Examining the Impact of Childhood Adverse Experiences on Adulthood Health Related Quality of Life
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Abstract
The Purpose of this study was to investigate how traumatic experiences in childhood impact adulthood Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) among women experiencing homelessness. HRQoL was determined to be an important variable for this study as it allows an individual to report subjective well-being related to their physical, mental, and social domains of life. Assessing the well-being of this population is important for understanding the barriers to improving their quality of life. This study sought to establish a relationship between early traumatic experiences and adult HRQoL as previously reported among general populations. It was unique in examining these variables among a sample of homeless women, in addition to utilizing a measure of trauma that included several adverse experiences that have not been previously examined. Understanding this relationship is vital for informing professionals providing care to individuals currently experiencing homelessness. Forty-eight women who were participating in a transitional housing program in an urban homeless shelter completed assessments to measure their trauma experiences, HRQoL, and symptomatology severity. Results indicate that neither the number of endorsed early life traumas nor the self-reported impact of traumas are associated with HRQoL. The results suggest that current severity of symptomatology is highly associated with general perception of HRQoL. In addition, specific forms of trauma are significantly correlated with aspects of HRQoL. Findings suggest that experiencing certain forms of early life trauma may be associated with a negative relationship among aspects of adulthood well-being. Results are discussed related to findings and their contribution to informing services provided to homeless individuals. Areas for future research and possible explanations for non-significant associations are discussed.
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Overview -- Review of the literature -- Methodology -- Results -- Discussion -- Appendix
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M.A.