early childhood sleep problems predict increased risk for the later development of suicidal thoughts.

ABSTRACT: Suicidal thoughts and behaviors in youth are an escalating and immediate public health concern. To better understand youth suicidal thoughts and behaviors, it is important to identify risk factors in early childhood that predict the later emergence of youth suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Research with adults and adolescents has identified sleep disturbances as a risk factor for suicidal thoughts and behaviors, but this has yet to be examined in early childhood. Using a prospective, 17-year longitudinal design, the current study explored the association between early childhood sleep disturbances and concurrent and later suicidal thoughts and behaviors (in separate models) across childhood and adolescence. Results indicate that sleep problems in early childhood are associated with increase

SUBMITTER: Hoyniak CP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9870931 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature