Relationship among adverse childhood experiences, history of active military service, and adult outcomes: Homelessness, mental health, and physical health

A.E. Montgomery, J.J. Cutuli, M. Evans-Chase, D. Treglia and D.P. Culhane

American Journal of Public Health, 2013, vol. 103, issue S2, S262-S268

Abstract: Objectives. We determined whether a report of adverse childhood experiences predicts adult outcomes related to homelessness, mental health, and physical health and whether participation in active military service influences the relationship between childhood and adult adversity. Methods. Using data from the 2010 Washington State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, we tested by means of logistic regression the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and 3 adult outcomes - homelessness, mental health, and physical health - as well as differences among those with a history of active military service. Results. Adverse childhood experiences separately predicted increased odds of experiencing homelessness as an adult and mental health and physical health problems. Childhood adversity increased the likelihood of adult homelessness and poor physical health among individuals with no history of active military service and the likelihood of mental health problems among individuals with a history of active military service. Conclusions. The relationship between childhood adversity and adult adversity changes in degree when history of active military service is controlled, which has implications for Armed Forces recruitment strategies and postmilitary service risk assessment.

Keywords: adult; age; aged; article; behavioral risk factor surveillance system; family relation; female; health status; homelessness; human; male; mental health; middle aged; risk assessment; risk factor; socioeconomics; statistics; United States; veteran; violence; epidemiology; homelessness; statistics and numerical data; United States; veteran, Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; Family Relations; Female; Health Status; Homeless Persons; Humans; Male; Mental Health; Middle Aged; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Veterans; Violence; Washington, Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; Family Relations; Female; Health Status; Homeless Persons; Humans; Male; Mental Health; Middle Aged; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Veterans; Violence; Washington (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/10.2105/AJPH.2013.301474

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2013.301474_5

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301474

Access Statistics for this article

American Journal of Public Health is currently edited by Alfredo Morabia

More articles in American Journal of Public Health from American Public Health Association
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Christopher F Baum ().