The Relationship Between Parental Childhood Maltreatment and Children’s Sleep Quality: An Intergenerational Perspective

Based on the hyperarousal theory and self-control theory, this study investigated the link between parental childhood maltreatment and children's sleep quality by examining the mediation effect of parental self-control and children's perceived parental support from an intergenerational transmission perspective. A total of 334 Chinese primary school students in grades 4-6 (50% girls, <i>M_age</i> = 10.49, <i>SD</i> = 0.97) reported on perceived parental support and sleep quality. In addition, childhood maltreatment and self-control were reported by their parents (<i>M_{father's age}</i>= 40.48, <i>M_{mother's age}</i> = 38.18). The results showed that the father's childhood maltreatment was directly associated with children's sleep quality, while the mother's childhood maltreatment was indirectly linked to children's sleep quality. Furthermore, children's perceived parental support acted as mediators in the effect of mother's childhood maltreatment on children's sleep quality, and mother's childhood maltreatment also affected children's perceived parental support <i>via</i> mother's self-control, thus affecting children's sleep quality indirectly. These results have important practical implications for family-based interventions in children's sleep quality.