Empirical evidence suggests young children who have experienced trauma are at risk of developing sleep problems and behavior difficulties, but it is unclear of the specific relation between these behavioral health concerns. The primary purpose of the study is to determine whether sleep problems moderate the relation between traumatic stress and behavior problems in a sample of young children referred for treatment. A secondary purpose is to explore if sleep problems also moderate the relation between specific domains of traumatic stress (i.e., intrusion, avoidance, arousal) and behavior problems. Data from 170 preschoolers ages 3 through 5 referred for treatment were gathered at intake and utilized in this study. Results indicate sleep problems moderate the effect of overall traumatic stress on behavior problems. This statistical finding also was found with intrusive symptoms, and the moderation analyses approached significance with avoidance and arousal. Our findings highlight the importance for clinicians to assess for sleep problems when young children who have experienced trauma are referred to them for treatment, particularly if a low level of overall traumatic stress is present.

经验证据表明，经历过创伤的幼儿有出现睡眠问题和行为困难的风险，但尚不清楚这些行为健康问题之间的具体关系。该研究的主要目的是确定睡眠问题是否会减轻被转诊接受治疗的幼儿样本中创伤性压力和行为问题之间的关系。第二个目的是探索睡眠问题是否也能调节创伤性压力的特定领域（即侵入、回避、唤醒）与行为问题之间的关系。在入学时收集了 170 名 3 至 5 岁学龄前儿童接受治疗的数据，并用于本研究。结果表明，睡眠问题缓和了整体创伤压力对行为问题的影响。这一统计发现也存在于侵入性症状中，并且适度分析在回避和唤醒方面接近显着性。我们的研究结果强调了临床医生在将经历过创伤的幼儿转诊给他们进行治疗时评估睡眠问题的重要性，特别是在整体创伤压力水平较低的情况下。