283376
Childhood maltreatment and exhibition of mental and sexual health problems among young adult Asian-American women
Lauren Melissa Alexander
,
School of Social Work, Boston University, Boston, MA
Christine Chiao
,
College of Arts and Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA
Jessica Chmielewski
,
School of Social Work, Boston University, Boston, MA
Background/Significance: Asian-American women aged 15 to 24 had the highest rate of suicide among all racial groups from 2007 to 2009. Additionally, Asian-American adolescent girls reported the highest rates of depression compared to both genders and other races of classmates. Studies have also shown that maltreatment experienced in childhood is associated with mental health and sexual health problems among various racial/ethnic groups of women. However, scant research has explored the context in which childhood maltreatment was experienced and how childhood maltreatment affects Asian-American women's health in young adulthood. Thus, the purpose of this study is to understand how childhood maltreatment may contribute to mental health problems and various self-harming behaviors among young Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean women who are children of immigrants. Methods: As part of the Asian-American Women's Sexual Health Initiative Project (AWSHIP), 36 young adult Asian-American women participated in semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Three members of the AWSHIP research team, guided by grounded theory, analyzed the qualitative interviews using line-by-line coding and compared emergent themes and core variables to ensure reliability. Results: Of the 36 interview participants, 14 women reported experiences of physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse during childhood. Also, childhood maltreatment contributed to exhibition of 4 types of mental and sexual health problems in young adulthood: (1) suicidal ideation/suicidal attempts, (2) self-harm, (3) overuse of alcohol and/or drugs, and (4) risky sexual behaviors (e.g., multiple/risky sexual partners, unwanted pregnancy, unprotected sex). Discussion/Conclusions: Identification of childhood maltreatment victims and provision of interventions that address child abuse, immigrant parent-child cultural conflicts, and family communication problems may help reduce potential mental and sexual health problems among Asian-American women.
Learning Areas:
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Analyze key contexts in which Asian-American women experience maltreatment during childhood.
Assess the relationship between childhood maltreatment and subsequent mental and sexual health in young adult Asian-American women.
Explain the clinical, research, and policy implications of preventing childhood maltreatment and the need for developing culturally appropriate interventions for Asian-American women.
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the principal investigator for the Asian-American Women’s Sexual Health Initiative Project (AWSHIP) at the Boston University School of Social Work, a five-year study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). My scholarly interests include: Acculturation, health risk behaviors (tobacco use, binge drinking, sexual activity), health care utilization among Asian American adolescents, and health status and health care utilization among people with mental illness.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
Register for the meeting now