Child physical abuse and adult mental health: A national study†
Luisa Sugaya
New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
Search for more papers by this authorDeborah S. Hasin
New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
Search for more papers by this authorMark Olfson
New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
Search for more papers by this authorKeng-Han Lin
New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
Search for more papers by this authorBridget F. Grant
Laboratory of Epidemiology and Biometry, Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Carlos Blanco
New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 69, New York, NY 10032.Search for more papers by this authorLuisa Sugaya
New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
Search for more papers by this authorDeborah S. Hasin
New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
Search for more papers by this authorMark Olfson
New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
Search for more papers by this authorKeng-Han Lin
New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
Search for more papers by this authorBridget F. Grant
Laboratory of Epidemiology and Biometry, Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Carlos Blanco
New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA
Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 69, New York, NY 10032.Search for more papers by this authorViews and opinions expressed in this report are those of the authors and should not be construed to represent views of any of the sponsoring organizations, agencies, or the U.S. government. The National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions was sponsored by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and funded, in part, by the Intramural Program, NIAAA, National Institute of Health. This study is supported by NIH grants DA019606, DA020783, DA023200, MH076051, and MH082773 (Dr. Blanco), P60 MD000206 (Dr. Olfson), K05AA00161, and U01AA018111 (Dr. Hasin); the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (Dr. Blanco); and the New York State Psychiatric Institute (Drs. Blanco, Hasin, and Olfson).
Abstract
This study characterizes adults who report being physically abused during childhood, and examines associations of reported type and frequency of abuse with adult mental health. Data were derived from the 2000–2001 and 2004–2005 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, a large cross-sectional survey of a representative sample (N = 43,093) of the U.S. population. Weighted means, frequencies, and odds ratios of sociodemographic correlates and prevalence of psychiatric disorders were computed. Logistic regression models were used to examine the strength of associations between child physical abuse and adult psychiatric disorders adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, other childhood adversities, and comorbid psychiatric disorders. Child physical abuse was reported by 8% of the sample and was frequently accompanied by other childhood adversities. Child physical abuse was associated with significantly increased adjusted odds ratios (AORs) of a broad range of DSM-IV psychiatric disorders (AOR = 1.16–2.28), especially attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and bipolar disorder. A dose-response relationship was observed between frequency of abuse and several adult psychiatric disorder groups; higher frequencies of assault were significantly associated with increasing adjusted odds. The long-lasting deleterious effects of child physical abuse underscore the urgency of developing public health policies aimed at early recognition and prevention.
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