Writing Lab: Six Research Articles for Literature Review Correlation Paper

This working paper examines the relationship between sexual assault and sexual violence exposure and sleep-related outcomes, specifically insomnia and sleep disturbances, among college students and young adults, with a primary focus on women, including adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Using a literature review framework, six peer-reviewed empirical studies published within the last two decades are analyzed to identify consistent patterns and correlations between trauma exposure and disrupted sleep quality, including insomnia symptoms and trauma-related nightmares. The reviewed literature demonstrates a strong association between sexual violence exposure and persistent sleep disturbances across diverse populations, research designs, and measurement approaches. Several studies further suggest that factors such as posttraumatic stress symptoms, nightmare frequency, social support, and trauma characteristics may moderate or exacerbate sleep-related outcomes. Collectively, the findings support the relevance of sleep disturbance as a significant and measurable outcome following sexual trauma and highlight the importance of considering sleep quality in trauma-informed research and intervention efforts. This review contributes to a broader understanding of how trauma-related experiences intersect with sleep health in young adult populations and provides a foundation for future correlational research.