Abstract
Rates of childhood and adult trauma are high among incarcerated persons. In addition to criminality, childhood trauma is associated with the risk for emotional disorders (e.g., depression and anxiety) and co-morbid conditions such as alcohol and drug abuse and antisocial behaviors in adulthood. This paper develops rates of childhood and adult trauma and examines the impact of age-of-onset and type-specific trauma on emotional problems and behavior for a sample of incarcerated males (N~4,000). Prevalence estimates for types of trauma were constructed by age at time of trauma, race and types of behavioral health treatment received while incarcerated. HLM models were used to explore the association between childhood and adult trauma and depression, anxiety, substance use, interpersonal problems, and aggression problems (each model estimated separately and controlling for age, gender, race, time incarcerated, and index offense). Rates of physical, sexual, and emotional trauma were higher in childhood than adulthood and ranged from 44.7% (physical trauma in childhood) to 4.5% (sexual trauma in adulthood). Trauma exposure was found to be strongly associated with a wide range of behavioral problems and clinical symptoms. Given the sheer numbers of incarcerated men and the strength of these associations, targeted intervention is critical.
Highlights
Experiencing physical, sexual, or emotional abuse during childhood is known to have predictable immediate and distal impacts on personality development [1,2] Rates of childhood and adult trauma are notably elevated among incarcerated men
This paper examines general symptoms of psychopathology associated with childhood and adult trauma in an incarcerated male sample
Hispanic inmates are similar to black inmates in their physical trauma rates, but more similar to White and other racial group inmates in their exposure to sexual trauma
Summary
Experiencing physical, sexual, or emotional abuse (referred to as “trauma”) during childhood is known to have predictable immediate and distal impacts on personality development [1,2] Rates of childhood and adult trauma are notably elevated among incarcerated men. In the United States, 1 in 6 state male inmates reported being physically or sexually abused before age 18, and many more witnessed interpersonal violence [3]. Over half of male inmates (56%) reported experiencing childhood physical trauma. Widom and colleagues [5], using a prospective design, found that all types of childhood trauma (physical, sexual, and neglect) elevate the risk of lifetime re-victimization. Rates of sexual victimization were significantly lower [4]
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