The relation between peer victimization and sleeping problems: A meta-analysis

Peer victimization has been found related to sleeping problems in children and adolescents in multiple studies. The aim of the current meta-analysis is to study the relation between peer victimization and sleeping problems. The databases PsycINFO, MEDLINE, ERIC, Embase and LILACS were searched for articles. There were 21 articles that met the criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. These 21 articles contained 46 independent effect sizes and 363,539 children and adolescents, ranging in age from 7 up to 19 y of age. Results revealed that peer victimization is related to more sleeping problems. These results were not affected by publication bias. Moderator analyses revealed that for younger children the relation between peer victimization and sleeping problems was stronger than for older children. Results suggest that sleeping problems may be used as a possible signal that a child is victimized by peers. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.