The association between emotional violence in childhood and the utilization of somatic and psychiatric specialist healthcare in adulthood among Sami and non-Sami population: The SAMINOR 2 questionnaire study

Abstract

Abstract Background: Emotional violence in childhood (EVC) is the most common type of violence in childhood. Due to its subtle and nonverbal nature, researchers have paid less attention to EVC than physical and sexual childhood violence. EVC may be just as detrimental to the developing brain of a child as other forms of childhood violence. Some studies has found that it increases the odds of developing for psychological disorders. Additionally, EVC increases risk factors for stress-related diseases such as chronic disorders and depression. These risk factors include high alcohol consumption, drug and smoke use as well as unssave intercourse. Globally, stress-related diseases are the leading causes of mortality and morbidity, and they impose significant costs on society. Knowledge regarding the independent long-term impact of EVC on adult specialist healthcare utilization is lacking, especially with regard to the Sami population in Norway.This study's primary objective is to investigate the association between EVC and the utilization of specialist healthcare in adulthood in areas with Sami and non-Sami populations.

Method and material: This cross-sectional study used SAMINO 2 data and included 11,600 male and female participants aged 18 to 69 from areas with Sami and non-Sami populations. For all tests, a 5% level of significant was used. First, descriptive statistics such as frequencies and cross tabulations with percentages were used to describe the sample population. The relationship between ethnicity and the utilization of specialist healthcare among adults was examined using cross-tabulation with Pearson´s chi-square.To answer the research question, univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression with odd ratio and 95% confidence interval were performed. Finally, interaction analysis was used to investigate ethnic differences, where interaction between emotional violence in childhood and the ethnicity variable on the specialist healthcare in adulthood was tested.

Results: Seventhy six percentage of the participants considered themselves as Norwegian while 18% considered themselves as Sami. There were no association between ethnicity and the use of specialist healthcare. Participants who reported EVC had 23% and 3.75 times more likely to use somatic SHC (Adjusted OR=1.23, 95% Cl [1.08-1.40]) and psychiatric SHC (Adjusted OR = 3.75, 95% Cl[4.80 – 2.92]) than participant who reported no EVC. EVC found to be significantly associated with the utilization of psychaitric specialist healthcare in adulthood among Norwagian (Crude OR=5.40 ,95% Cl [4.04-7-15]) and Sami (Crude OR=2.25 , 95% Cl [3.88-1.321]).

Conclusions: EVC is associated somatic and psychiatric SHC in adulthood among both Sami and Norwegian populations.