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Arthritis in adults, socioeconomic factors, and the moderating role of childhood maltreatment: cross-sectional data from the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions

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Abstract

Summary

These data present associations between socioeconomic status (SES), different types of childhood maltreatment (CM) history and family dysfunction, and arthritis in men and women across a wide age range. Arthritis was less likely among those with higher SES, regardless of CM history.

Introduction

CM has been associated with increased risk of adult-onset arthritis; however, little is known about whether socioeconomic status moderates arthritis risk in those with CM history. We investigated arthritis across education, income, and race/ethnicity and whether CM moderated associations between SES and arthritis.

Methods

Data were drawn from Wave 2 (2004–2005) of the nationally representative (USA) National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC, n = 34,563; aged ≥ 20 years). Self-reported CM history included physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, emotional neglect, physical neglect, and exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV). We used descriptive statistics and logistic regression to determine relationships between SES, CM, and arthritis. Interaction terms were used to test if CM moderated relationships between SES and arthritis.

Results

Arthritis prevalence was 21.1% (n = 3093) among men and 30.1% (n = 6167) among women. In unadjusted analyses, women (p ≤ 0.001) and older age (both sexes, p ≤ 0.01) were associated with increased odds of arthritis. All CM types were associated with increased odds of arthritis, except exposure to IPV among women. In sex-stratified, age-adjusted analyses, lower education and income, family dysfunction, being Hispanic or Asian/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and ≥ 1 physical comorbidity were associated with increased odds of arthritis among those with and without CM: trends were similar for both sexes. In age-adjusted two-way interaction terms, CM did not moderate associations between SES and arthritis.

Conclusions

Although CM was associated with arthritis, associations between SES and arthritis were not amplified. Arthritis was less likely among those with higher SES, regardless of CM history.

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Acknowledgments

Sharon L. Brennan-Olsen was supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia Career Development Fellowship (1107510). Tracie O. Afifi is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) New Investigator Award and a CIHR Foundation Scheme Grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine-Western Health, The University of Melbourne, Level 3, WCHRE Building, C/- Sunshine Hospital, 176 Furlong Road, St Albans, Victoria, 3021, Australia

    S. L. Brennan-Olsen, G. Duque & D. Green

  2. Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science (AIMSS), The University of Melbourne and Western Health, St Albans, Victoria, Australia

    S. L. Brennan-Olsen, R. L. Duckham, S. M. Hosking, G. Duque & D. Green

  3. Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

    T. L. Taillieu, S. Turner, J. Bolton & T. O. Afifi

  4. Department of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

    S. Turner, J. Bolton & T. O. Afifi

  5. Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

    J. Bolton

  6. Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    S. E. Quirk

  7. Research Group on Geriatrics and Gerontology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de Caldas, Manizales, Colombia

    F. Gomez

  8. Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia

    R. L. Duckham

  9. IMPACT SRC, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia

    S. M. Hosking

  10. Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    S. M. Hosking

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  1. S. L. Brennan-Olsen
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  2. T. L. Taillieu
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  3. S. Turner
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  4. J. Bolton
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  9. G. Duque
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  11. T. O. Afifi
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Correspondence to S. L. Brennan-Olsen.

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Brennan-Olsen, S.L., Taillieu, T.L., Turner, S. et al. Arthritis in adults, socioeconomic factors, and the moderating role of childhood maltreatment: cross-sectional data from the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Osteoporos Int 30, 363–373 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-018-4671-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-018-4671-x

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