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Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders and Disasters

Examining the relationship between childhood traumatic events and adult mental health concerns among female entertainment workers in Cambodia

(PS11-B45) Examining the Relationship Between Childhood Traumatic Events and Adult Mental Health Concerns Among Female Entertainment Workers in Cambodia

Saturday, November 18, 2023
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM PST
Location: Regency Ballroom, Level 7
Female sex workers have been identified as an at risk population for poor mental and physical health. Previous research on the mental health of female sex workers, or female entertainment workers (FEWs) in Cambodia has demonstrated a high degree of childhood trauma, mental health distress, and substance use. The current study examines the relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), current mental health distress, and substance use in a sample of 160 Cambodian FEWs (Mean age = 33.02, SD = 4.90). An average of 3.9 of 10 adverse childhood events were endorsed. In addition to being asked about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), participants completed the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST), which assesses for harmful and risky substance use across nine categories of substances. A composite variable combining problematic substance use scores across these substances was used as an assessment of current problematic substance use. Significant correlations emerged among total ACEs endorsed and total PCL-5 score (r(158) = 0.42**, p< 0.001), total GAD-7 score (r(158) = 0.39**, p< 0.001), PHQ-9 score (r(158) = 0.42**, p< 0.001), and ASSIST composite scores (r(154) = 0.25*, p< 0.01). Additionally, many significant relationships emerged between individual ACEs and mental health scores. For GAD-7 scores, the strongest relationships that emerged were with childhood parental or caregiver mental health problem (r(158) = 0.40**, p< 0.001) and witnessed domestic violence (r(158) = 0.32**, p< 0.001). For PHQ-9 scores, the strongest relationships that emerged were also with childhood parental or caregiver mental health problem (r(158) = 0.42**, p< 0.001) and witnessed domestic violence (r(158) = 0.38**, p< 0.001). For PCL-5 scores, the strongest relationships that emerged were with childhood parental or caregiver mental health problem (r(158) = 0.40**, p< 0.001) and physical abuse (r(158) = 0.32**, p< 0.001). For ASSIST composite scores, the strongest relationships that emerged were with childhood sexual abuse (r(154) = 0.28**, p< 0.001) and witnessed domestic violence (r(154) = 0.26**, p< 0.001). Generally, greater attention has been paid to ACEs such as childhood physical assault and childhood  sexual assault. It is of interest that childhood caregiver mental and witnessing domestic violence were among the strongest correlates with adult anxiety, depression, PTSD symptoms, and substance use in this sample. Findings suggest that qualifying criterion A trauma types may need to be reconsidered when assessing cross-cultural populations.