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(August 19, 2008)

Two years less


From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

It’s nothing you want to look back upon, but many people do. As adults, their childhood memories are of being maltreated – from neglect through physical and sexual abuse. 

What would you give not to have those memories?

Researchers analyzed survey data on that question. Their findings are in the American Journal of Public Health. At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Xiangming Fang:

``Individuals who have a normal life expectancy – say, 75 years – would have traded two years of life in full health to be free of their child maltreatment experiences.’’ (10 seconds)

But researchers say full health is less common among adults who’ve been maltreated as children. They’re more likely to have conditions such as heart disease or depression.

Fang says people who suspect child maltreatment should report it -- people who have experienced it should seek treatment.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is as production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: August, 19 2008