The association between childhood sexual abuse, adulthood common mental disorders, and social support: An analysis of the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey in the United Kingdom

This study examined the relationship between mental health and social support in people who have experienced different forms of childhood sexual abuse. Using data 7134 participants from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey in the United Kingdom, this study investigated relationships between childhood sexual abuse severity and common mental disorders in adulthood, the relationship between social support and common mental disorders, and the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and social support. Overall, more severe forms of abuse were associated with higher risk for common mental disorders. Risk was higher among females. Reduced social support was associated with higher risk for mental disorder across both genders. Contact sexual abuse and intercourse abuse was associated with higher risk of reduced social support in females, while for males only contact abuse but not intercourse abuse was associated with reduced social support. Our findings suggest that interventions to increase social support may be important for mitigating negative mental health outcomes in survivors of childhood, particularly female.