Children Abused by Parents Face Increased Cancer Risk, Study Finds

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120717121922.htm

Adults who are abused as children are more likely to develop cancer later on in life. Research done by Patricia Morton of Purdue University surveyed 2,101 adult volunteers on various categories of misfortune. Morton then analyzed childhood stressors in adult men and found that cancer risk rose significantly amongst the most stressed individuals. This stress however was not solely due to abuse endured during childhood. Other stressors including poor nutrition, poverty, bullying at school and other factors played a part. The researchers then surveyed participants on how frequently they experienced abusive behavior from their parents. After controlling for lifestyle, economic status, and other outside factors; Morton concluded that child abuse significantly raised cancer rates in adults.

Surprisingly, cancer risk was more pronounced when mothers abused daughters and fathers abused sons. Researchers conjecture that the cause for this gender association was due to the greater social bond between children and parents of the same gender. Children tend to mimic the behaviors of their parents. Daughters were more likely to smoke if theirs mothers also smoked. Sons were more likely to be violent if their father was violent. Unsurprisingly, child abuse not only had a cumulative affect but also a snowballing effect which lead to serious long term negative side effects.

This research is invaluable to society because it helps to explain one of the major causes of cancer. By understanding the problem, it can be fixed. Accumulation of stressors not only leads to cancer but also anti-social behavior, mental illness and even suicide. Several shootings across the country have occurred due to bullying either by parents or peers who were also likely abused. Harshly disciplining children over minor transgressions or even none at all is extremely harmful. It is a vicious cycle in which the abused will later become the abuser.