These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Associations between exposure to childhood bullying and abuse and adulthood outcomes in a representative national U.S. sample.
    Author: Sweeting JA, Garfin DR, Holman EA, Silver RC.
    Journal: Child Abuse Negl; 2020 Mar; 101():104048. PubMed ID: 31945515.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Negative childhood experiences are associated with poor health and psychosocial outcomes throughout one's lifespan. OBJECTIVE: We examined associations between childhood bullying and maltreatment and several adulthood outcomes: psychological distress, functional impairment, generalized fear, and physician-diagnosed mental and physical health ailments. The potential mediating role of recent negative life events was also explored. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Data were collected through web-based surveys of a U.S. representative national sample of adults. METHODS: At Wave 1 (N = 3,598), participants reported exposure to negative childhood experiences; at Wave 2 (N = 3,497), physician-diagnosed mental and physical health ailments were provided; at Wave 3 (N = 2,906), participants reported exposure to recent negative life events and psychosocial outcomes. RESULTS: Of the sample, 26.29% (weighted n = 946) reported childhood bullying, 15.02% (weighted n = 540) reported physical abuse, 15.56% (weighted n = 560) reported witnessing parental violence, 11.42% (weighted n = 411) reported sexual abuse, and 8.64% (weighted n = 311) reported parental neglect. Respondents who reported bullying, physical abuse, or sexual abuse during childhood reported greater distress, functional impairment, and fear of the future in adulthood, as mediated through recent negative life events, compared to those who did not (ßs: 0.04-.06). Those reporting bullying, neglect, physical abuse, or sexual abuse in childhood reported more mental health ailments in adulthood (IRRs: 1.44-1.66) compared to those who did not. Those reporting bullying or sexual abuse in childhood reported more physical health ailments (IRRs: 1.25-1.39). CONCLUSIONS: Specific negative childhood experiences have unique links with poor outcomes in adulthood. Recent negative life events partially mediate these associations.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]