Researchers in a new study have revealed that children who are maltreated in their childhood are more likely to engage in alcohol and substance use by the time they are 40 years old.
The study found that children who are maltreated are three times more likely to be admitted to hospital in comparison to those who are not mistreated in their early years.
“For the purposes of this study maltreatment was defined as physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse or neglect up to the age of 15, as reported to the department,” she said.
“We found those children were 2.86 times more likely to be hospitalised for alcohol use disorder as adults compared to children who weren’t maltreated, and 3.34 times more likely to be admitted for a substance use disorder,” she added.
“But we particularly wanted to know whether emotional abuse and neglect were as strongly associated with subsequent alcohol and substance use disorders,” she said.
Researchers in a new study have revealed that children who are maltreated in their childhood are more likely to engage in alcohol and substance use by the time they are 40 years old. University of Queensland researcher Dr Claudia Bull led a study, analysing data from more than 6,000 children born in Brisbane’s Mater Mother’s Hospital between 1981 and 1983. The study found that children who are maltreated are three times more likely to be admitted to hospital in comparison to those who are not mistreated in their early years.
“This longitudinal birth cohort study gathered and analysed the group’s data at different stages of their lives, from 6-months-old to 40 years,” Dr Bull said, in a press release issued on the University of Queensland website.
The team led by Dr Bull combined this information with additional data from the Queensland Department of Families, Youth and Community Care in 2000. The team was able to identify at least 600 children who were mistreated in their early years.
“For the purposes of this study maltreatment was defined as physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse or neglect up to the age of 15, as reported to the department,” she said.
“We found those children were 2.86 times more likely to be hospitalised for alcohol use disorder as adults compared to children who weren’t maltreated, and 3.34 times more likely to be admitted for a substance use disorder,” she added.
So far, all researches into childhood treatment and adult behaviour have focussed on physical and sexual abuse and not on alcohol and substance use disorders.
“But we particularly wanted to know whether emotional abuse and neglect were as strongly associated with subsequent alcohol and substance use disorders,” she said.
“And we found they were.”
The researchers added that the study results showed treating children better in their childhood would prevent many people from “suffering from alcohol and substance use disorders in later life.”
