Adverse experiences in childhood, adulthood neighbourhood disadvantage and health behaviours. Issue 8 (24th April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Halonen, Jaana I; Vahtera, Jussi; Kivimäki, Mika; Pentti, Jaana; Kawachi, Ichiro; Subramanian, S V
• Is Part Of: Journal of epidemiology and community health. Volume 68:Issue 8(2014)
• Page Start: 741
• Page End: 746
• Publication Date: 2014-04-24
• Subjects: Alcohol -- Health Behaviour -- Epidemiology -- Neighborhood/place; Public health -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; 614.4
• DOI: 10.1136/jech-2013-203441
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-005X

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Early life adversities may play a role in the associations observed between neighbourhood contextual factors and health behaviours. Methods: We examined whether self-reported adverse experiences in childhood (parental divorce, long-term financial difficulties, serious conflicts, serious/chronic illness or alcohol problem in the family, and frequent fear of a family member) explain the association between adulthood neighbourhood disadvantage and co-occurrence of behavioural risk factors (smoking, moderate/heavy alcohol use, physical inactivity). Study population consisted of 31 271 public sector employees from Finland. The cross-sectional associations were analysed using two-level cumulative logistic regression models. Results: Childhood adverse experiences were associated with the sum of risk factors (cumulative OR 1.32 (95% CI 1.25 to 1.40) among those reporting 3–6 vs 0 adversities). Adverse experiences did not attenuate the association between neighbourhood disadvantage and risk factors; this cumulative OR was 1.52 (95% CI 1.43 to 1.62) in the highest versus lowest quartile of neighbourhood disadvantage when not including adversities, and 1.50 (95% CI 1.40 to 1.60) when adjusted for childhood adversities. In adversity-stratified analyses those reporting 3–6 adversities had 1.60-fold (95% CI 1.42 to 1.80) likelihood of risk factors if living in the neighbourhood of the highest disadvantage, while in those with fewer adversities this likelihood was 1.09–1.34-fold (95% CI 0.98 to 1.53) (p interaction 0.07). Conclusions: Childhood adverse experiences and adulthood neighbourhood disadvantage were associated with behavioural risk factors. Childhood experiences did not explain associations between neighbourhood disadvantage and the risk factors. However, those with more adverse experiences may be susceptible for the socioeconomic conditions of neighbourhoods.