Kyle T Ganson1, Stuart B Murray2, Deborah Mitchison3,4, Misty A W Hawkins5, Harley Layman5, Jennifer Tabler6, Jason M Nagata7. 1. Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. 2. Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA. 3. Translational Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia. 4. Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. 5. Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA. 6. Department of Criminal Justice and Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA. 7. Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with negative health outcomes, yet their associations with performance-enhancing substance (PES) use are unclear. This study aimed to determine whether ACEs predict greater use of legal and illegal PES in young adults. METHODS: We analyzed data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (n = 14,322), Waves I (1994-1995) and III (2001-2002). ACEs included childhood sexual abuse, physical abuse, two neglect indicators, and cumulative ACEs. Legal (e.g. creatine monohydrate) and illegal (e.g. non-prescription anabolic-androgenic steroids; AAS) PES use was assessed. RESULTS: Sexual abuse had the greatest effect and predicted higher odds of legal PES use (men: adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-2.59; women: AOR 3.74, 95% CI 1.63-8.59) and AAS use (men: AOR 8.89, 95% CI 5.37-14.72; women: AOR 5.73, 95% CI 2.31-14.18). Among men, a history of physical abuse (AOR 3.04, 95% CI 2.05-4.52), being left alone by a parent/guardian (AOR 2.33, 95% CI 1.50-3.60), and basic needs not being met (AOR 3.47, 95% CI 2.30-5.23) predicted higher odds of AAS use. Among women, basic needs not being met (AOR 2.94, 95% CI 1.43-6.04) predicted higher odds of AAS use. Among both men and women, greater number of cumulative ACEs predicted higher odds of both legal and illegal PES use. CONCLUSIONS: ACEs predict greater PES use among young adults. Clinicians should monitor for PES use among those who have experienced ACEs and provide psychoeducation on the adverse effects associated with PES use.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with negative health outcomes, yet their associations with performance-enhancing substance (PES) use are unclear. This study aimed to determine whether ACEs predict greater use of legal and illegal PES in young adults. METHODS: We analyzed data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (n = 14,322), Waves I (1994-1995) and III (2001-2002). ACEs included childhood sexual abuse, physical abuse, two neglect indicators, and cumulative ACEs. Legal (e.g. creatine monohydrate) and illegal (e.g. non-prescription anabolic-androgenic steroids; AAS) PES use was assessed. RESULTS:Sexual abuse had the greatest effect and predicted higher odds of legal PES use (men: adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-2.59; women: AOR 3.74, 95% CI 1.63-8.59) and AAS use (men: AOR 8.89, 95% CI 5.37-14.72; women: AOR 5.73, 95% CI 2.31-14.18). Among men, a history of physical abuse (AOR 3.04, 95% CI 2.05-4.52), being left alone by a parent/guardian (AOR 2.33, 95% CI 1.50-3.60), and basic needs not being met (AOR 3.47, 95% CI 2.30-5.23) predicted higher odds of AAS use. Among women, basic needs not being met (AOR 2.94, 95% CI 1.43-6.04) predicted higher odds of AAS use. Among both men and women, greater number of cumulative ACEs predicted higher odds of both legal and illegal PES use. CONCLUSIONS: ACEs predict greater PES use among young adults. Clinicians should monitor for PES use among those who have experienced ACEs and provide psychoeducation on the adverse effects associated with PES use.
Entities:
Keywords:
Adverse childhood experiences; anabolic steroids; creatine monohydrate; sexual abuse; young adults