NCJ Number
241384
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 36 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2012 Pages: 656-665
Date Published
September 2012
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study examined the link between exposure to childhood sexual abuse and heart disease in adulthood.
Abstract
Findings from the study include the following: adult males who were victims of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) had nearly 3 times the odds of heart attack compared to non-abused males; and among adult women, exposure to CSA was not associated with heart attack in either the age-race adjusted or fully-adjusted analyses. This study examined the link between exposure to CSA and the prevalence of heart disease later in life. Data for the study were obtained from a sample of 5,095 men and 7,768 women who participated in the 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The participants were surveyed about their preventative health practices and risky behaviors and whether these factors were linked to chronic disease, injuries, and preventable infectious diseases. Analysis of the data indicates that men exposed to CSA have almost three times the odds of suffering from heart attacks compared to non-abused peers, and that abused females, exposure to CSA is not significantly associated with an increased risk of heart attacks. Study limitations and implications for future research are discussed. Tables and references