The relationship between post-traumatic sleep and related symptoms in children with high-energy trauma: a study based on ecological momentary assessment.

Introduction: High-energy trauma is characterized by severe injuries, complex clinical conditions, and high mortality rates. Trauma exposure itself induces stress and excessive alertness, leading to sleep disturbances, which in turn exacerbate anxiety, depression, and the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder, while delaying natural recovery after trauma. However, screening for sleep disorders in hospitalized children with high-energy trauma remain insufficient. This study aimed to explore early post‑traumatic sleep status and its associations with related symptoms in children with high‑energy trauma using ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Method: A longitudinal observational design was adopted. Children with high‑energy trauma admitted to our hospital from July 1, 2024, to May 15, 2025 were recruited using convenience sampling. Sleep status and related symptoms were continuously monitored for the first five days post‑trauma. Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equations (GEE) and multivariate linear regression. Results: A total of 69 patients were included in the final analysis. Pain was the most severe symptom, followed by anxiety, fear, and fatigue. GEE revealed that pain, anxiety, fear, and dizziness were significantly associated with sleep quality ( Discussion: Children with high‑energy trauma exhibit certain sleep disturbances in the early post‑traumatic period, and the main factors influencing sleep change over time. Close attention should be paid to sleep disorders and their associated influencing factors, and appropriate interventions should be implemented.