Key Points
Childhood sexual abuse increases health risks by 55-90%
Physical abuse elevates health condition odds by 20-50%
Protective adults can mitigate negative long-term impacts
Study analyzed data from 80,000 US adults
The study, published in the journal Child Maltreatment, found that children with sexual abuse were 55 per cent to 90 per cent more likely to experience these health outcomes compared to their peers who had not experienced any abuse.
Facing only physical abuse also had significantly elevated odds of these health outcomes from 20 per cent to 50 per cent.
The presence of a protective adult in the home was associated with better outcomes in the wake of physical and sexual abuse, providing promising insights for intervention efforts, said the researchers from the University of Toronto, in Canada.
"People don't typically think about the impact early adversities can have on health outcomes later in life," said Shannon Halls, a Research Coordinator at the varsity's Institute for Life Course and Aging.
"Our research underscores the harmful associations between early adversities, such as sexual and/or physical abuse, and a wide range of health issues in adulthood," Halls added.
Notably, children without a protective adult in their home, irrespective of childhood abuse status, were 20 per cent to 40 per cent more likely to experience adverse physical health outcomes and twice as likely to suffer from depression in adulthood.
The study is based on an analysis of data from over 80,000 adult US respondents between 2021 and 2022.
The findings show "the importance of positive relationships between children and the adults in their lives" said Halls, while urging policymakers to create effective programmes to support kids.
