Milken Institute School of Public Health Poster Presentations (Marvin Center & Video)

Childhood Violence, Adult Relationship Violence, and Adult Health Outcomes Among South Asian Women in the U.S.

Poster Number

95

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

3-2016

Abstract

Background/Significance: The devastating effects of experiencing violence in childhood are seen well into adulthood. This has been particularly difficult to assess among South Asians (SAs) living in the US due to a lack of race-specific data.

Objective/Purpose: A cross-sectional study of SA adult women living in the US was conducted to better understand the relationship between childhood exposure to violence, and gender-based violence and health behaviors in adulthood.

Methods: A quantitative survey with over 500 SA women living in the US measured socio-demographics, exposure to violence as a child (verbal, sexual and physical), adult relationship violence, suicide, body esteem, and subjective well-being. Multiple logistic and linear regression models examined whether childhood violence was associated with suicide ideation and attempt; adult intimate partner violence; body esteem and subjective wellbeing. All models adjusted for age, household income, country of origin, and acculturation.

Results:The models on suicide ideation and attempt, yielded significant findings for childhood verbal abuse (OR 5.22; 95% CI 3.06 – 8.91 and OR 4.91; 95% CI 2.34 – 10.32, respectively); childhood physical abuse (OR 3.71; 95% CI 1.56 – 8.79 and OR 5.18; 95% CI 1.96 – 13.67, respectively); sexual abuse (OR 2.17; 95% CI 1.33 – 3.55 and OR 4.36; 95% CI 2.04 – 9.34, respectively); and having a battered mother (OR 2.12; 95% CI 1.21 – 3.72 and OR 2.68; 95% CI 1.22 – 5.81, respectively). Significant associations were found between childhood verbal abuse and body esteem (β = -0.18, p

Discussion/Conclusions: To date, this is the first study to examine childhood violence and its relationship to adult violence and health among South Asian women in the U.S..

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Open Access

1

Comments

Presented at: GW Research Days 2016

Winner of the People's Choice Award

Mentor: Amita N. Vyas

Department: Prevention & Community Health

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Childhood Violence, Adult Relationship Violence, and Adult Health Outcomes Among South Asian Women in the U.S.

Background/Significance: The devastating effects of experiencing violence in childhood are seen well into adulthood. This has been particularly difficult to assess among South Asians (SAs) living in the US due to a lack of race-specific data.

Objective/Purpose: A cross-sectional study of SA adult women living in the US was conducted to better understand the relationship between childhood exposure to violence, and gender-based violence and health behaviors in adulthood.

Methods: A quantitative survey with over 500 SA women living in the US measured socio-demographics, exposure to violence as a child (verbal, sexual and physical), adult relationship violence, suicide, body esteem, and subjective well-being. Multiple logistic and linear regression models examined whether childhood violence was associated with suicide ideation and attempt; adult intimate partner violence; body esteem and subjective wellbeing. All models adjusted for age, household income, country of origin, and acculturation.

Results:The models on suicide ideation and attempt, yielded significant findings for childhood verbal abuse (OR 5.22; 95% CI 3.06 – 8.91 and OR 4.91; 95% CI 2.34 – 10.32, respectively); childhood physical abuse (OR 3.71; 95% CI 1.56 – 8.79 and OR 5.18; 95% CI 1.96 – 13.67, respectively); sexual abuse (OR 2.17; 95% CI 1.33 – 3.55 and OR 4.36; 95% CI 2.04 – 9.34, respectively); and having a battered mother (OR 2.12; 95% CI 1.21 – 3.72 and OR 2.68; 95% CI 1.22 – 5.81, respectively). Significant associations were found between childhood verbal abuse and body esteem (β = -0.18, p

Discussion/Conclusions: To date, this is the first study to examine childhood violence and its relationship to adult violence and health among South Asian women in the U.S..