Health Risk Behaviors and Mental Health Problems as Mediators of the Relationship Between Childhood Abuse and Adult Health

• DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2007.122408
• Publication Date: 2009-04-10T20:27:44Z
• Authors: Mariette J. Chartier; John R. Walker; Barbara Naimark
• Keywords: Childhood abuse

We examined the relationship between childhood abuse and adult health risk behaviors, we explored whether behaviors or mental problems mediated care utilization.We used logistic regression to analyze data from Mental Health Supplement of Ontario Survey, a representative population sample (N = 8116) respondents aged 15 64 years.We found relationships sexual smoking (odds ratio [OR] 1.52; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16, 1.99), alcohol (OR 2.44; CI 1.74, 3.44), obesity 1.61; 1.14, 2.27), having more than 1 partner in previous year 2.34; 1.44, 3.80), 2.26; 1.78. 2.87). also these factors (with exception obesity) physical abuse. Mediation analysis suggested that particularly are partial mediators health.Public approaches aim decrease child by supporting positive parent-child relationships, reducing development addressing children's likely improve long-term health.