Problematic alcohol use in young adults exposed to childhood trauma: The Trøndelag Health (HUNT) Study
Stangeland, Helle; Aakvaag, Helene Flood; Baumann, Monica; Wentzel-Larsen, Tore; Storheim, Kjersti; Zwart, John Anker Henrik; Dyb, Grete Anita; Stensland, Synne Øien Blixt
Peer reviewed, Journal article
Published version
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https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3115490Utgivelsesdato
2023Metadata
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Sammendrag
Problematic alcohol use (PAU) severely impacts the health, functioning, and
long-term prospects of young people. Prior research indicates that childhood
trauma exposure may be an important risk factor for PAU, but few longitudinal
studies have looked at how specific trauma types influence this risk. The aim of
this study was to investigate the association between childhood trauma exposure
and PAU in a large, population-based cohort of young people. The study sam-
ple included 1,913 adolescents who participated in the Trøndelag Health Study
(HUNT) between 2006 and 2008 (age range: 12–20) and completed follow-up 10
years later as young adults (age range: 22–32). The results revealed an increased
risk of PAU in young adults exposed to childhood trauma, especially direct phys-
ical violence, OR = 2.38, [95% CI 1.56, 3.64]. Young adults who had witnessed
violence, OR = 1.55, [95% CI 1.11, 2.17], or experienced an accident, disaster, or
other traumatic event, OR = 1.60, [95% CI 1.19, 2.15], also had higher odds of
PAU compared to those without such experiences. These associations remained
consistent after adjusting for symptoms of headaches and pain as well as post-
traumatic and general psychological distress as reported by the participants in
adolescence. Future prevention efforts targeting PAU among adolescents and
young adults should address violence and other trauma exposure as potential
drivers of problematic drinking.