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Cited by 913Child Abuse and TraumaMilitary, Security, and Education StudiesChild Welfare and Adoption

Exposure to childhood sexual and physical abuse and adjustment in early adulthood

Fergusson, David M., Boden, Joseph M., Horwood, L. John·2008·Child Abuse & Neglect
DOI 10.1016/j.chiabu.2006.12.018
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Abstract

Objective This research examined linkages between exposure to childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and childhood physical punishment/abuse (CPA) and mental health issues in early adulthood.Method The investigation analyzed data from a birth cohort of over 1,000 New Zealand young adults studied to the age of 25.Results Exposure to CSA and CPA was associated with increased risks of later mental disorders including depression, anxiety disorder, conduct/anti-social personality disorder, substance dependence, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts at ages 16-25. Control for social, family, and individual factors reduced the associations between CPA and mental health outcomes to the point of statistical non-significance. However, there was a consistent finding for CSA to remain associated with increased risks of later mental health problems. After adjustment, those exposed to CSA including attempted or completed sexual penetration had rates of disorder that were 2.4 times higher than those not exposed to CSA. Those exposed to harsh or abusive physical punishment had rates of disorder that were 1.5 times higher than those exposed to no or occasional physical punishment. It was estimated that exposure to CSA accounted for approximately 13% of the mental health problems experienced by the cohort. Findings showed that exposure to CPA had only weak effects on later mental health. It was estimated that exposure to CPA accounted for approximately 5% of the mental health problems experienced by the cohort.Conclusions Exposure to CSA was associated with consistent increases in risks of later mental health problems. Exposure to CPA had weaker and less consistent effects on later mental health. These findings suggest that much of the association between CPA and later mental health reflects the general family context in which CPA occurs, whereas this is less the case for CSA.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.chiabu.2006.12.018

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  • A wealth of literature has delineated the long-term negative consequences of corporal punishment, such as spanking, hitting, and pinching children.

    “A wealth of literature has delineated the long-term negative consequences of corporal punishment, such as spanking, hitting, and pinching children (Fergusson et al., 2008; Grogan-Kaylor et al., 2018).”

    From The evolved nest, oxytocin functioning, and prosocial development (2023) · cites this paper as Fergusson et al. (2008)

    The Results (p. 10) report that childhood physical punishment or abuse remained associated with depression, suicide attempts, and overall mental-disorder rates in early adulthood after adjustment. But the Discussion (p. 11) says the associations were weaker and less consistent than those for sexual abuse and may largely reflect family and social context. The paper does not establish long-term effects of the specific practices listed—spanking, hitting, and pinching—separately. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • The most severe CSA (chronic abuse, intra-familial, involving penetration) has been associated with elevated prevalence rates of psychiatric disorders.

    “the most severe CSA (i.e. chronic abuse, intra-familial, involving penetration) have been associated with elevated prevalence rates of psychiatric disorders (Fergusson et al. 2008; Fergusson et al. 1996).”

    From Mindfulness as Mediator and Moderator of Post-traumatic Symptomatology in Adolescence Following Childhood Sexual Abuse or Assault (2016) · cites this paper as Fergusson et al. 2008

    The Discussion (p. 11) reports that children exposed to CSA involving attempted or completed penetration had rates of mental disorder 2.4 times higher than children not exposed to CSA. The Method (p. 3) classifies penetration as the most severe abuse category, but that category does not require abuse to be chronic or intrafamilial. Those two qualifiers are therefore not supported by this paper's reported association. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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  • Childhood sexual abuse predicted CD in early adulthood.

    “Another study found that while childhood sexual abuse predicted CD in early adulthood,”

    From Deviations from the expectable environment in early childhood and emerging psychopathology (2015) · cites this paper as Fergusson et al, 2008

  • The association between physical abuse and CD was only significant when sexual abuse was not considered within the model.

    “the association between physical abuse and CD was only significant when sexual abuse was not considered within the model (Fergusson et al, 2008),”

    From Deviations from the expectable environment in early childhood and emerging psychopathology (2015) · cites this paper as Fergusson et al, 2008

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Elley, W. B., & Irving, J. C. (1976). Revised socio-economic index for New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies , 11 (1), 25-36.
  2. Wissow, L. S. (1995). Child abuse and neglect. New England Journal of Medicine , 332 , 1425-1431.

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Authors
Fergusson, D. M., Boden, J. M., & Horwood, L. J.
Affiliations
University of Otago (NZ)
Corresponding author
Boden, Joseph M.
ORCID
Venue
Child Abuse & Neglect
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2008-06
Volume
32
Issue
6
Pages
607-619
ISSN
0145-2134 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.chiabu.2006.12.018
OpenAlex
W2130055615
Cited by
910
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 12 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 37 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 48 · 2021: 40 · 2020: 54 · 2019: 54 · 2018: 82 · 2017: 51 · 2016: 80 · 2015: 75 · 2014: 72 · 2013: 71 · 2012: 58
FWCI
45.42
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Child Abuse & Neglect (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Military, Security, and Education Studies
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Child Welfare and Adoption
Keywords
child sexual abuse, childhood abuse, depression, anxiety disorders, antisocial personality disorder, substance dependence, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, family environment
MeSH terms
Adjustment Disorders, Adolescent, Adult, Mental Disorders, Child, Child Abuse, Child Abuse, Sexual, Child Reactive Disorders, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, New Zealand, Risk Factors, Cohort Studies, Incidence, Adult Survivors of Child Abuse

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