Childhood Victimization, Gender and Mental Health Outcomes: A Cross-Sectional Population-Based Study

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

Objective: Research regarding the effect of physical and sexual victimization during childhood on mental health has shown victimization can contribute to adverse mental health outcomes later in life. Victimization tends to differ across genders, with girls experiencing higher rates of sexual victimization and boys experiencing increased rates of physical victimization. The long-term outcomes also tend to be gendered, where women tend to develop internalizing issues and men tend to develop externalizing issues. This research examines whether gender moderates the relationship between childhood victimization and mental health outcomes?
Data/Methods: Analyses used national population-level Canadian survey data from the 2014 Canadian General Social Survey (GSS) Victimization (N=23,138). Regression examines the relationship between childhood victimization and self-reported mental health and whether this relationship differs according to gender.
Results: Sexual and physical victimization during childhood had a significant adverse effect on self-rated mental health. Gender significantly moderated this relationship: childhood sexual assault has a stronger negative impact on mental health for women compared to men.
Conclusion/Implications: Results indicate that different intervention strategies are necessary for boys and girls to mitigate the effects of childhood victimization – specifically, mental health support for women who have experienced sexual victimization and resources aimed at managing impulsivity for boys.

Authors

• Patrick Falle, University of Victoria

• Nell Perry, University of Victoria

• Adam Scott Jenkins, University of Victoria

• Tamara Humphrey, University of Victoria