In addition to the psychiatric consequences of abuse, women who report childhood abuse also remain vulnerable to premature mortality into adulthood, according to a recent study. Thus, reported childhood abuse may have long-term ramifications for health and longevity in women. Researchers collected data from a national sample of 6,285 adults (aged 25 to 74 years at baseline; 2,987 men [48%] and 5,581 white [91%], with a mean age of 46.9 [12.9] years) in 1995 and 1996, with follow-up mortality data collected through October 2015. They found:

• Women who reported childhood emotional abuse, moderate physical abuse, or severe physical abuse were at increased risk for all-cause mortality during the follow-up period.

• Reports of more types of childhood abuse were also associated with a greater risk of all-cause mortality in women.

• These effects could not be accounted for by childhood socioeconomic status, personality traits, or adult depression.

• No associations were observed in men.

Citation: Chen E, Turiano NA, Mroczek DK, Miller GE. Association of reports of childhood abuse and all-cause mortality rates in women. [Published online ahead of print August 17, 2016]. JAMA Psychiatry. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.1786.