Connections between stress, late sleep patterns, and poor sleep quality in sexual assault survivors

Sexual assault is associated with significant sleep disturbances.

• Psychological distress mediates the relationship between sexual assault and poor sleep quality.
• The circadian system, which regulates sleep-wake cycles, is underexplored in this context.
• A late chronotype, characterized by disrupted sleep patterns, is linked to impaired psychological functioning.
• Severe psychological stress may disrupt the circadian system and result in a preference for late chronotype.

Simplified