The aim of this study was to examine the association of childhood sexual and physical abuse with disability in adulthood, and to assess how several demographic, physical, behavioral, psychosocial, and psychiatric factors may influence this association.

This study used nationally representative cross-sectional data from 7403 people aged≥16 years who participated in the 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey. Information on childhood sexual talk, sexual touching, sexual intercourse, and physical abuse occurring before the age of 16, and disability in activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living in adulthood were collected. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted.

After adjusting for age, sex, and ethnicity, we found a positive association between different types of childhood abuse and adulthood disability: sexual talk (OR 1.54; 95% CI 1.27–1.85); sexual touching (OR 1.82; 95% CI 1.49–2.22); sexual intercourse (OR 2.58; 95% CI 1.75–3.81); physical abuse (OR 2.84; 95% CI 2.20–3.68). Increasing number of types of childhood abuse was associated with increased odds of adulthood disability. The odds of adulthood disability was increased for individuals who experienced all types of childhood abuse versus no childhood abuse (OR 3.59; 95% CI 1.64–7.84). Finally, the association between any childhood abuse and adulthood disability was largely explained by anxiety disorder, number of chronic physical conditions, and loneliness.

Childhood abuse is positively associated with adulthood disability in England. Future longitudinal studies are warranted to understand the potentially complex interplay of factors that may increase risk for disability in individuals who experienced childhood abuse.