Childhood adversities and chronic conditions: examination of mediators, recall bias and age at diagnosis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to (1) identify the influence of childhood socioeconomic status (CSES) on five chronic conditions: asthma, bronchitis, hypothyroid, migraine, and psychiatric disorders in later life; (2) determine the mediating role of childhood abuse (CA) in these associations, and (3) quantify recall bias due to respondent's mental health in these associations.

METHODS: 10,325 men and women from the Tromsø Study were followed for 13 years, and Poisson regression models were used.

RESULTS: Low CSES was associated with a 16-23% higher risk of chronic conditions, and CA was associated with a 16-58% higher risk of chronic conditions (p < 0.05). A minor proportion of the association between CSES and CA (3.98%, p < 0.05); CSES and chronic conditions (5.54-8.71%, p < 0.05); and CA and chronic conditions (9.51-19.52%, p < 0.05), were driven by recall bias due to the respondent's mental health. CA mediated the association between CSES and chronic conditions (9.58-25.06%, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Low CSES and CA are associated with higher risk of chronic conditions in later life. A minor proportion of these associations are driven by recall bias.