Stress As a Mediator of the Relationship Between Youth Trauma and Physical Health Among Behavioral Health Service-Seeking Adults

Introduction:

Exposure to traumatic contexts in childhood and adolescence has been shown to negatively affect health. Less is known, however, about how youth exposure to trauma is related to adulthood stress and physical health. The purpose of this study was to test a mediation model whereby perceived stress mediated the effects of youth trauma on physical health among behavioral health service-seeking adults. 

Methods:

Data were collected as part of a baseline evaluation of an innovative, urban neighborhood community-based prevention program for adults recovering from substance abuse. Cross-sectional data were collected on demographic characteristics including race/ethnicity, income, age, gender, and education. Data were also collected on youth trauma (Specific Childhood and Lifetime Trauma), perceived stress during the last month (Perceived Stress Scale), and current physical health (Brief Symptom Inventory­–18, Somatization subscale).

Results:

A structural equation modeling approach, controlling for demographic characteristics, revealed that perceived stress mediated the relationship between youth trauma exposure and current physical health among adults seeking behavioral health services. More specifically, the mediation model demonstrated an indirect-only mediation effect, whereby a significant mediated effect existed, but there was no direct effect of youth trauma on adulthood physical health. That is, the effect of youth trauma on adulthood physical health was completely mediated by adult perceived stress. 

Conclusion:

Among this service-seeking adult population, perceived stress completely mediated the effect of youth trauma on current physical health. Behavioral health interventions seeking to improve physical health may consider strategies to reduce perceived stress among adults exposed to youth trauma.