Gender-Specific Significance of Peer Abuse during Childhood and Adolescence on Physical and Mental Health in Adulthood—Results from a Cross-Sectional Study in a Sample of Hospital Patients

Astrid Lampe, Tobias Nolte, Marc Schmid, Hanna Kampling, Johannes Kruse, Vincent Grote, Michael J. Fischer and David Riedl ()
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Astrid Lampe: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rehabilitation Research, 1100 Vienna, Austria
Tobias Nolte: Wellcome Department of Imaging Neuroscience, University College London, London WC1N 3AR, UK
Marc Schmid: Research Department for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Psychiatric Hospitals Basel, University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
Hanna Kampling: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35390 Giessen, Germany
Johannes Kruse: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35390 Giessen, Germany
Vincent Grote: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rehabilitation Research, 1100 Vienna, Austria
Michael J. Fischer: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rehabilitation Research, 1100 Vienna, Austria
David Riedl: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rehabilitation Research, 1100 Vienna, Austria

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 23, 1-13

Abstract: Peer abuse (PA) is a widespread and gender-sensitive form of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). However, research on its influence on physical and mental health in adulthood remains scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate gender-specific associations between PA and physical and mental health in adulthood in a sample of general hospital patients. A cross-sectional study at the University Hospital of Innsbruck was conducted. Data on ACEs, physical and mental health were collected using self-report questionnaires. We compared patients with no ACEs, PA only, ACEs without PA, and ACEs with PA using gender-specific binary logistic regressions to investigate the association of PA with physical and mental health. A total of 2,392 patients were included in the analyses. Women reported more emotional PA (13.1% vs. 9.4%; p = 0.006), while men reported more physical PA (8.3% vs. 5.2%; p = 0.003). PA was associated with a higher likelihood for depression (OR = 2.6), somatization (OR = 2.1), as well as worse physical health (OR = 2.1) in women but not in men. This study is the first to present data on the gender-specific detrimental effect of PA on physical and mental health in adulthood. Especially for women, PA poses a significant health risk. Thus, we should be aware of these effects and offer adequate support for affected individuals.

Keywords: peer abuse; adverse childhood experiences (ACEs); health impairment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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