The association between childhood physical and sexual victimization and health problems in adulthood in a nationally representative sample of women

The purpose of this investigation virus to test the associations between physical and sexual victimization in childhood with seven measures of health problems in adulthood. Data were gathered from 8,000 women interviewed in the National Violence Against Women Survey, a nationally representative survey conducted from November 1995 to May 1996. Results indicated that both physical and sexual victimization in childhood it-ere significantly associated with poor perceptions of general health, sustaining a serious injury acquiring a mental health condition, using drugs, and using alcohol daily in adulthood. Women who experienced both physical and sexual victimization as children were at increased risk of health problems in adulthood compared with women who experienced only one type of victimization. These associations could not be attributed to victim demographics or to revictimization in adulthood. Results suggest that intervening with child abuse victims at an early stage may reduce children's likelihood of developing long-term health problems.