Background
Although significant associations of childhood adversities with adult
mental disorders are widely documented, most studies focus on single childhood
adversities predicting single disorders.
Aims
To examine joint associations of 12 childhood adversities with first onset
of 20 DSM–IV disorders in World Mental Health (WMH) Surveys in 21
countries.
Method
Nationally or regionally representative surveys of 51 945 adults assessed
childhood adversities and lifetime DSM–IV disorders with the WHO
Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI).
Results
Childhood adversities were highly prevalent and interrelated. Childhood
adversities associated with maladaptive family functioning (e.g. parental
mental illness, child abuse, neglect) were the strongest predictors of
disorders. Co-occurring childhood adversities associated with maladaptive
family functioning had significant subadditive predictive associations and
little specificity across disorders. Childhood adversities account for 29.8%
of all disorders across countries.
Conclusions
Childhood adversities have strong associations with all classes of
disorders at all life-course stages in all groups of WMH countries. Long-term
associations imply the existence of as-yet undetermined mediators. |