Journal Article

Childhood exposure to violence is associated with risk for mental disorders and adult’s weight status: a community-based study in Tunisia

Ben Salah, Arwa, Lemieux, Andrine, al’Absi, Mustafa, Bouanene, Ines, Ben Salem, Kamel, Abroug, Hela, El Mhamdi, Sana

2019

Overview

We sought to investigate the relationship between social violence and adult overweight/obesity and the role of common mental disorders (CMD) in mediating this relationship. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2016 in Tunisia. Participants were selected from randomly selected Primary Health Care Centers. The Arabic version of the Adverse Childhood Experiences-International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) was used. A total of 2120 participants were included. Women exposed to social ACEs had higher rates of overweight/obesity than men (13.5 versus 9.5%; P = 0.004). For women, statistically significant partial mediation effects of CMD were observed for exposure to community violence (% mediated = 17.7%). For men, partial mediation was found for the exposure to peer violence (% mediated = 12.5%). Our results provide evidence of the independent increase of overweight/obesity after exposure to social ACEs. Efforts to uncover and address underlying trauma in health care settings may increase the effectiveness of obesity interventions.

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Subject: Adult / Adverse Childhood Experiences - statistics & numerical data / Body Weight / Cross-Sectional Studies / Exposure to Violence - psychology / Exposure to Violence - statistics & numerical data / Female / Humans / Male / Mental Disorders / Middle Aged / Original / Overweight - epidemiology / Overweight - psychology / Regression Analysis / Risk Factors / Sex Distribution / Surveys and Questionnaires / Tunisia - epidemiology