OBJECTIVE: To examine possible relations between child sexual or
physical abuse and adult alcoholism. METHOD: Studies reviewed included
prospective studies, retrospective studies on the prevalence of child
sexual or physical abuse in alcoholics and nonalcoholics, and
retrospective studies in mental health clients and in population
samples comparing the prevalence of alcohol use disorders in abused
and nonabused subjects. RESULTS: Prospective studies do not indicate a
significant association between child sexual or physical abuse and
alcoholism. In contrast, studies among alcoholic women do suggest a
relationship. Also, a significantly higher prevalence of alcohol
problems in abused women than in nonabused women is found in
population samples. The results of studies among mental health clients
are inconclusive. In addition, several methodological limitations
should be taken into consideration when evaluating results of the
available studies. CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence is insufficient to
draw conclusions about relationships between child sexual or physical
abuse and alcoholism among men. Among females, however, there is a
higher likelihood of alcohol problems if they were sexually or
physically abused as children.