Trauma-Associated Sleep Disturbances among Women: A Nationwide Study

Trauma-associated sleep disorder (TASD) is a proposed REM-sleep parasomnia that arises after exposure to traumatic events. In a nationally representative sample of 29,653 Icelandic women aged 18–69, we found a TASD prevalence of 6.5%. Younger age (18–29 years), lower educational attainment, and exposure to a higher cumulative count of life stressors, especially physical or sexual violence and stillbirth, were each associated with increased TASD risk. Experiencing the worst life stressor more than once and close temporal proximity to worst life stressor were associated with a higher TASD prevalence, particularly in the youngest age group. TASD also co-occurred frequently with other mental disorders, most notably probable post traumatic sleep disorder (PTSD) and severe depressive symptoms. This study identifies violence exposure and stillbirth as notable risk factors for TASD, alongside repeated traumatic occurrences and closeness to the worst life stressor among young women. These findings underscore the interconnected nature of life stressors, TASD and psychopathologies in women with implications for developing targeted interventions for trauma recovery.