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Correlates of Sexual Abuse and Smoking Among French Adults

NCJ Number
214893
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 30 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2006 Pages: 709-723
Author(s)
Gary King; Philippe Guilbert; D. Gant Ward; Pierre Arwidson; Farzad Noubary
Date Published
June 2006
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study examined the links between sexual abuse and the initiation and cessation of cigarette smoking as well as current cigarette smoking among a random sample of 12,256 adults (18-75 years old) living in France.
Abstract
The authors advise that it is critical to have an early identification and treatment of sexually abused persons, so as to address the increased risk of their starting and continuing cigarette smoking. Nearly 46 percent of those in the sample who had been sexually abused were current smokers, compared to 34 percent of those who had not been sexually abused. Among smokers, those who had been sexually abused consumed more cigarettes per day than nonabused individuals (14.5 compared to 12.4). For respondents who were sexually abused before age 18, there was an increased risk of becoming a smoker, compared to the nonabused group. Sexual abuse was not a significant predictor of current smoking among those who began smoking after the first incident of sexual abuse. Respondents who had not been sexually abused were 1.8 times more likely to quit smoking than people who began smoking after they were sexually abused. The sample was interviewed by telephone in order to obtain information on demographic variables, health practices and beliefs, and health status. Some of the questions pertained to having been sexually abused and cigarette smoking. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. 1 figure, 3 tables, and 45 references