| Publisher Information: |
Linköpings universitet, Avdelningen för samhälle och hälsa Linköpings universitet, Medicinska fakulteten Univ Bordeaux, France Harvard Med Sch, MA 02115 USA Harvard Med Sch, MA 02115 USA Harvard Med Sch, MA 02115 USA Inst Nacl Psiquiatria Ramon Fuente Muniz, Mexico King Saud Univ, Saudi Arabia; King Saud Univ, Saudi Arabia Hosp Mar Res Inst, Spain; Pompeu Fabra Univ UPF, Spain; Inst Salud Carlos III CIBERESP, Spain King Faisal Specialist Hosp & Res Ctr, Saudi Arabia King Faisal Specialist Hosp & Res Ctr, Saudi Arabia Malmö Univ, Sweden Aga Khan Univ, Kenya; Aga Khan Univ, Kenya; Moi Univ, Kenya Daystar Univ, Kenya Univ Salle Ciudad Victoria, Mexico Hosp Mar Res Inst, Spain; Inst Salud Carlos III CIBERESP, Spain South African Med Res Council, South Africa; Univ Cape Town, South Africa Ulm Univ, Germany Inst Nacl Psiquiatria Ramon Fuente Muniz, Mexico Uppsala Univ, Sweden Katholieke Univ Leuven KUL, Belgium; Univ Psychiat Ctr KU Leuven UPC KUL, Belgium Inst Salud Carlos III CIBERESP, Spain; Univ Jaume I UJI, Spain Hong Kong Univ Sci & Technol, Peoples R China Tech Univ Cluj Napoca, Romania Univ Salle Noroeste, Mexico Inst Recerca St Joan Deu IRSJD, Spain Millennium Nucleus Improve Mental Hlth Adolescents, Chile Vrije Univ Amsterdam, Netherlands; Babes Bolyai Univ, Romania Babes Bolyai Univ, Romania; Babes Bolyai Univ, Romania Chinese Univ Hong Kong, Peoples R China Tech Univ Munich, Germany Univ Int Catalunya UIC, Spain Millennium Nucleus Improve Mental Hlth Adolescents, Chile; Univ Andes, Chile Univ Balear Isl UIB, Spain Univ Salle Bajio, Mexico Inst Recerca St Joan Deu IRSJD, Spain Curtin Univ, Australia; Curtin Univ, Australia South African Med Res Council, South Africa; Africa Hlth Res Inst AHRI, South Africa Moi Teaching & Referral Hosp, Kenya Katholieke Univ Leuven KUL, Belgium; Univ Psychiat Ctr KU Leuven UPC KUL, Belgium Millennium Nucleus Improve Mental Hlth Adolescents, Chile; Univ San Sebastian, Chile Univ OHiggins, Chile Jining Med Univ, Peoples R China Stellenbosch Univ, South Africa Kings Coll London, England Univ Chile, Chile Univ Waikato, New Zealand Univ Nairobi, Kenya Ulster Univ, England; Atlantic Technol Univ, Ireland Univ Bucharest, Romania Univ Talca, Chile Ulster Univ, England Univ Miguel Hernandez Elche UMH, Spain Iuliu Hatieganu Univ Med & Pharm, Romania Univ Otago, New Zealand Massey Univ, New Zealand Univ Zaragoza UNIZAR, Spain Sol Plaatje Univ, South Africa Univ Otago, New Zealand Lingnan Univ, Peoples R China Univ Cape Town, South Africa Univ Autonoma Coahuila, Mexico Autonomous Univ Baja Calif, Mexico Vrije Univ Amsterdam, Netherlands Babes Bolyai Univ, Romania Univ British Columbia, Canada Autonomous Univ Baja Calif, Mexico Univ British Columbia, Canada Univ British Columbia, Canada Univ British Columbia, Canada Chinese Univ Hong Kong, Peoples R China Harvard Med Sch, MA 02115 USA ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD 2025 |
| Abstract: |
Purpose: This study investigates associations of childhood adversities (CAs) with lifetime prevalence, 12-month prevalence, and 12-month persistence of mental disorders in a large cross-national sample of university students. Methods: Data came from epidemiologic surveys carried out by the World Mental Health International College Student (WMH-ICS)Initiative across 18 countries (n=60,719). The web-based surveys screened for lifetime and 12-month prevalence and age-of-onset of common DSM-5 disorders (Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar I/II Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Alcohol and Drug Use disorders, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) and five types of CAs (family dysfunction, emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect). Multivariable Poisson regression models estimated associations of CA type, number, and frequency with disorders. Results: The majority of incoming students reported exposure to at least one CA (64.9%), including 50.0 % family dysfunction, 42.2 % emotional abuse, 21.2 % physical abuse, 18.8 % neglect, and 5.0 % sexual abuse. Lifetime and 12-month disorders were significantly associated with CAs in multivariable models, although associations with disorder persistence were weaker. Population attributable risk proportions of 12-month disorders associated with CAs were in the range of 40.7-61.0 % for anxiety and mood disorders and 13.5-55.2 % for substance use disorders. Conclusion: Six out of ten university students arrive at university having been exposed to CAs. These students have substantially higher risk of mental disorders than other students, primarily due to associations with lifetime risk rather than persistence. Given the considerable distress and impairment caused by mental disorders, these results underscore the need for primary and secondary prevention efforts. |