Alcala HE, et al. – This study entails the exploration of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) that associate with development of cancer in adulthood. Also, gender–based differential impacts of ACEs were investigated. As per findings, ACEs amplified cancer risk later in life. However, this impact occurred mostly among women, possibly due to higher rates of many ACEs reported by women than men and because women, via sexual abuse, can be exposed to cancer–causing viruses.

Methods

• Researchers analyzed data from the 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a national survey of American adults 18 and older (N = 111,964).
• Logistic regression models were fit to estimate odds of ever being diagnosed with cancer after experiencing one or more of eight different ACEs, while adjusting for potential confounders.
• They also stratified these analyses by gender.

Results

• Findings demonstrated that among women, childhood experiences of physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, living with someone who was mentally ill, living with a problem drinker, living with a drug user, and living in a household where adults treated each other violently were associated with higher odds of cancer.
• Researchers observed that among men, only emotional abuse was associated with higher odds of cancer.