Adult health status of women with histories of childhood abuse and neglect

PURPOSE: Several recent studies have found associations between childhood m altreatment and adverse adult health outcomes. However, methodologic proble ms with accurate case determination, appropriate sample selection, and pred ominant focus on sexual abuse have limited the generalizability of these fi ndings. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We administered a survey to 1,225 women who were rand omly selected from the membership of a large, staff model health maintenanc e organization in Seattle, Washington. We compared women with and without h istories of childhood maltreatment experiences with respect to differences in physical health status, functional disability, numbers and types of self -reported health risk behaviors, common physical symptoms, and physician-co ded ICD-9 diagnoses. RESULTS: A history of childhood maltreatment: was significantly associated with several adverse physical health outcomes. Maltreatment status was asso ciated with perceived poorer overall health (ES = 0.31), greater physical ( ES = 0.23) and emotional (ES = 0.37) functional disability, increased numbe rs of distressing physical symptoms (ES = 0.52), and a greater number of he alth risk behaviors (ES = 0.34). Women with multiple types of maltreatment showed the greatest health decrements for both self-reported symptoms (r = 0.31) and physician coded diagnoses (r = 0.12). CONCLUSIONS: Women with childhood maltreatment have a wide range of adverse physical health outcomes. (C) 1999 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.