Testing Associations Between Childhood Abuse and Health in Young Adults in the Deep South: The Mediating Role of Psychological Symptoms

Objective: Childhood abuse and neglect can have lasting impacts on mental and physical health. These effects may be amplified in rural and/or under-resourced communities, resulting in heightened anxiety, depression, and physical health problems. This study tested associations between childhood abuse/neglect with self-reported physical symptoms, with depressive and anxiety symptoms serving as potential mediators in this association. Participants: Participants (N = 606) were undergraduate college students living in the southeastern United States. Methods: Participants completed measures assessing childhood abuse/neglect, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and self-rated health, pain, fatigue, and sleep quality. Results: Anxiety symptoms mediated the association between emotional, physical, and sexual abuse with all self-reported health outcomes. Depressive symptoms mediated associations between emotional and physical abuse with all health outcomes. Conclusions: Results highlight the importance of increasing treatment access among college-aged adults with abuse histories to help mitigate its long-term effects on physical and mental health as individuals age.