Sexual and physical abuse and depressive symptoms in the UK Biobank.
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Peer-reviewed
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Abstract
Background
The association between sexual and physical abuse and subsequent depression is well-established, but the associations with specific depressive symptoms and sex differences remain relatively understudied. We investigated the associations of sexual and physical abuse with depressive symptoms in men and women in a large population cohort.Methods
Observational study based on 151,396 UK Biobank participants. Exposures included self-reported experiences of childhood physical abuse and sexual abuse. Mid-life outcomes included current depressive symptoms score, individual depressive symptoms, and lifetime depression. We used logistic regression to test associations of childhood sexual/physical abuse with depressive outcomes.Results
Recalled childhood sexual and physical abuse were both associated with current depressive symptoms score in adults. Results for individual symptoms-based analyses suggest that sexual and physical abuse are associated with all depressive symptoms, particularly suicidal behaviours. The associations between lifetime depression and sexual/physical abuse were not fully explained by current depressive symptoms score, indicating that these findings may not be fully attributable to recall bias. There was no indication of differential risk for specific depressive symptoms among men and women.Conclusions
Sexual and physical abuse are robust risk factors for depression/depressive symptoms regardless of sex. Higher risk of suicidal behaviours associated with childhood sexual/physical abuse are of particular concern. Longitudinal research into sex-specific associations for individual depressive symptoms is required.Description
Keywords
Sexual Abuse, Physical Abuse, Depressive Symptoms, Observational Study, Uk Biobank, Humans, Depression, Sex Offenses, Child Abuse, Adult, Child, Biological Specimen Banks, Female, Male, United Kingdom
Journal Title
BMC psychiatry
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Journal ISSN
1471-244X
Volume Title
21
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Wellcome Trust (201486/Z/16/Z)
Medical Research Council (MC_PC_17213 , MR/S037675/1)
Department of Health (MQDS17/40, MRR73–1795-00000)
Medical Research Council (MC_PC_17213 , MR/S037675/1)
Department of Health (MQDS17/40, MRR73–1795-00000)