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Childhood abuse and physiological dysregulation in midlife and old age
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Lee, Chioun. Childhood abuse and physiological dysregulation in midlife and old age. Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T39W0D8D

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TitleChildhood abuse and physiological dysregulation in midlife and old age
NameLee, Chioun (author); Carr, Deborah (chair); White, Helene R (internal member); Horwitz, Allan (internal member); Springer, Kristen W (internal member); Kusnecov, Alexander (outside member); Rutgers University; Graduate School - New Brunswick
Date Created2012
Other Date2012-10 (degree)
SubjectSociology, Adult child abuse victims--Health and hygiene--United States, Adult child abuse victims--Mental health--United States, Child abuse--Health aspects--United States, Stress (Psychology)
Extentxii, 168 p. : ill.
DescriptionThe overarching goal of my research is to incorporate sociological perspectives (the life course perspective, inequality theory) with biomedical knowledge (stress theory) to document midlife and old age health for victims of childhood abuse. Using data from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the U.S. (MIDUS), I explore the extent to which childhood abuse creates physiological dysregulation and chronic diseases: cortisol abnormality (Chapter 2), metabolic syndrome (MetS) (Chapter 3), elevated markers of inflammation (Chapter 4), and three immune-related disorders (asthma, allergies, arthritis) (Chapter 2). I then explore the extent to which these associations are explained by three potential mediators: behavioral risk factors (sleeping and eating problems, body mass index [BMI]), perceived stress, and social relationship quality (Chapters 3-4). I also investigate whether profiles of childhood abuse and the pathways linking abuse to MetS differ by gender (Chapter 3). Finally, I assess whether the effects of childhood abuse on inflammatory markers vary by age group (Chapter 4). I find five distinct classes of childhood abuse for the full sample and for women and four for men. Women are more likely than men to report frequent emotional and sexual abuse. Childhood abuse is associated with low cortisol levels and immune-related disorders. Low levels of cortisol partially mediate the association between abuse and both allergies and arthritis. Some abuse subgroups are at greater risk of MetS than the no abuse subgroup. For women, frequent sexual abuse increases the risk of MetS; this association is not statistically significant among men. The associations between abuse and inflammatory markers vary by age. In the younger age groups (ages 34-44 and 45-54), the levels of inflammatory markers for victims are higher than non-victims; there are no statistically significant differences in the older age groups (ages 55-64 and 65-84). Victims are at greater risk of mortality, suggesting that selective mortality might contribute to the reduced gap in the older age cohorts. High BMI, sleep problems, and weak or strained family ties partially mediate the association. Overall, my project demonstrates how integrating sociological perspectives and biomedical knowledge illuminates the associations between early life adversity and lifelong health consequences.
NotePh.D.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
NoteIncludes vita
Noteby Chioun Lee
Genretheses, ETD doctoral
Persistent URLhttps://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T39W0D8D
Languageeng
CollectionGraduate School - New Brunswick Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.
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