The association between child maltreatment and health risk behaviours and conditions throughout life in the Australian Child Maltreatment Study

Abstract

Objective: To estimate associations between all five types of child maltreatment (emotional abuse, neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and exposure to domestic violence) and health risk behaviours and conditions. Design, setting, participants: Nationally representative survey of Australian residents aged 16 years and older conducted by computer-assisted telephone interviewing.Main outcome measures: Associations between child maltreatment and the following health risk behaviours and conditions: current smoker, binge drinking (at least weekly in past 12 months), cannabis dependence (according to the Cannabis Severity of Dependence Scale), obesity (based on body mass index), selfharm in past 12 months, and suicide attempt in past 12 months.Open access: Open access publishing facilitated by Curtin University, as part of the Wiley -Curtin University agreement via the Council of Australian University Librarians. Agency roles:The NHMRC funded the ACMS. The Australian Government and the Australian Institute of Criminology provided supplementary funding for several specific questions. The researchers were independent from the funders.

Emergency department presentations for deliberate self-harm and suicidal ideation in 25–39 year olds following agency-notified child maltreatment: results from the Childhood Adversity and Lifetime Morbidity (CALM) study

“…Our previous research only showed a consistent association between physical and emotional abuse and self-reported suicidal behaviour, while findings for neglect and sexual abuse were mixed, possibly because the study was under-powered. Results from the ACMS similarly reinforce this discrepancy (Lawrence et al , 2023 ). ACMS researchers identified that individuals who self-reported CM had 3.93 higher odds of self-harming in the previous 12 months compared to those who had not experienced CM (after adjustment) (Lawrence et al , 2023 ).…”

“…Results from the ACMS similarly reinforce this discrepancy (Lawrence et al , 2023 ). ACMS researchers identified that individuals who self-reported CM had 3.93 higher odds of self-harming in the previous 12 months compared to those who had not experienced CM (after adjustment) (Lawrence et al , 2023 ). They also reported 4.56 times higher odds of attempting suicide (Lawrence et al , 2023 ).…”

“…ACMS researchers identified that individuals who self-reported CM had 3.93 higher odds of self-harming in the previous 12 months compared to those who had not experienced CM (after adjustment) (Lawrence et al , 2023 ). They also reported 4.56 times higher odds of attempting suicide (Lawrence et al , 2023 ). These results are notably higher than findings of the current study.…”

“…Comparably, fewer studies have examined associations between suicidality and emotional abuse or neglect, though there is still some evidence of strong relationships (Angelakis et al , 2019 ; Zatti et al , 2017 ). One limitation of the literature is that most information comes from cross-sectional or longitudinal studies of adults who retrospectively self-report CM (Angelakis et al , 2019 ; Lawrence et al , 2023 ; Zatti et al , 2017 ). An example is the Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS) – a large, cross-sectional, retrospective study of self-reported CM in a sample of 8,503 Australians aged 16 years and older (Lawrence et al , 2023 ).…”

“…One limitation of the literature is that most information comes from cross-sectional or longitudinal studies of adults who retrospectively self-report CM (Angelakis et al , 2019 ; Lawrence et al , 2023 ; Zatti et al , 2017 ). An example is the Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS) – a large, cross-sectional, retrospective study of self-reported CM in a sample of 8,503 Australians aged 16 years and older (Lawrence et al , 2023 ). The findings from these studies may, therefore, be limited by recall bias, the use of clinical as opposed to population samples and the possibility that CM could be both a cause and an effect of deliberate self-harm (DSH) (Fergusson et al , 2000 ; Steele et al , 2024 ; Widom et al , 2004 ).…”