College Women: History of Childhood Abuse and Its Relationship to Smoking

• NCJ Number: 232829
• Journal: Violence Against Women Volume: 16 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2010 Pages: 1242-1251
• Author(s): Colmar De Von Figueroa-Moseley; Jill Marise Abramson; Geoffery C. Williams
• Date Published: November 2010
• Length: 10 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the relationship between smoking behaviors and childhood abuse in women.

Abstract

Few studies have examined the influence of childhood abuse on smoking in women. The objective of the study was to determine if abuse in childhood is associated with increased risk for smoking in women. Two hundred ninety-six women completed an anonymous survey on childhood abuse and smoking. Results showed that abuse was a better predictor of smoking than status variables. Those experiencing two or more abuses before age 17 were 3 times more likely to be early smokers and 7 times more likely to be current smokers. Findings highlight abuse in childhood as a stressor that increases a woman's risk for smoking. (Published Abstract) Tables and references