0127 Sleep Problems Mediate the Indirect Effect of Adverse Childhood Events on Undergraduates' Psychological Functioning

Abstract Introduction Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs) are highly prevalent, with two-thirds of U.S. adults reporting at least one ACE and one-sixth reporting four or more occurrences before age 18 (Rasmussen et al., 2023). Recent research further suggests that ACEs promote vulnerability to sleep problems, and with upwards of 60% of college students reporting deficient sleep (Lund et al., 2010), addressing the association between ACEs and college students’ sleep is warranted. The need to address this issue is only increased by the robust links between poor sleep and mental health problems in college students (Peltz et al., 2019). Accordingly, the current study sought to clarify the prospective links between college students’ ACEs and their psychological functioning via their levels of sleep disturbance. Methods Based on a 2-wave design (baseline and 2-month follow-up), the current study included a sample of 331 participants (86% female) who were assessed through an online survey. The sample’s mean age was 21.3 years (SD = 2.4; range 18-34), and 65.9% of participants identified as white, with 18.4% Asian or Pacific Islander, 6.6% Latinx, 5.7% Black, and 3.3% multi-racial or “other.” Students’ mean family income was $108,391 (SD = $62,579), with approximately 22% of students reporting family incomes of $50,000 or less and 16.3% with family incomes greater than $200,000. Results Mediation analyses, conducted using the PROCESS macro for SPSS (v. 4.3, Hayes, 2022), examined if ACEs predicted indirect, residual changes in psychological flexibility (i.e., a critical set of skills that alter the function of difficult or unwanted thoughts, emotions, and experiences in individuals’ lives) via sleep disturbance. Controlling for students’ reports of their sleep hygiene, sleep environment, gender, and socioeconomic status, results suggested ACEs were cross-sectionally associated with higher levels of sleep disturbance, which, in turn, predicted residual decreases in psychological flexibility across the 2-month period. Conclusion Given the influence of ACEs on college students’ sleep and psychological functioning, findings highlight the importance of addressing the potential early impact of adversity on college students. Support (if any)