The relationship between abuse, neglect, trau- matic experiences in childhood and harmful health risk behaviors in adolescents

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to determine the relationship between abuse, neglect and traumatic experiences in childhood and harmful health risk behaviors in adolescents. Material and method: This is a retrospective cross-sectional survey comprising 1277  students  in the  fourth  year at secondary schools and the first- and second- year university students (aged 18 and above), conducted in the period 2010-2011 in the Republic of Macedonia. Eleven of 33 schools were randomly selected to participate in the study. All the first- and second-year students from four state universities (in Skopje, Bitola, Tetovo, and Shtip) were eligible to participate in the study. Results: From the sample of 1277 students enrolled in the study about 58.6% were female and 41.6% were male. Increasing child abuse and neglect and other negative traumatic experiences were strongly related to health risk behaviors in adolescents. Compared with those without childhood abuse and neglect and other traumatic  experiences, adolescents with four or more of those experiences had adjusted odds ratios as follows:  1.56 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05–2.32]  for smoking; 2.2 (95% CI: 1.11–4.43) for drug use; 3.46 (95% CI: 1.15–11.34) for early unplanned pregnancy and 3.35 (95% CI: 13.52–7.35) for suicide attempt.  Conclusion: Abuse, neglect and other  negative traumatic  experiences in childhood contribute to harmful health risk behaviors in adolescence population, when they have had four or more of these experiences. Abuse, neglect and other negative traumatic experiences in childhood are increasing the likelihood of involvement in smoking habits, drug use, early unplanned pregnancy and suicide attempt. Harmful health risk behaviors in adolescents should be addressed by implementing plans and programmes for prevention of abuse and neglect in childhood.