Childhood Maltreatment and Mental Health Problems in Adulthood: A National Study of Women in Quebec

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Reference

Paquette G, Tourigny M, Baril K, Joly J, Séguin M. (2017). Childhood Maltreatment and Mental Health Problems in Adulthood: A National Study of Women in Quebec. Santé mentale au Québec. 42(1): 43-63.

Abstract

Objective The study aims to estimate the specific contribution of various forms of child maltreatment on the mental health among a Quebeckers’ women representative sample. Method A telephone survey was conducted with a representative sample of 1001 women from the province of Quebec (Canada). Different demographic variables, all four child maltreatment forms (sexual, physical, psychological and neglect) and intimate partner violence experienced in the last 12 months were evaluated to explore their links with depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms of the participants at the time of the investigation.

Results Domestic violence during the last 12 months as well as negligence and physical violence during childhood are associated with the presence of clinical intensity post-traumatic symptoms. Youngest age, sexual and psychological violence during childhood are associated with the presence of depression.

Conclusion Those results underlie the importance to consider different forms of maltreatment during childhood and their co-occurrence in the evaluation and the intervention in mental health with adult women.

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