Long-term effects of child abuse and neglect on alcohol use and excessive drinking in middle adulthood.

doi:10.15288/JSAD.2007.68.317

Paper

Long-term effects of child abuse and neglect on alcohol use and excessive drinking in middle adulthood.

Published May 1, 2007 · C. Widom, H. White, S. Czaja

Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs

Q1 SJR score

240

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8

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Semantic Scholar

Abstract

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term effects of child abuse and neglect on alcohol use in middle adulthood. METHOD Individuals with documented cases of childhood physical and sexual abuse and/or neglect (n = 500) and matched controls (n = 396) from a metropolitan county in the Midwest were followed and interviewed in middle adulthood. Outcomes were Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition, Revised, diagnoses of alcohol abuse or dependence in young adulthood (age 29) and excessive drinking in middle adulthood (age 40). RESULTS Women with documented histories of child abuse or neglect reported higher past-year typical quantity (p < .01) and past-month number of days drinking eight or more drinks (p < .05) than nonabused/nonneglected women. Controlling for parental alcohol/drug problems, the effect of child maltreatment on excessive drinking in middle adulthood was not significant for women. For women, the final structural equation model revealed an indirect path through alcohol diagnosis in young adulthood (p < .05) to excessive drinking in middle adulthood (p < .001) but no direct path from child abuse and neglect to excessive drinking in middle adulthood. For men, there were no significant paths from child abuse and neglect to alcohol diagnosis in young adulthood or excessive drinking in middle adulthood. For men and women, parental alcohol/drug problems had a significant indirect effect on the offspring's drinking in middle adulthood (p < .001) through young adult alcohol diagnosis (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS Consequences of abuse and neglect persist into middle adulthood for women, through continuation of earlier alcohol problems, suggesting the need for interventions throughout the life course. The influence of parental alcohol and drug problems warrants further attention.

Observational Study

Highly Cited

Study Snapshot

Key takeawayChild abuse and neglect have long-term effects on alcohol use and excessive drinking in middle adulthood, particularly for women, but not for men.

PopulationOlder adults (50-71 years)

Sample size24

MethodsObservational

OutcomesBody Mass Index projections

ResultsSocial networks mitigate obesity in older groups.

Long-term effects of child abuse and neglect on alcohol use and excessive drinking in middle adulthood.

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