Alexandra Lato, “Adolescent Trauma: Sleep’s Impact on Depression and PTSD Implications”
Mentor: Christine Larson, Psychology
Poster #54

Adolescent sleep patterns impact emotional and psychological well-being. Sleep disturbances can increase the risk for depression and PTSD symptoms, particularly in youth trauma survivors. A study of trauma survivors aged 7-18 found that 16% met the criteria for sleep disturbance, highlighting its potential role in exacerbating depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms. This ongoing study (N= 51, Mage= 15.02, SD= 2.06) consisted of a cohort of adolescents aged 10-17 who experienced a recent traumatic event and were assessed for sleep disturbances, PTSD, and depression. Sleep disruptions were measured through self and caregiver reports on the PROMIS Sleep Disturbances scale. Participants’ PTSD symptoms were documented using the UCLA PTSD Reaction Index, and depression symptoms were assessed through the Youth-Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (Y-MFQC) and Parent-Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (PY-MFQP). Assessments occurred at two weeks, three months, and twelve months post-trauma. Preliminary correlations revealed significant relationships between sleep at two weeks, and depression and PTSD symptoms at twelve months. Caregiver-reported youth sleep disturbances strongly correlated with youth self-reported PTSD symptom severity (r= 0.330, p= 0.025). Additionally, caregiver-reported youth PTSD symptom severity strongly correlated with youth sleep disturbances (r= 0.407, p= 0.004). Adolescents’ self-reported sleep patterns significantly correlated with their self-reported PTSD symptoms (r= 0.326, p= 0.027). Furthermore, caregiver-reported youth sleep disturbances significantly correlated with caregiver-reported (r= 0.507, p < 0.001) and youth self-reported (r= 0.308, p= 0.035) depression symptoms. However, youth self-reported sleep did not show a significant correlation with either caregiver or self-reported depression. These results highlight the importance of evaluating the sleep patterns of youth following trauma, particularly when considering disparities between self-reported and caregiver-reported symptoms. A comprehensive understanding of these associations will aid in the development of targeted interventions for youth trauma survivors at risk of depression and PTSD.