The purposes of this study were to determine the prevalence of
childhood physical and sexual abuse among 206 low-income single
mothers and to examine the relationship of childhood abuse to current
maternal depressive symptoms. Severe physical abuse was reported by 36
percent of the women. The prevalence of sexual abuse was 22 percent;
more than one-half of these women were violently abused. High
depressive symptoms were reported by 51 percent of the mothers. Both
severe physical abuse and sexual abuse in childhood were associated
with high depressive symptoms. Women who experienced violent sexual
abuse were almost four and one-half times more likely to report high
depressive symptoms, compared to the women who were not sexually
abused. These findings provide further evidence that childhood abuse
may have long-term consequences for women's mental health.