Women who were physically or sexually abused as children are far more likely to enter into abusive relationships as adults.

The study findings suggest that identifying and helping girls who are being abused or are at risk for abuse can help break the cycle of family violence.

Women who were raped before the age of 16 were more than three times more likely to experience domestic violence as adults and nearly three times as likely to be raped.

The frequency and severity of childhood abuse was also associated with abuse in adulthood.

Women who abused drugs or alcohol were also significantly more likely to be abused.

The researchers note that abused adults have been found to have higher rates of unemployment and poverty. Sexual abuse is also associated with unwanted pregnancies, multiple sex partners and psychiatric problems.

Overall, 9% of women reported that they had been raped in childhood, 11% reported unwanted sexual activities but no intercourse, 5% said they had been severely beaten by a parent or caretaker one time, and 12% said they had been beaten more than once. Two percent of women reported experiencing all forms of abuse during childhood.

As adults, 17% of the women said they had experienced domestic violence with more than one partner. Eight percent had been raped, and 9% had been sexually assaulted but not raped.

Family violence is not only a social and legal issue, but a health issue as well.

Despite the evidence, health professionals, their institutions of higher learning, and governments have not responded substantively, whereas they have done so to health problems such as poliomyelitis, AIDS and cancer.

The Lancet August 11, 2001;358:434, 450-454

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

I use the four-pillar model of healing in my practice. Health is a compilation of spiritual, nutritional/biochemical, structural and emotional factors. One could have the perfect diet and have balanced body biomechanics and spiritually mature but still be profoundly unhealthy. Emotional trauma tends to short circuit the body's bioenergetic systems causing significant, real and quite frequently major physical changes. About one in three women are abused in their lifetime. Clearly sexual and physical abuse are significant forms of emotional abuse with equally profound affects on one's health. My experience is that the traditional psychotherapeutic model, while clearly well intentioned, is primarily cognitively based and does not seem to effectively address the short-circuiting at a deep enough level. I have four therapists in my office who are an essential part of the healing work that I do. Most of the patients I see have some sort of emotional trauma that contributes to their health problems. They use a wide variety of techniques such as Emotional Freedom Technique, APN and TBM and about a half a dozen other techniques. These techniques are frequently the major reason why most of the people visiting our office are able to regain their health. These therapies while incredibly effective are not very effective if one is not following an optimized eating plan. I am actually in the process of writing a book about much of this work and hope to have it published in April of next year. Related Articles: Past Child Abuse More Common Among Single Moms Childhood Abuse and Neglect Causes Changes to Brain Abused Girls May Become Depressed Adults