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Childhood Adverse Events and Current Traumatic Distress

A Comparison of Men and Women Drug-Dependent Prisoners

University of California, Los Angeles, nmessina @ucla.edu.

Christine Grella

University of California, Los Angeles

William Burdon

University of California, Los Angeles

Michael Prendergast

University of California, Los Angeles

This study describes the prevalence of childhood adverse events (CAEs) among men and women prisoners and assesses the relationship of CAEs to adult symptoms of traumatic distress. Interview data for 427 men and 315 women were analyzed assessing childhood abuse and household dysfunction, drug and criminal histories, and symptoms of traumatic distress. Women offenders had much greater exposure to CAEs than did men and more often reported continued sexual abuse in adolescence and as an adult. Linear regression results showed that the impact of CAEs on traumatic distress was strong and cumulative for both men and women (greater exposure to CAEs increased the likelihood of 6 out of 7 mental health outcomes, although women had higher levels of traumatic distress overall). The findings indicate the need for early prevention and intervention as well as trauma-based treatment within the correctional setting.

Key Words: child abuse • trauma • gender differences

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