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Long-term mental health consequences of child maltreatment: A result from Thai national mental health survey 2013
Author(s)
Panyayong, Benjaporn
Tantirangsee, Nopporn
Bogoian, Rudy R.D.
Date Issued
October 1, 2018
Type
Article
Abstract
Background: Violence against children, a violation of basic human rights, is common. There are limited studies to date that examine the impact of child maltreatment, and mental health outcomes in adulthood. Objective: To examine the association between child maltreatment (physical or sexual abuse, and witnessing of domestic violence [DV]), mental disorders, and re-victimization by intimate partner violence [IPV] in adulthood. Materials and Methods: The authors used the data from the Thai National Mental Health Survey of 2013, which was a population-based cross-sectional national survey. A representative sample of 4,727 participants, aged over 18 years, completed the diagnostic interviews (the World Mental Health-Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0 [WMH-CIDI 3.0]). Results: The individuals that experienced violence during childhood (physical, sexual abuse, and witnessing of DV), are at a higher risk of developing mental disorders in adulthood, and being re-victimized in the form of IPV. Women were more likely to be associated with common mental disorders [CMD] and suicide than men, but men were observed to be more associated with substance use disorders [SUD]. Conclusion: These results provide support for the need for early intervention in those children exposed to maltreatment. Educating these families on healthier conflict resolution, and treatment strategies for subsequent adverse mental health outcomes, including re-victimization by IPV, should be made easily available to these children.
Citation
Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand, 101(10), 1375-1384, 2018