Witnessing Community Violence in Youth and Susceptibility to the Common Cold in Adulthood.

Abstract

Objective: The current study investigated the relationship between witnessing community violence in youth and susceptibility to the common cold in adulthood, using Common Cold Project data.

Methods: Two hundred twelve adults (42% female, aged 18 to 55) recalled witnessing community violence in youth (ages 5, 10, 15) retrospectively, completed other demographic and psychosocial measures, and were then subsequently exposed to a virus that causes the common cold. After exposure, if participants displayed both infection and signs of illness, they were diagnosed with the common cold.

Results: Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that witnessing community violence in youth was related to greater susceptibility to the common cold in adulthood [b (SE)=0.75 (0.30), OR=2.11, 95% CI=1.18, 3.83, p =.012)] when controlling for current socioeconomic status, early socioeconomic status, prechallenge serostatus, race/ethnicity, age, and sex. This relationship continued to be significant when adjusting in separate models for (1) BMI and season of viral challenge; (2) current health, health behaviors, and perceived stress; and (3) early physical, social, and safety of neighborhood environments and stressful home settings.

Conclusions: Witnessing community violence in youth may be an important risk factor for susceptibility to the common cold in adulthood.