The experience of abuse and mental health in the young Thai population A preliminary survey.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence of child abuse exposure among Thai people in a suburban community and to describe the association of abuse experiences with common mental disorders (CMD), alcohol use disorders and substance use.


METHODS
A population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in Northern Bangkok on a representative sample of 202 young residents, aged 16-25 years.


RESULTS
Thirty eight percent of the respondents reported experiencing some form of abuse during childhood, with 5.8% having been subjected to sexual penetration, 11.7% having been physically abused and 31.8% emotionally abused. A graded relationship was found between the extent of exposure to abuse during childhood and mental problems. After controlling for potential confounders, CMD remained significantly associated with emotional abuse, and alcohol use disorders remained associated with sexual abuse. Strong but non-significant trends were present for associations between CMD and sexual abuse and all forms of abuse with substance use.


CONCLUSIONS
Child abuse experiences were common among the respondents. Childhood abuse, particularly sexual abuse, has a potentially devastating impact on adult mental health.
Jirapramukpitak
Tawanchai
T
Postgraduate Studies Office, Thammasat University, Paholyothin Road, Klong Luang, Pathumthani, 12120, Thailand. tawanchai@lycos.com
Prince
Martin
M
Harpham
Trudy
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D013383:Suburban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D013995:Time