It is no secret that childhood abuse and neglect have a negative impact on adult mental health. For more than 20 years, studies have linked select mental health conditions to abuse. But exactly how do these impacts play out? Recently, a study from Australia provides further evidence linking it to poor mental health outcomes in adults. But more shocking is the statistic the study found for just how much abuse and neglect influences mental illness.
The metanalysis published in May found that abuse and neglect in childhood is a contributing factor in between 21% to 41% of Australia’s leading mental health conditions. The conditions evaluated were depression, substance abuse, anxiety, attempted suicide, and self-harm. The highest correlation was with attempted suicide (41%) and the lowest was depression (21%).
This aligns with previous studies that have found similar links between abuse/neglect and adult mental illness. One study identified a link to long-term mental health conditions including dysthymia and antisocial personality disorder in addition to substance abuse. An additional study linked abuse and neglect in childhood with an increase in HIV risk behaviors and adult victimization.
The impact of childhood neglect and abuse have influenced a wide range of mental health conditions. Despite establishing this fact, there is still a large amount of data to collect regarding the strength of the influence. A greater understanding of childhood abuse and neglect’s impact on adult mental illness could allow for greater psychoeducation and treatment options.
