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NEW YORK, Jun 27, 2003 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- A new study shows that women who were physically abused as children are more likely to report having poor health than those who didn't experience early abuse.
The research, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, was based on a survey of more than 3,500 women in the state of Washington.
The results also suggested that women who were physically abused or who witnessed violence between their parents were more likely as adults to experience violence in their intimate relationships as well as emotional abuse.
There could be a number of reasons for the link between abuse and poor health, researchers said. They might include lingering physical and mental effects of earlier abuse or behaviors risky to their health.
The study was supported by the Washington State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
Copyright 2003 by United Press International.
