Gender differences in the association between adverse childhood experiences and cancer

dc.contributor.authorAlcala, Hector E. ; Tomiyama, A. Janet ; von Ehrenstein, Ondine S.
dc.date.accessioned2019-06-12T17:04:52Z
dc.date.available2019-06-12T17:04:52Z
dc.date.issued2017
dc.description.abstractObjectives: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked to a variety of diseases in adulthood, including cancer. However, current research has yet to determine if all abuse types are associated with cancer and if women are more adversely impacted by ACEs than men. Methods: Data from the 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a national survey of American adults 18 and older (N = 111,964) were analyzed. Logistic regression models were fit to estimate odds of ever being diagnosed with cancer after experiencing one or more of eight different ACEs, while adjusting for potential confounders. These analyses were then stratified by gender. Results: Among women, childhood experiences of physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, living with someone who was mentally ill, living with a problem drinker, living with a drug user, and living in a household where adults treated each other violently were associated with higher odds of cancer. Among men, only emotional abuse was associated with higher odds of cancer. Conclusions: Results suggest that ACEs increase risk of cancer later in life. However, this impact occurs mostly among women. This finding may be because women experience many ACEs at higher rates than men and because women, via sexual abuse, can be exposed to cancer-causing viruses. (Author Abstract)en_US
dc.identifier.citationAlcala, Hector E. ; Tomiyama, A. Janet ; von Ehrenstein, Ondine S. (2017). Gender differences in the association between adverse childhood experiences and cancer. Women's Health Issues, 27(6), 625-631.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://www.whijournal.com/article/S1049-3867(17)30002-6/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11212/4383
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.publisherWomen's Health Issuesen_US
dc.subjectchild abuseen_US
dc.subjectresearchen_US
dc.subjectlong term effectsen_US
dc.subjectmedical effectsen_US
dc.titleGender differences in the association between adverse childhood experiences and canceren_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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