NCJ Number
246787
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 38 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2014 Pages: 407-413
Date Published
March 2014
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This study examined the cumulative influence of multiple types of childhood adversities on adults' anxiety about their health.
Abstract
Consistent with previous research, this study found that greater numbers of adverse childhood experiences were related to higher levels of negative affect and trait anxiety. There was a specific link between multiple types of childhood adversities and anxiety about personal health. The study results further indicate that the pathway from childhood adversities to anxiety about health as an adult is complex and that mediating variables (including negative affect and trait anxiety) play a role in this relationship. An understanding of these mediating factors may have implications for the assessment and treatment of health-related anxiety. Study participants were 264 university students (214 females and 50 males). Participants were between 17 and 60 years old and were able to read and write in English. They completed a basic demographics form and four measures of health anxiety, adverse childhood experiences, negative effects, and trait anxiety. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used in determining whether or not adverse childhood experiences were predictive of anxiety about health in adulthood. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) questionnaire was used to identify participants' experiences of physical abuse, recurrent emotional abuse, contact sexual abuse, emotional/physical neglect, parental separation or divorce, violent treatment of the mother, substance abuse in the home, mentally ill or suicidal household member, and incarcerated household member. In order to assess the cumulative impact of adverse childhood experiences on the risk of health anxiety, the total number of categories was summed to create the ACE score. 2 tables and 42 references