Year: 2003
Type: article
Abstract: The association of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and physical abuse (PA) with subsequent alcohol dependence risk was initially recognized in treatment samples.More recently, epidemiologic studies have confirmed these findings.[1][2][3][4] We have reported 5 on the association between CSA and negative outcomes in data from a recently completed diagnostic telephone assessment of a volunteer panel of young adult Australian twins and confirmed the association between a history of CSA and alcohol dependence.In the current analyses, we attempted to extend these findings by examining the effects of a history of childhood abuse (CA), either CSA or PA, on the onset of various alcohol-related outcomes.A history of CA was reported by 22.6% of women and 14.9% of men.The respective hazard ratios representing the risk of alcohol dependence associated with a history of CA in women and men were 2.48 (2.05-2.99)and 1.42 ((1.11-1.81).In analyses controlling for gender and respondents' report of maternal and paternal alcohol problems, a history of CA was associated with a significantly earlier onset of alcohol intoxication (-0.77 year) and alcohol dependence (-0.75 year).A history of CA was similarly associated with a significantly earlier onset of other alcohol problems, regular smoking, leaving home, and consensual sexual intercourse.These results suggest that the association between CA and some negative outcomes (e.g.involving alcohol) may be mediated in part by an earlier use of substances (perhaps in an attempt to regulate negative affect) and earlier transition to adult roles (potentially driven by the negative home environment).
Language: English
Topic: Child Abuse and Trauma
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1583187288