How Childhood Maltreatment Influences Loneliness and Life Satisfaction Through Sleep Problems: A Serial Mediation Model and Network Analysis

Childhood maltreatment is a known risk factor for physical and mental health, often reducing adult life satisfaction. Despite its importance, few studies have examined the relationship between childhood maltreatment and loneliness/life satisfaction from the perspective of sleep problems. A sample of 779 participants (40.4% males, Mage = 25.97 years, SDage = 6.36) completed an online questionnaire assessing childhood maltreatment, sleep problems, loneliness, and life satisfaction. Using structural equation modeling, a serial mediation model was tested to examine the pathways linking these variables. Additionally, network analysis was employed to explore the interrelationships between sleep problems and loneliness. The results indicated that childhood maltreatment was negatively associated with life satisfaction. Furthermore, sleep problems and loneliness sequentially mediated this relationship, suggesting that childhood maltreatment may lead to increased sleep disturbances, which in turn exacerbate feelings of loneliness, ultimately reducing life satisfaction. Network analysis revealed that “Medication intake” play a central role in the covariation between these constructs. The results underscore the chain-mediated role of sleep problems and loneliness in the association between childhood maltreatment and life satisfaction. The findings suggest that interventions targeting sleep disturbances and loneliness could be effective strategies for improving life satisfaction among individuals with a history of childhood maltreatment. This study offers practical implications for intervention programs aimed at enhancing well-being in affected populations.