Association Between Childhood Physical Abuse and Gastrointestinal Disorders and Migraine in Adulthood

• DOI: 10.2105/ajph.93.7.1065
• Publication Date: 2008-12-02T00:04:35Z
• Authors: Renee D. Goodwin; Christina W. Hoven; Robert Murison; Mathew Hotopf
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Self Disclosure; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Migraine Disorders; 610; Middle Aged; United States; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Cross-Sectional Studies; 0302 clinical medicine; Risk Factors; 616; Prevalence; Humans; Female; Child Abuse; Child; Aged; Probability

Previous studies suggest that childhood physical abuse is a strong predictor of mental disorders during adulthood.1–5 An association between childhood abuse and increased use of medical services has also been documented,6 suggesting that childhood physical abuse is associated with poor health. In contrast, relatively little information is available on the link between childhood physical abuse and physical illness in adulthood. We examined the association between childhood physical abuse and the odds of gastrointestinal disorders and migraine headache among adults in the community. We hypothesized that childhood physical abuse would be associated with increased odds of gastrointestinal disorders and migraine headache during adulthood, and that this association would be independent of comorbid mental disorders.