Matsukura H, Yamaoka Y, Matsuyama Y, Kondo K, Fujiwara T. Association between adverse childhood experiences and marital status among Japanese older adults.
CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2023;
144:106340. [PMID:
37467673 DOI:
10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106340]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Marital status is a well-known social determinant of health. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) affect attachment, critical to establishing and maintaining intimate relationships, such as marital status.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the association between ACEs and marital status among older Japanese adults.
PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING
This research used data from a nationwide population-based study among functionally independent people aged 65 and above in Japan.
METHODS
ACEs were assessed by self-reported questionnaires on the following experiences before 18 years old: parental death, parental divorce, parental mental disease, exposure to intimate partner violence, physical abuse, psychological neglect, psychological abuse, and poverty. Marital status was asked as currently having a spouse (including common-law marriage), widowed, divorced, or unmarried. Associations between the total number of ACEs and marital status were analyzed by multinomial logistic regression.
RESULTS
Three or more ACEs showed higher risks of being widowed, divorced, or unmarried. Psychological neglect led to higher divorce risks among males (RRR, 95%CI = 1.41, 1.13-1.76) and females (RRR, 95%CI = 1.56, 1.28-1.89). Childhood poverty showed higher risks of unmarried among males (RRR, 95%CI = 1.25, 1.02-1.53) and females (RRR, 95%CI = 1.41, 1.18-1.69). Association between ACEs and divorce risks showed gender differences (RRR, 95%CI of having three or more ACEs in males: 2.19, 1.66-2.90; in females: 3.45, 2.71-4.38; p for interaction = 0.034).
CONCLUSIONS
ACEs showed higher risks of being widowed, divorced, and unmarried among older Japanese people. Policy to tackle ACEs and research investigating how ACEs, attachment, and relationship quality influence marital status are required to promote well-being in later life.
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