Violence exposure in childhood and somatic health complaints in early adulthood

Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the associations between different types of violence exposure in childhood and somatic health complaints in early adulthood, and mechanisms involved in the relationship.... [ view full abstract ]

Objective
The objective of this study was to investigate the associations between different types of violence exposure in childhood and somatic health complaints in early adulthood, and mechanisms involved in the relationship.

Methode
The baseline sample comprises 6589 individuals aged 16-75 who participated in a telephone survey in 2013 (T1). Response rate were of 47.9% of those reached by phone. Measures included a broad assessment of childhood violence exposure and mental health. From this sample the 506 youngest participants who had experienced violence in childhood (before the age of 18) and 505 unexposed age and gender matched controls were interviewed again after 12-18 months (T2). Measures at T2 included somatic health complaints (CSSI-8). Multiple regression was used to analyse the relationship between exposure to violence in childhood and later somatic complaints.
Results
Of the cases; 24.2 % (N = 122) had experienced physical violence alone, 19.8 % (N = 100) sexual assault alone, 21.6 % (N = 109) psychological violence, emotional neglect or witnessed violence between parents, 26.1 % (N = 132) reported a combination of two types of violence and 8.3 % (N = 42) three types of violence at T1. All types of violence except physical violence alone were univariate significantly associated with later somatic complaints, and there were a significant dose response relationship were those exposed to all three types had a threefold risk of somatic problems compared with those exposed to one type alone. Adjustment for mental health problems at T1 significantly reduced the associations between childhood violence and somatic health complaints.

Conclusions
Exposure to violence in childhood was uniquely associated with later somatic health complaints. However, mental health was a strong mediator for the association, indicating that violence victims are at risk for somatic health problems partly as a long-term sequela of mental health problems.