Among maltreated youth in foster care, little is known about frequency of sleep problems and its association to potential traumatic events (PTEs) and mental health. Among youths in foster care, we examined: (1) sleep patterns, difficulties initiating and maintaining sleep (DIMS) and related functional impairment; (2) whether exposure to PTEs, symptoms of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and general mental health problems are associated with DIMS and related functional impairment, controlling for age, gender and time in foster care; and (3) whether PTSD and general mental health problems mediate the association between PTEs and DIMS. Foster youths in Norway (n = 299) completed a survey on sleep behaviour, the Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Overall, 53.2% reported DIMS. For 82.1%, these sleep problems had lasted 3 months plus. Increased PTEs, PTSD and general mental health problems were all associated with increased DIMS score. Increased rate of PTEs was associated with decreased sleep duration. PTSD and general mental health problems partially mediated the association between PTEs and DIMS. Youth in foster care are at high risk of sleep problems, related to traumatic experiences and mental health problems. Treatment of PTSD may improve sleep problems among maltreated youth.

中文翻译：

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在寄养机构中的年轻人中睡眠：与潜在创伤事件，PTSD和心理健康的关联

在寄养机构中受虐待的青年中，关于睡眠问题的发生频率及其与潜在创伤事件（PTE）和心理健康的关系知之甚少。在寄养家庭中，我们研究了以下方面：（1）睡眠方式，难以启动和维持睡眠（DIMS）以及相关的功能障碍；（2）暴露于PTE，创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）的症状和一般的精神健康问题是否与DIMS和相关的功能障碍有关，控制寄养中的年龄，性别和时间？（3）创伤后应激障碍和一般精神健康问题是否介导了PTE和DIMS之间的联系。在挪威福斯特青年（ñ= 299）完成了一项有关睡眠行为，儿童和青少年创伤筛查以及长处和困难问卷的调查。总体而言，有53.2％的企业报告了DIMS。这些睡眠问题持续8个月以上，占82.1％。PTE，PTSD和一般精神健康问题的增加都与DIMS评分的增加有关。PTEs发生率增加与睡眠时间减少有关。PTSD和一般的精神健康问题部分地介导了PTE和DIMS之间的关联。寄养家庭中的青年人有与创伤经历和心理健康问题有关的睡眠问题的高风险。PTSD的治疗可以改善受虐待的年轻人的睡眠问题。