Trajectories of Nonrestorative Sleep in First-year College Students: The Roles of Childhood Emotional Abuse and Resilience.

Abstract

Objective: Nonrestorative sleep (NRS) is common among college students; however, its temporal changes and predictors are poorly understood. This study aimed to identify NRS trajectories among first-year Chinese college students and to examine how childhood emotional abuse (EA) and resilience predict these trajectories.

Methods: Six hundred and fourteen first-year Chinese college students were enrolled in a 12-month longitudinal tracking study, assessed by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form, 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Morning and Evening Questionnaire-5, and NRS Scale (NRSS). Data were analyzed employing latent growth curve modeling, latent class growth modeling, and multivariable logistic regression.

Results: The global score of NRSS (higher scores indicate fewer symptoms of NRS) showed a linear increase overall. EA predicted poorer restorative sleep at baseline (β = -0.255, p < 0.001). Resilience predicted better restorative sleep over time (β_T0 = 0.271, β_T1 = 0.327, β_T2 = 0.292, all p < 0.001). Latent class analysis identified two NRSS trajectories: (a) high-increasing class (41.5% of the sample; declining NRS) and (b) low-stable class (58.5%; persistent high NRS). Higher levels of EA corresponded to greater likelihood of belonging to the low-stable class relative to the high-increasing class (OR=1.177, 95% CI [1.106, 1.252]). In contrast, higher resilience corresponded to lower likelihood of being in the low-stable class (OR=0.915, 95% CI [0.890, 0.941]).

Conclusion: EA is a predisposing factor for NRS among college students, while resilience is a protective factor for restorative sleep. It is essential to consider EA and resilience in any intervention efforts to reduce NRS.