Citation

Zhu Q, Gao E, Cheng Y, Chuang YL, Zabin LS, Emerson MR, Lou C. Asia Pac. J. Public Health 2015; 27(6): 643-651.

Affiliation

Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, Shanghai, People's Republic of China chaohual@yahoo.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1010539515573075

PMID

25720535

Abstract

This study explores the association of child sexual abuse (CSA) with subsequent health risk behaviors among a cross-section of 4354 adolescents and young adults surveyed in urban and rural Taipei. Descriptive analysis and logistic regressions were employed. The overall proportion of CSA was 5.15%, with more females (6.14%) than males (4.16%) likely to experience CSA. CSA was differently associated with multiple adverse health outcomes, after adjusting other factors, such as age, residence, economic status, education, employment status, and household instability. Both males and females with CSA experience were more likely to report drinking, gambling, and suicidal ideation compared with those who had no history of CSA. However, the significant association between CSA and smoking, fighting, and suicidal attempt was not observed among females. Effective interventions are needed to reduce CSA and its adverse effects on adolescent well-being.

Language: en