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Child maltreatment and adult cigarette smoking: a long-term developmental model
James Topitzes1, Joshua P Mersky, Arthur J Reynolds
1University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Enderis 1057, PO Box 786, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA. topitzes@uwm.edu
Objective:
To examine: (a) child maltreatment's association with young adult daily cigarette smoking, (b) variations in this association by gender, and (c) mediators of this association.
Methods:
For all study participants (N = 1,125, 94% African American), data from multiple sources (e.g., child welfare records) were collected prospectively at child, adolescent, and young adult time points. Authors enlisted multivariate probit regression for objectives a and b versus exploratory and confirmatory mediation strategies for objective c.
Results:
Maltreatment was significantly associated with daily cigarette smoking. Although not moderated by gender, this relation was fully mediated by adolescent indicators of family support/stability, social adjustment, and cognitive/school performance along with young adult indicators of educational attainment, life satisfaction, substance abuse, and criminality.
Conclusions:
Maltreatment places low-income, minority children at risk for daily cigarette smoking and other deleterious young adult health outcomes. Recommended treatment targets include family support/stability, emotion regulation, social skills, and cognitive/academic functioning.
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