Abstract
Insufficient sleep has been shown to lead to emotional, psychological, and physical issues. In addition, factors such as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and religious orientation may impact sleep. However, little research has been conducted in this area concerning the college population. The present study seeks to understand the effect ACEs and religious orientation have on sleep health in college students. Students from a small, faith-based liberal arts college in the Midwest (22 = men, 56 = women, 1= unidentified) were asked to complete a survey measuring these variables. It was hypothesized that ACEs would negatively impact sleep health scores in college students. Further, it was predicted childhood maltreatment ACEs would negatively impact sleep health scores more than household dysfunction ACEs. It was also hypothesized that individuals with higher religious orientation scores would have higher sleep health scores. Finally, it was hypothesized women will report a higher number of ACEs and have poorer sleep health scores than men. Correlational analysis found no significant relationship between sleep health scores and ACEs or religious orientation scores. Additionally, a multiple regression showed no significant relationship between household abuse ACE scores, abuse ACE scores, and sleep health scores. Finally, the t-tests calculated did not show a significant relationship between gender and ACEs or sleep health scores. While the results did not support the presented hypotheses, any existing relationships may have been masked by limitations. These limitations, their implications, and future research are presented in this study.
Included in
The Effect of Adversity in Childhood and Religious Orientation on Sleep Health in College Students
Insufficient sleep has been shown to lead to emotional, psychological, and physical issues. In addition, factors such as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and religious orientation may impact sleep. However, little research has been conducted in this area concerning the college population. The present study seeks to understand the effect ACEs and religious orientation have on sleep health in college students. Students from a small, faith-based liberal arts college in the Midwest (22 = men, 56 = women, 1= unidentified) were asked to complete a survey measuring these variables. It was hypothesized that ACEs would negatively impact sleep health scores in college students. Further, it was predicted childhood maltreatment ACEs would negatively impact sleep health scores more than household dysfunction ACEs. It was also hypothesized that individuals with higher religious orientation scores would have higher sleep health scores. Finally, it was hypothesized women will report a higher number of ACEs and have poorer sleep health scores than men. Correlational analysis found no significant relationship between sleep health scores and ACEs or religious orientation scores. Additionally, a multiple regression showed no significant relationship between household abuse ACE scores, abuse ACE scores, and sleep health scores. Finally, the t-tests calculated did not show a significant relationship between gender and ACEs or sleep health scores. While the results did not support the presented hypotheses, any existing relationships may have been masked by limitations. These limitations, their implications, and future research are presented in this study.