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Health-related quality of life after child maltreatment in institutions: Results from a representative
Anna Maier1, Elisa König1, Ulrike Hoffmann1
1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Hospital, Steinhövelstr. 5, 89075 Ulm, Germany.
Insights
Child maltreatment (CM) in institutions significantly impacts adult health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This study highlights the increased likelihood of HRQOL impairments following institutional CM, emphasizing the need for safeguarding measures.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Child maltreatment (CM) is a significant public health issue with severe consequences, including impaired health-related quality of life (HRQOL).
- Research on institutional CM is limited, despite increasing reports in settings like schools, medical facilities, and sports clubs in Germany.
- Understanding the long-term effects of institutional CM is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between child maltreatment (CM) experienced in various institutions and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in adulthood.
- To quantify the impact of institutional CM on HRQOL in a representative German population sample.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on a representative sample of 2516 individuals in Germany.
- Data on socioeconomic status, HRQOL, and experiences of CM in school, medical, and educational institutions were collected.
- Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between institutional CM and HRQOL impairments.
Main Results:
- Over a third of participants (33.14%) reported experiencing child maltreatment (CM) in institutions.
- Nearly half of the participants (47.46%) reported impaired health-related quality of life (HRQOL).
- Experiencing CM in medical institutions was associated with a 2.2-3.9-fold increase in HRQOL impairments, while CM in schools and educational institutions showed 1.6-2.0-fold and 2.1-2.7-fold increases, respectively.
Conclusions:
- Child maltreatment (CM) within institutional settings is significantly linked to poorer health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in adulthood in Germany.
- Institutions must recognize their role in the risk of CM and implement robust safeguarding measures.
- Further research and preventative strategies are needed to address the long-term consequences of institutional CM.
Background:
Child maltreatment (CM) is a major public health problem associated with enormous consequences, including impaired health-related quality of life (HRQOL). While the consequences of CM that occurs in the family context have been studied numerous times, studies on the consequences of institutional CM are lacking. This is of particular importance because cases of CM in churches, sport clubs and school, educational and medical settings have become increasingly apparent in Germany.
Objective:
Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the association of CM in various institutions with HRQOL in adulthood.
Participants And Setting:
In a cross-sectional observational approach, a representative sample of the German population (N = 2516) was identified via a random-route.
Methods:
Socioeconomic information, HRQOL and CM experiences in school, medical and educational institutions were obtained and statistically evaluated.
Results:
Of the 2516 participants, 834 (33.14 %) reported CM in institutions and 1194 (47.46 %) reported impaired HRQOL. Participants who reported CM in institutions were more likely to have HRQOL impairments than participants who had been in the respective institution in childhood but had not reported having experienced CM there. In the case of CM in medical institutions, HRQOL impairments increased 2.2-3.9-fold. If CM in school was reported, HRQOL impairments increased 1.6-2.0-fold. If CM in educational institutions was reported, HRQOL impairments increased 2.1-2.7-fold.
Conclusions:
CM in institutions is associated with an increased likelihood of HRQOL impairments in Germany. Institutions need to be aware of the risk of CM and safeguarding measures should be implemented.
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