TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2023//
TI  - The association between child maltreatment and health risk behaviours and conditions throughout life in the Australian Child Maltreatment Study
JO  - Medical journal of Australia
A1  - Lawrence, David M.
A1  - Hunt, Anna
A1  - Mathews, Ben
A1  - Haslam, Divna M.
A1  - Malacova, Eva
A1  - Dunne, Michael P.
A1  - Erskine, Holly E.
A1  - Higgins, Daryl J.
A1  - Finkelhor, David
A1  - Pacella, Rosana
A1  - Meinck, Franziska
A1  - Thomas, Hannah J.
A1  - Scott, James G.
SP  - S34
EP  - S39
VL  - 218
IS  - Suppl 6
N2  - OBJECTIVE: To estimate associations between all five types of child maltreatment (emotional abuse, neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and exposure to domestic violence) and health risk behaviours and conditions. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: Nationally representative survey of Australian residents aged 16 years and older conducted by computer-assisted telephone interviewing. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Associations between child maltreatment and the following health risk behaviours and conditions: current smoker, binge drinking (at least weekly in past 12 months), cannabis dependence (according to the Cannabis Severity of Dependence Scale), obesity (based on body mass index), self-harm in past 12 months, and suicide attempt in past 12 months. <br><br>RESULTS: A total of 8503 participants completed the survey. All five types of child maltreatment were associated with increased rates of all of the health risk behaviours and conditions that we considered. The strongest associations were in the youngest age group (16-24-year-olds). Sexual abuse and emotional abuse were associated with the highest odds of health risk behaviours and conditions. Cannabis dependence, self-harm and suicide attempts were most strongly associated with child maltreatment. Experiencing more than one type of child maltreatment was associated with higher rates of health risk behaviours and conditions than experiencing one type of child maltreatment. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Child maltreatment is associated with substantially increased rates of health risk behaviours and conditions. Prevention and intervention efforts should be informed by trauma histories, and holistic psychosocial care should be incorporated into programs focusing on behaviour change.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0025-729X
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/mja2.51877
ID  - ref1
ER  -