Childhood maltreatment and its associations with multidomain health outcomes and brain structure: A comprehensive analysis of over 150,000 UK Biobank participants

Abstract

Background

Childhood maltreatment, a pervasive public health concern, is linked to lifelong impairments in physical and mental health. Despite its profound implications, research on its associations with multidomain health outcomes and neurobiological mechanisms remains fragmented. We aimed to comprehensively assess the impact of childhood maltreatment on diverse health measures and brain structure using large-scale, multidimensional data.

Methods

In this population-based study, we analyzed data from the UK Biobank to examine the patterns and directions of associations between the severity of childhood maltreatment and 254 health-related measures across multiple domains, using linear mixed-effect models and adjusting for numerous confounders. Participants were included in the study if they had complete data on childhood maltreatment assessments, all covariates, and at least one health measure. The study also investigated the link between childhood maltreatment and brain structure, as well as the mediating role of this link in the association between childhood maltreatment and mental health outcomes.

Results

Childhood maltreatment severity was significantly associated with decreased cognitive performance (Cohen's d = 0.016–0.226), increased unhealthy lifestyle (d = 0.020–0.472), poor physical fitness (d = 0.004–0.400), increased symptoms of poor mental health (d = 0.051–1.197), and adverse biochemical markers (d = 0.014–0.062). Maltreatment severity was correlated with reduced gray matter volume (GMV) in the thalamus, postcentral gyrus, and cerebellum (d = 0.031–0.038). Longitudinal analyses indicated that thalamic GMV reductions mediated associations between maltreatment severity and 22 out of 55 mental health outcomes.

Conclusions

Childhood maltreatment exerts enduring multi-domain health effects, with mental health outcomes demonstrating the highest vulnerability. Structural thalamic alterations partially mediate these relationships, highlighting neurodevelopmental pathways through which early adversity becomes biologically embedded. This work provides a framework for understanding the systemic health impacts of childhood trauma and informing trauma-informed clinical strategies.