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Childhood physical abuse and midlife physical health: Testing a multi-pathway life course model

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  • Springer, Kristen W.

Abstract

Although prior research has established that childhood abuse adversely affects midlife physical health, it is unclear how abuse continues to harm health decades after the abuse has ended. In this project, I assess four life course pathways (health behaviors, cognition, mental health, and social relation) that plausibly link childhood physical abuse to three midlife physical health outcomes (bronchitis diagnosis, ulcer diagnosis, and general physical health). These three outcomes are etiologically distinct, leading to unique testable hypotheses. Multivariate models controlling for childhood background and early adversity were estimated using data from over 3000 respondents in the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, USA. The results indicate that midlife social relations and cognition do not function as pathways for any outcome. However, smoking is a crucial pathway connecting childhood abuse with bronchitis; mental health is important for ulcers; and BMI, smoking, and mental health are paramount for general physical health. These findings suggest that abuse survivors' coping mechanisms can lead to an array of midlife health problems. Furthermore, the results validate the use of etiologically distinct outcomes for understanding plausible causal pathways when using cross-sectional data.

Suggested Citation

  • Springer, Kristen W., 2009. "Childhood physical abuse and midlife physical health: Testing a multi-pathway life course model," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(1), pages 138-146, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:69:y:2009:i:1:p:138-146
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Thompson, M.P. & Kingree, J.B. & Desai, S., 2004. "Gender Differences in Long-Term Health Consequences of Physical Abuse of Children: Data from a Nationally Representative Survey," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 94(4), pages 599-604.
    2. Goodwin, R.D. & Hoven, C.W. & Murison, R. & Hotopf, M., 2003. "Association between Childhood Physical Abuse and Gastrointestinal Disorders and Migraine in Adulthood," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 93(7), pages 1065-1067.
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    Cited by:

    1. Clay-Warner, Jody & Edgemon, Timothy G. & Okech, David & Anarfi, John K., 2021. "Violence predicts physical health consequences of human trafficking: Findings from a longitudinal study of labor trafficking in Ghana," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    2. Lee, Chioun & Tsenkova, Vera & Carr, Deborah, 2014. "Childhood trauma and metabolic syndrome in men and women," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 122-130.
    3. Morton, Patricia M. & Mustillo, Sarah A. & Ferraro, Kenneth F., 2014. "Does childhood misfortune raise the risk of acute myocardial infarction in adulthood?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 133-141.
    4. Jennifer Caputo & Eliza K. Pavalko & Melissa A. Hardy, 2020. "Midlife Work and Women’s Long-Term Health and Mortality," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 57(1), pages 373-402, February.

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