Abused children more likely to develop ulcers as adults, researchers say

By Staff Writer

A recent study reveals that children who are victims of physical abuse may be at risk of developing ulcers later in life.

Researchers from the University of Toronto examined data from a community sample of 13,069 adults - more than 1,000 of whom reported being physically abused by someone close to them before they turned 18 years old. Participants who were abused as children were twice as likely to develop a peptic ulcer during adulthood than those who were not abused.

When the team adjusted their results to include other factors such as obesity, smoking and alcohol use, abuse victims still had 68 percent higher odds of developing ulcers than those who were not abused as children. The study appears in the online version of the Journal of Interpersonal Violence.

The report's authors said that these findings highlight the need to screen adults who have experienced childhood trauma and to strengthen efforts to prevent childhood abuse.

Children who have experienced domestic violence or who have been bullied in school may benefit from wilderness therapy programs.