Childhood adversity linked to missed mammograms in women
Adjusted odds of missing recommended mammograms were 7% higher per additional adverse childhood experience among 47,939 women aged 50 to 74.
An observational study analysed survey data from 47,939 women aged 50 to 74 years. The researchers used Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys from 2020, 2022 and 2024. They defined poor screening adherence as reporting no mammogram in the previous two years.
Overall, 21.5% reported poor adherence. Each additional adverse childhood experience was associated with 7% higher adjusted odds of poor adherence. Sexual abuse had the strongest independent association among the childhood experiences studied. The researchers also simulated changes within a model linking eight types of adversity. In the model, reducing the impact of emotional abuse yielded the greatest projected reduction in the cumulative burden of adversity.
Why it matters
For women in midlife and older age, the authors suggested that screening strategies addressing the lasting effects of emotional abuse might improve uptake among those with high childhood adversity.
Caveats
This observational survey analysis relied on self-reported screening and could not establish cause and effect. The simulated changes were not tested as interventions to improve screening.
- Sexual abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Adverse childhood experiences
- Household substance abuse
- Cumulative ACE score
- Humans
The paper
Translational Psychiatry, 12 Oct 2026, CC BY
