Pathways linking childhood maltreatment and adult physical health

Abstract

Objectives This study examined whether a self-reported history of childhood maltreatment (physical, emotional, and sexual abuse and physical and emotional neglect) is related to poor adult physical health through health risk behaviors (obesity, substance dependence, and smoking), adverse life events, and psychological distress. Methods Two hundred and seventy nine (279) women aged 31–54, primarily poor, urban, and African American with a history of substance use during pregnancy, were assessed for perceived physical health status using the Health Status Questionnaire (SF-36) and any reported chronic medical condition. Hierarchical multiple and logistic regression were used to test mediation, as well as to assess relative contributions of multiple mediators on physical health. Results More than two-thirds (n = 195, 70%) of the sample reported at least 1 form of childhood maltreatment, with 42% (n = 110) having a lifetime history of substance dependence and 59% (n = 162) having a chronic medical condition. Controlling for age, education, and race, childhood maltreatment was related to increased likelihood of lifetime history of substance dependence (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.01–1.39), more adverse life events (β = .14), and greater psychological distress (β = .21). Psychological distress and adverse life events partially mediated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and perceived physical health, accounting for 42% of the association between childhood maltreatment and perceived physical health. Adverse life events accounted for 25% of the association between childhood maltreatment and chronic medical condition. Conclusions Our findings provide additional evidence that the ill health effects associated with childhood maltreatment persist into adulthood. Adverse life events and psychological distress were key mechanisms shaping later physical health consequences associated with childhood maltreatment among relatively young urban women with a history of substance use. Practice implications Health care providers should be aware that childhood maltreatment contributes to adult health problems. Interventions aimed at preventing child maltreatment and addressing life stress and psychological distress will improve long-term physical health among abused children, adults with such histories, as well as children who are likely to be affected by maternal history of childhood maltreatment.

Experiences of violence across life course and its effects on mobility among participants in the International Mobility in Aging Study

“…4 6 41 A recent study showed associations between childhood trauma (including being physically abused) and increased inflammatory genetic transcription later in life41 as embodying traumatic experiences. Our findings also concur with Min et al 8 that partner and family violence are related to greater likelihood of chronic conditions later in life. It has been suggested that childhood violence may have long-standing effects on older adults' mental health,4 and we further showed that violence across the life course can influence mobility through mental health.…”

The 2017–2018 Psi Chi Presidential Initiative: Help Helped Me

“…Consistent with prior literature (Alegria et al, 2013;Min et al, 2013), confounding variables controlled for in the analyses included gender, age, race, education, personal income, marital status, and reported experience of adulthood adverse events. Both regressions were a threestep analysis.…”

“…For example, childhood adverse events pose an increased risk of several physical health conditions in adulthood (Afifi, Mota, MacMillan, & Sareen, 2013;Felitti et al, 1998;Min, Minnes, Kim, & Singer, 2013;Morton, Schafer, & Ferraro, 2012;Rapoza et al, 2014;Scott et al, 2011). Scott and col leagues (2011) found that individuals who reported at least three childhood adverse events experienced an increased risk of heart disease, asthma, diabetes, osteoarthritis, chronic spinal pain, and frequent or severe headaches.…”

“…The current study expanded on the previous research by using data that featured an extensive assessment of a wider range of potentially confounding variables. There fore, researchers were able to control for variables that have been found to affect selfreported adult health, including gender, age, race, education, personal income, marital status, and reported experience of adult adverse events, but that have not been consistently accounted for in past research (Alegria et al, 2013;Min et al, 2013). It was expected that participants who reported experienc ing any form of childhood adverse events (physical abuse, sexual abuse, physical neglect, verbal abuse, and/or emotional neglect) would have lower physical and mental health scores as compared to participants who reported not experiencing any form of childhood adverse events.…”

An examination of childhood trauma in individuals attending an adult mental health service

“…In relation to those studies that have been undertaken, childhood maltreatment of all forms have been associated with depression, suicide attempts, alcohol misuse and psycho-active substance misuse (Dube et al 2003;Chapman et al 2004;Min et al 2007;Wu et al 2010;Min et al 2013). Furthermore, increasing numbers of traumatic experiences (including parental separation, mental illness in the household and criminal household members in addition to childhood abuse or neglect) have been associated with poorer levels of psychosocial functioning (Wu et al 2010) and greater levels of psychological distress and recurrent depressive disorder (RDD; Chapman et al 2004).…”