Witnessing intimate partner violence in childhood and sleep disturbances across the lifespan: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Sleep is a fundamental process that could be dysregulated following exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) during childhood. This preregistered systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize both the quantitative and qualitative evidence on the association between childhood exposure to IPV and sleep disturbances across the lifespan. A meta-analysis of 18 studies found that childhood exposure to IPV was associated with significantly greater odds of sleep disturbances (OR = 1.49, 95% CI [1.16, 1.92], I² = 92.2%). There was significant heterogeneity, estimates withstood removal of outliers, and there was no evidence of small-study effects. There was no significant moderation by age, gender, geographical location, caregiver vs. self-reported measures, and type of IPV. Narrative synthesis of the remaining studies suggested that (a) persistent or recent exposure appears to elevate risk, and (b) caregiver distress, trauma-induced hypervigilance, and disrupted co-regulation may be critical factors to consider. In summary, although further rigorous research is warranted, our findings indicate that childhood IPV exposure has a critical role in sleep disturbances across the lifespan.