Insomnia, Nightmare Frequency, and Nightmare Distress in Victims of Sexual Abuse: The Role of Perceived Social Support and Abuse Characteristics

In this study of victims of sexual abuse, the aim was to investigate the role of perceived social support and abuse characteristics in self-reported insomnia, nightmare frequency, and nightmare distress. Four hundred sixty Norwegian victims of sexual abuse completed a questionnaire assessing perceiv...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of interpersonal violence 2012-06, Vol.27 (9), p.1827-1843
Main Authors: Steine, Iris M., Krystal, John H., Nordhus, Inger H., Bjorvatn, Bjørn, Harvey, Allison G., Eid, Jarle, Grønli, Janne, Milde, Anne M., Pallesen, Ståle
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Correlation
Cross-Sectional Studies
Dreams
Dreams - psychology
Emotional disorders
Emotional Disturbances
Female
Genitals
Humans
Insomnia
Male
Middle Aged
Multivariate Analysis
Norway
Outcome Measures
Psychological Distress
Role
Scores
Severity (of Disability)
Sex crimes
Sex Offenses - psychology
Sexual Abuse
Sleep
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - etiology
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - psychology
Social Support
Social Support Groups
Stress, Psychological - etiology
Stress, Psychological - psychology
Symptoms
Symptoms (Individual Disorders)
Threat
Victims
Victims of crime
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Summary:In this study of victims of sexual abuse, the aim was to investigate the role of perceived social support and abuse characteristics in self-reported insomnia, nightmare frequency, and nightmare distress. Four hundred sixty Norwegian victims of sexual abuse completed a questionnaire assessing perceived social support, abuse characteristics, insomnia, nightmare frequency, and nightmare distress. Results show that higher levels of perceived social support were related to lower scores on all symptom outcome measures. Abuse involving oral, genital, or anal penetration was related to more insomnia symptoms. Longer duration of abuse and threatening conducted by the perpetrator were related to higher nightmare frequency, while threats and abuse involving penetration were related to higher degrees of distress associated with nightmares. In conclusion, the present study provides preliminary data indicating that perceived social support may affect the nature of sleep difficulties in sexual abuse victims. Also, more severe forms of sexual abuse are related to higher levels of sleep difficulties.
ISSN:0886-2605
1552-6518
DOI:10.1177/0886260511430385