Childhood maltreatment predicts physical health in college students

Objective: Childhood maltreatment (CM) is associated with physical health problems throughout the lifespan, yet more research is needed regarding the trajectory of health problems (e.g., onset of health risk indicators) in young adults. The current study examined whether college students self-report...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of American college health 2023-04, Vol.71 (3), p.942-951
Main Authors: Moore, Susannah M., Welsh, Marilyn C., Peterson, Eric
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Blood pressure
Body Composition
Body mass index
Body weight
Child
Child Abuse
Child abuse & neglect
Childhood
Childhood maltreatment
Chronic illnesses
College Students
Correlation
emerging adults
Female
Gender Differences
Health problems
Health risks
Health status
Heart rate
Humans
Metabolic syndrome
Metabolism
Obesity
Peers
Physical Health
Physiology
Predictor Variables
Risk Factors
Students
Sugar
Symptoms
Trauma
Universities
Young Adult
Young adults
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Summary:Objective: Childhood maltreatment (CM) is associated with physical health problems throughout the lifespan, yet more research is needed regarding the trajectory of health problems (e.g., onset of health risk indicators) in young adults. The current study examined whether college students self-reporting higher levels of CM exhibited poorer physical health outcomes. Method: Young adults in college (N = 100) completed a physical health assessment (heart rate, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, blood sugar, waist circumference), self-reported measures of health (symptoms of illness), and CM during spring semester 2018. Results: CM scores predicted higher heart rate and increased symptoms of illness. Females with maltreatment history presented higher levels of obesity and more metabolic syndrome conditions than their peers. Conclusions: Findings support the importance of examining the trajectory of CM to chronic disease, as health risk indicators are present in young adults.
ISSN:0744-8481
1940-3208
DOI:10.1080/07448481.2021.1909047