Differential impacts of co-occurring childhood maltreatment and long-term poly-victimization on chronic physical illnesses via inflammation: Do age at exposure and sexual orientation matter?
Summary
The first objective of this research is to understand how three types of victimization – co-occurring childhood maltreatment prior to age 12, co-occurring poly-victimization until age 18, and cumulative co-occurring poly- victimization until young adulthood - differentially impact chronic physical illnesses in adulthood via two biomarkers of immune functioning. The second objective is to determine if the direct and indirect associations in objective 1 are more pronounced among sexual minorities (lesbian, gay, and bisexual or LGB individuals) due to higher risk of victimization in this group and for individuals that experience these victimizations earlier in the life-course. Findings will increase theoretical and practical knowledge of the victimization and chronic physical health associations in LGB and heterosexual individuals and will help delineate the role of early vs. later exposures to victimization on physical health and biological processes.