Childhood Violence Exposure: Cumulative and Specific Effects on Adult Mental Health

• NCJ Number: 240491
• Journal: Journal of Family Violence Volume: 27 Issue: 6 Dated: August 2012 Pages: 511-522
• Author(s): Carole Hooven; Paula S. Nurius; Patricia Logan-Greene; Elaine A. Thompson
• Date Published: August 2012
• Length: 12 pages
• Grant Number(s): R01 NR 03550; 5 T32 MH020010; TL1 RR 025016
• Sponsoring Agency: University of Washington School of Nursing; National Institute of Mental Health; National Institute for Nursing Research; University of Washington's Royalty Research Foundation; National Ctr for Research Resources
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined childhood exposure to violence and victimization and the effect it has on adult mental health.

Abstract

Childhood exposure to violence and victimization is a significant public health problem, with potentially long-lasting, deleterious effects on adult mental health. Using a longitudinal study design, 123 young adultsidentified in adolescence as at-risk for high school dropoutwere examined for the effects of multi-domain childhood victimization on emotional distress and suicide risk, net of adolescent risk and protective factors, including family dysfunction. The hypothesis that higher levels of cumulative childhood victimization would be significantly associated with mental health maladjustment in young adulthood was confirmed by the analysis. However, the victimization predictors of adult emotional distress were different than the predictors of adult suicide risk. These findings indicate the need for prevention and intervention approaches that include thorough assessment, and focus on the childhood and adolescent problem areas that are most consequential for long-term psychological well-being. Abstract published by arrangement with Springer.