The Influence of Childhood Trauma on Multiple Unhealthy Lifestyle Behaviors in Adulthood

Childhood trauma (CT) is associated with unhealthy lifestyle in adulthood. However, an in-depth exploration of how CT relates to multiple unhealthy lifestyle behaviors remains inconclusive. This study included 2968 adults from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety. We examined associations between retrospectively reported CT, its severity, and types with seven unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and a cumulative lifestyle index. Results showed that CT was positively associated with smoking, illicit drug use, social inactivity, sleep deprivation, and excessive weight gain (beta = .040-.98, pFDR < .05); negatively associated with alcohol use (beta = -.042, pFDR = .033), and most strongly associated with cumulative lifestyle index (beta = .141, pFDR < .001). Severe CT history (multiple types or frequencies of trauma) showed the strongest effects. The largest effects with the cumulative lifestyle index were found for physical abuse (beta = .159, pFDR < .001), while other CT subtypes (emotional neglect/abuse, sexual abuse) showed similar effects (beta = .127-.157, pFDR < .001). Associations were partially explained by the presence of depressive/anxiety disorders, lower education, and higher numbers of chronic diseases. Individuals with CT, especially severe forms, show diverse and accumulated unhealthy lifestyle behaviors in adulthood and, thus, may benefit from lifestyle-based interventions.