Abstract
BackgroundIt is unclear how adverse childhood family environments differentially impact adult health outcomes among men and women. This brief communication reports on the independent and joint effects of adverse childhood family environments and sex on indicators of health in adulthood.Methods & Results213 18-55-year olds reported on their childhood family environment (Risky Families Questionnaire (RFQ); Family Environment Scale (FEStotal)) and their current perceived stress and depressive and anxious affect. Resting systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR) were taken during a laboratory visit, and total cortisol output was measured in saliva samples collected at home. Exposure to childhood adversity did not vary by sex. Women had lower SBP, DBP, and total cortisol output, but higher HR, than men (ps < .05). Sex moderated the association between childhood family environment and SBP (RFQ: B = -.316; SE = .120; p = .009; FEStotal: B = -.274; SE = .117; p = .021) and DBP (FEStotal: B = -.193; SE = .094; p = .041), such that exposure to greater childhood adversity was linked to lower BP in women only. Results were largely unchanged after adjusting for concurrent perceived stress and depressive and anxious affect. Separate effects of individual FES subscales are also discussed.ConclusionsContrary to expectations, exposure to adverse childhood family environments was associated with lower resting BP among women, perhaps indicative of basal cardiovascular hypoactivation, whereas early adversity was not linked to BP among men.
Highlights
Experiences of early adversity, including growing up in a harsh family environment or experiencing child maltreatment, have been linked to adverse health outcomes later in life [1,2], including cardiovascular disease (CVD)[3,4]
This study aims to investigate the influence of exposure to moderate early adversity on some physiological indicators, including resting blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) and salivary cortisol that may represent pathways through which exposure to early adversity can lead to morbidity and mortality later in life
We investigate the influence of a harsher family climate during childhood on the above outcomes, hypothesizing that people exposed to more childhood adversity will have higher BP, HR and cortisol levels, Early adversity, sex, and blood pressure on average
Summary
Experiences of early adversity, including growing up in a harsh family environment or experiencing child maltreatment, have been linked to adverse health outcomes later in life [1,2], including cardiovascular disease (CVD)[3,4]. Such exposures are generally considered to increase the likelihood of later health problems, there is some evidence to suggest that men and women may be differentially impacted by such experiences [5,6,7]. Editor: Petri Bockerman, University of Jyvaskyla, FINLAND It is unclear how adverse childhood family environments differentially impact adult health outcomes among men and women. This brief communication reports on the independent and joint effects of adverse childhood family environments and sex on indicators of health in adulthood
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call