NCJ Number
218956
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 31 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2007 Pages: 531-547
Date Published
May 2007
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This study explored the impact of childhood sexual and physical abuse on reports of pain among men and women.
Abstract
Results indicated that respondents with a history of childhood physical or sexual abuse reported more pain associated with their specific health problems than did their non-abused peers. Moreover, higher rates of depression were found among respondents with health problems who had been abused during childhood compared to those who had not been abused, and depression was related to higher pain reports. Upon further analysis however, it became clear that childhood abuse and depression independently impacted higher pain reports. The findings suggest that treatment providers who work with survivors of childhood abuse should assess their clients for chronic pain. Future research should use longitudinal research methods to further the understanding of the relationship between childhood abuse and subsequent health outcomes. Data were drawn from the National Comorbidity Survey, a national survey designed to assess the prevalence and psychosocial correlates of psychiatric disorders among a nationally representative sample of respondents aged 15 to 54 years. The current analysis is based on a subsample of 5,877 respondents who were interviewed regarding experiences of childhood abuse, health problems, physical pain, and depression symptoms. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression models. Tables, references