The study found that lesbians who experienced childhood sexual abuse (CSA) were at heightened risk of lifetime alcohol abuse and those who experienced childhood physical abuse (CPA) were at heightened risk of lifetime psychological distress relative to lesbians without abuse histories. Findings also support research indicating that having a parent with alcohol problems is a strong predictor of adverse mental health outcomes (Dube et al., 2002: Widon, Ireland, and Glynn, 1995). Parental strictness also predicted lifetime psychological distress but was small compared with the influence of CPA on psychological distress. Race, age, and education were each directly associated with lifetime psychological distress. White participants, younger participants, and those with lower levels of education were at greater risk. Data were collected in 2000-2001 using the Chicago Health and Life Experiences of Women Study (CHLEW). The participants represented a wide age range, 18-83 years, and over half of them were racial/ethnic minority women. Tables, figure, references