Exposure to child abuse and risk for mental health problems in women.
Risk for adult mental health problems associated with child sexual, physical, or emotional abuse and multiple types of child abuse was examined. Logistic regression analyses were used to test study hypotheses in a population-based sample of women (N = 3,936). As expected, child sexual, physical, and emotional abuse were independently associated with increased risk for mental health problems. History of multiple types of child abuse was also associated with elevated risk for mental health problems. In particular, exposure to all three types of child abuse was linked to a 23-fold increase in risk for probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Findings underscore relations between child emotional abuse and adult mental health problems and highlight the need for mental health services for survivors of multiple types of child abuse.
Center for Health Care Evaluation, VA Palo Alto Health Care Systeme, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA. renee.schneider@va.gov
Renee
R
Schneider
Nikki
N
Baumrind
Rachel
R
Kimerling
D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*