Abstract
Background: Little is known regarding the influence of childhood health broadly and childhood health conditions specifically on insomnia throughout adulthood. Methods: Health and Retirement Study (HRS) Baby Boomers born 1954–1965 were investigated. We fitted regression models predicting self-reported insomnia based on twenty-three retrospectively reported specific childhood health conditions (e.g., measles) and general childhood health measures and adjusted for demographics, childhood socioeconomic status, and adult socioeconomic status. Results: Nearly all the measures of childhood health significantly increased insomnia symptoms in adulthood. In a model where all measures were included, we found that respiratory disorders, headaches, stomach problems, and concussions were particularly strong predictors of insomnia. Conclusions: Our findings extend past work illustrating the “long arm” of childhood conditions for health, showing that specific health conditions in childhood may indelibly imprint insomnia risk.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 100124 |
Journal | Aging and Health Research |
Volume | 3 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2023 |
Keywords
- Aging
- Child health
- Health and retirement study
- Insomnia
- Sleep
- The life course
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
- Health Policy
- Medicine (miscellaneous)