Childhood aggression is now being linked to poor health as an adult according to a Monday November 14th report by the Los Angeles Times. The Canadian Medical Association Journal released a study linking aggressive childhood behavior to numerous health related issues for both men and women from poor lifestyle choices to diabetes.
Nearly 4,000 people were studied during the periods beginning between 1976 to 1978 all the way to 1992 to 2006. The researchers found that childhood aggressions was directly linked to the following: 8.1 percent increase in medical visits, a 10.7 percent increase in physical injuries, a 44.2 percent increase in health conditions like obesity, alcohol dependency and type 2 diabetes. Children who were more aggressive also went to the emergency room 12.4 percent more times and had a 6.2 percent higher rate in visits to medical specialists.
There was also conflicting results for women. Females between the ages of 18 to 23 had a higher amount of visits to a gynecologist. But, that number decreased once they reached the ages of 29 to 34. One possible theory for these numbers could be due to how sexually active these women were.
In addition to aggression, researchers found that children who are socially withdrawn, shy or of lower socioeconomic status had poor dental health and experienced more trips to the dentist. There was also a correlation for the same children to have more risky behavior and stress when becoming an adult.
Education was another factor in one’s health as an adult. Those with less education, or very little, had a higher rate of visits to the dentist, emergency room, and hospital admissions. They also experienced more physical injuries. The researchers concluded that improving the education of aggressive children and providing healthy activities for them could lead to better health when they become adults.