Childhood abuse leads to poor sleep in elderly

Elderly people who are emotionally abused as children are more likely to have poor quality sleep.

It is emotional abuse — rather than physical abuse or emotional neglect — that is tied to trouble in getting a good night’s sleep later in life.

“A negative early attachment continues to exert an influence on our well being decades later through an accumulation of stressful interpersonal experiences across our lives,” said the study’s lead author, Cecilia Poon.