title: Gender-specific association between childhood adversities and smoking in adulthood: findings from a population-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate gender-specific differences between individual adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and smoking behaviours in adulthood; while controlling for several known risk factors, including adult health behaviours, adult mental health, adult socio-economic indicators and social support.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained from the 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The sample included 19,356 individuals (11,506 females and 7850 males) aged ≥18 years who were asked questions about their ACEs. Using logistic regression, the independent factors associated with ever smoking and current smoking were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Childhood physical abuse was associated with ever smoking for both males and females. Neither sexual abuse nor verbal abuse were significantly associated with ever smoking for males, but they were for females [odds ratio (OR) 1.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13-1.63 and OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.02-1.27, respectively]. For both genders, childhood exposure to parental separation or divorce, household drug abuse or household problem drinking, were significantly associated with ever smoking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings underscore the need for future research that investigates gender-specific differences, and the possible mechanisms, linking individual ACEs and smoking behaviours.
authors: Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, 246 Bloor St. W., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A1. esme.fuller.thomson@utoronto.ca
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Fuller-Thomson
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Filippelli
authors: C A
authors: CA
authors: Lue-Crisostomo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004243:Divorce / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult