ABSTRACT
Abuse in childhood, encompassing physical, sexual or emotional abuse, is a key component of a broader spectrum of child maltreatment [1]. Lifelong consequences of child abuse have been identified, including a greater risk of violence and delinquency, as well as adult depression and attempted suicide [1]. Hazardous behaviors, such as smoking and alcoholism, have also been found to be associated with abuse in childhood [2-4] along with later disease risk factors, including obesity [1,5], poorer immune function [1,6-8] earlier menarche [9-11] and outcomes such as ischemic heart disease [6,12,13] and chronic obstructive lung disease [13,14]. Explanations including biological mechanisms for long-term outcomes of child abuse have yet to be fully explored.
