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- Title
Child Abuse and Other Traumatic Experiences, Alcohol Use Disorders, and Health Problems in Adolescence and Young Adulthood.
- Authors
Clark, Duncan B.; Thatcher, Dawn L.; Martin, Christopher S.
- Abstract
Objective We prospectively examined the health effects of child abuse and other traumatic events, with objective health indicators and consideration of alcohol use disorders (AUD). Methods Adolescents (n = 668) were recruited from clinical and community sources. At baseline, we examined child abuse and other traumas, AUD, health-related symptoms, physical findings, and blood assays. Subjects were assigned to Trauma Classes (TC), including witnessing violence, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. Health outcomes were again determined at 1-year and young adult follow-up. Results In adolescence, higher TC severity was associated with more health-related symptoms, increased age-adjusted body mass index, and stress-response immune system indices. In adolescence and young adulthood, the relationships between TC and health-related symptoms were mediated by anxiety. AUD was associated with liver injury, and cigarette smoking with heart/lung symptoms. Conclusions Child abuse predicted persistently elevated health-related symptoms primarily attributable to anxiety, and early signs of liver disease were attributable to AUD.
- Subjects
ABUSED children; ADOLESCENCE; YOUNG adults; ALCOHOL drinking; IMMUNE system
- Publication
Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 2010, Vol 35, Issue 5, p499
- ISSN
0146-8693
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/jpepsy/jsp117