Abstract
Abuse remains a pervasive issue for women throughout their lifespan, with far-reaching consequences on a woman’s physical and mental health. Previous studies have suggested that among other health issues, women who have been abused have higher reports of perceived stress (STRESS) and more severe premenstrual symptomatology. The current study assessed the effects of abuse history and age of abuse on the relationship between STRESS and Premenstrual Symptom Reports (PMSR) in women between 18 – 25 years. On the Abuse Questionnaire, participants indicated whether abuse events occurred as a child ( 14 years). Both PMSR and STRESS were greater in women with an abuse history. Moreover, the age of abuse significantly predicted both STRESS and PMSR over and above abuse history in general. To further probe these findings, interaction analyses were performed. Results revealed a significant interaction between abuse age and STRESS on PMSR, indicating more severe symptomatology with increased stress among women who were abused as children. These findings assert the relationship between abuse and detrimental physical health outcomes, while specifically highlighting that abuse age affects the relationship between STRESS and PMSR in women.
Highlights
According to a national survey, a large percentage of women will endure sexual and/or physical abuse during their lifetime (United States Department of Health and Human Services, 2011) [1]
The present study aimed to examine the effects of abuse history and age of abuse on the relationship between STRESS and Premenstrual Symptom Reports (PMSR) in women
The initial findings were that both PMSR and STRESS were greater in women with an abuse history, results indicated that age of abuse significantly predicted both STRESS and PMSR over and above abuse history in general
Summary
Women who have been abused have higher reports of perceived stress (STRESS) and more severe premenstrual symptomatology [7,8] As evidenced by these studies, abuse affects and debilitates women on both a physical and mental level. Compared to women without a history of abuse, abused women have an increased likelihood of engaging in risky sexual behaviors and substance abuse, indicating that abuse can affect a women’s life on multiple levels and in various contexts [9,10] These findings have encouraged researchers to consider sexual and physical abuse as pervasive women’s health concerns and as priorities for future studies. There remains a dearth of literature critically examining abuse history, and the age of the woman at the time of the abuse event as they relate to a woman’s level of STRESS and severity of premenstrual symptoms
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