How Does Childhood Abuse Affect Mental Health in Adulthood?

What you need to know

• About 1 in 5 adults in the Yangon region of Myanmar reported experiencing abuse during childhood
• Women were more likely than men to report experiencing childhood abuse
• Childhood abuse was associated with higher rates of mental distress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in adulthood, especially for women and older men
• The study highlights the need for improved child protection efforts and mental health services in Myanmar

Prevalence of childhood abuse

This study looked at the prevalence of childhood abuse and its effects on adult mental health in the Yangon region of Myanmar. The researchers surveyed 2,377 adults between ages 18-49 about their experiences of abuse during childhood (before age 18) and current mental health symptoms.

They found that 21.1% of participants reported experiencing some form of childhood abuse:

• 10.4% experienced emotional abuse
• 10.4% experienced physical abuse
• 7.3% experienced sexual abuse

Women were significantly more likely than men to report experiencing childhood abuse (29.8% vs 12.4%). The gender difference was especially pronounced for sexual abuse, with 13.3% of women reporting childhood sexual abuse compared to only 1.3% of men.

These rates are generally lower than those found in studies from some other countries. For example, a German study found 31% of adults reported experiencing childhood abuse. However, the rates in Myanmar were higher than those reported in a Japanese study, which found only 5% of adults reported childhood abuse.

The researchers note that actual rates of childhood abuse in Myanmar may be higher than reported in this study. People may be reluctant to disclose abuse experiences, especially men who may feel pressure to deny such experiences. Cultural norms around physical punishment of children may also lead to underreporting of what would be considered abuse in other contexts.

Prevalence of traumatic events and PTSD

The study also looked at exposure to traumatic events and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD):

• 25.1% of participants reported experiencing a traumatic event at some point in their life
• 6.6% of all participants met criteria for PTSD symptoms
• Among those who experienced a traumatic event, 26.3% had PTSD symptoms

Interestingly, men were more likely to report experiencing a traumatic event (31.4% vs 18.9% of women), but women who experienced trauma were more likely to develop PTSD symptoms (41.7% vs 17.0% of men).

The overall PTSD rate of 6.6% is within the range found in other countries. For comparison, studies have found lifetime PTSD rates of 6.1% in the United States and 5.3% in Portugal.

Impact on adult mental health

A key finding of this study was that experiencing childhood abuse was associated with higher rates of mental health problems in adulthood. Specifically:

• Adults who experienced childhood abuse had higher scores on a measure of mental distress
• Women who experienced childhood abuse had significantly higher rates of PTSD symptoms
• For men, childhood abuse was associated with mental distress and PTSD symptoms, but only for older men (closer to age 49)

The researchers controlled for factors like age, education level, and urban/rural location to isolate the impact of childhood abuse. They found the association between childhood abuse and adult mental health problems remained significant even after accounting for these other factors.

This aligns with a large body of research showing that adverse childhood experiences, including abuse, can have long-lasting impacts on mental health throughout life. The trauma of abuse can alter brain development and stress response systems in ways that increase vulnerability to anxiety, depression, PTSD and other mental health issues.

Implications for Myanmar

The study authors note that child protection services and mental health support are currently limited in Myanmar due to factors like:

• Underfunding
• Lack of trained staff
• Weak coordination between sectors
• Limited community outreach

They argue these findings highlight the need to strengthen child protection efforts and expand mental health services in the country. Some specific recommendations include:

• Public awareness campaigns about child abuse
• Educational programs on preventing child abuse
• Improved services for children who have experienced violence
• Legal and policy reforms to better protect children
• More mental health resources and trauma-informed care for adults

The authors also call for further nationwide studies on violence against children in Myanmar to inform evidence-based policies and programs. They note this aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goal target 16.2 to end abuse, exploitation, and violence against children.

Limitations to consider

While this study provides valuable data on an under-researched topic in Myanmar, there are some limitations to keep in mind:

• The study only looked at one region (Yangon) so findings may not generalize to less populated areas of Myanmar
• Rates of childhood abuse may be underestimated due to reluctance to disclose such experiences
• The cross-sectional design cannot prove childhood abuse directly caused adult mental health problems
• Some potential confounding factors were not measured
• The mental health measures used have not been specifically validated in Myanmar

Despite these limitations, this research provides an important starting point for understanding the prevalence and impacts of childhood abuse in Myanmar. The findings align with global research showing the serious long-term effects of childhood trauma on mental health.

Conclusions

• Childhood abuse appears to be common in the Yangon region, affecting about 1 in 5 adults
• Women are more likely to report experiencing childhood abuse, especially sexual abuse
• Experiencing abuse in childhood is associated with higher rates of mental distress and PTSD symptoms in adulthood
• Child protection efforts and mental health services in Myanmar need to be expanded to address this issue

This study highlights how adverse childhood experiences can cast a long shadow, affecting mental health and wellbeing decades later. While the focus is on Myanmar, the findings reflect a global pattern of childhood trauma contributing to the burden of mental illness. Preventing child abuse and supporting survivors are crucial public health priorities - not just for children’s immediate safety, but for lifelong health and wellbeing.