Genetic Risk of Insomnia in Children and Adolescents and Later Aggression

Sleep quality problems in children and adolescents have been widely linked to risk indicators of later emotional and behavioural difficulties and highlight the importance of resolving sleep problems in young persons. Parental... [ view full abstract ]

Sleep quality problems in children and adolescents have been widely linked to risk indicators of later emotional and behavioural difficulties and highlight the importance of resolving sleep problems in young persons. Parental reports of their children sleeping less than the recommended number of hours of sleep for age, overtiredness and insomnia, have also been shown to predict higher ratings of aggression later in life. Whilst associations of the characteristics of sleep quality problems in child and adolescent development, and later emotional and behavioural difficulties have been found, little research has been undertaken to consider the specific link between sleep quality problems such as insomnia and aggression.

Method

Using data collected in wellbeing and health studies from Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR; Brisbane, Australia) on N~1,500 individuals, we evaluated phenotypic results and associations for sleep quality problems including insomnia from the Insomnia Severity Index, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Insomnia and Hypersomnia Scale, and Aggression from the Buss-Perry Aggression Scale. We used polygenic risk scores from the latest genome-wide association study on insomnia in order to test whether the genetic risk for insomnia in young persons predicted aggression or any of its components.

Results

Results will be discussed.

Expected Conclusions

Genetic links between insomnia and aggression would inform prevention and early treatment and interventions.