Complete Health Indicator Report of Child emotional abuse, self-reported
Definition
Self-reported child emotional abuse data is retrospective data collected from adults via the Utah BRFSS Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Module and youth via the Utah YRBS tier 2 ACEs and Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) questionnaire. Adult prevalence is looking retrospectively at their whole childhood (<18), while youth prevalence only looks back at the previous 12 months.Numerator
The number of youth or adults who indicated at least one instance of emotional abuse on the YRBS (2021) or BRFSS (2013, 2016, 2018, 2020).Denominator
The total number of youth or adults who provided any response to the emotional abuse question on the YRBS (2021) or BRFSS (2013, 2016, 2018, 2020).Data Interpretation Issues
BRFSS (Adults) - How often did a parent or adult in your home ever swear at you, insult you, or put you down? Was it . . . (Possible answers: Never, Once, More than once; question refers to the time period before the respondent was 18 years of age) YRBS (Youth) - During the past 12 months, how many times has a parent or other adult in your home sworn at you, insulted you, or put you down? (Possible answers: 0, 1, 2 or 3, 4 or 5, or 6+) Response options from both surveys were dichotomized into whether or not emotional abuse occurred at all during the referenced time frame. The responses are subjective, however, the subjective reality is what seems to matter when considering the potential for long-term negative impacts.Why Is This Important?
All types of child abuse represent a threat to public health. Child emotional abuse is one of eight commonly tracked adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and research into child abuse and neglect (CAN) and ACEs has consistently shown the potential for many negative long-term impacts on health, opportunity, and well-being. Tracking child abuse prevalence is a complicated task and some of the best data available are self-reported retrospective data which gives a more complete view of prevalence over child protective services or hospital data.Healthy People Objective IVP-38:
Reduce nonfatal child maltreatmentU.S. target: 8.5 maltreatment victims per 1,000 children
How Do We Compare With the U.S.?
When comparing BRFSS data, the prevalence of emotional child abuse in Utah is higher than nationally (38.3% vs 34.4%, both ~1 in 3). National prevalence comes from a 2018 Merrick, et al. study that included 2011-2014 BRFSS data from 23 states, while Utah prevalence is from the ACEs Module included in the Utah BRFSS in 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2020. Source: Merrick, M.T., Ford, D.C., Ports, K. A., Guinn, A. S. (2018). Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences From the 2011-2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 23 States. JAMA Pediatrics, 172(11), 1038-1044.Evidence-based Practices
Promote safe stable nurturing relationships and environments for all children by: *Strengthen economic support for families *Strengthen social norms to connect with and support parents and youth *Enhance parenting skills to promote healthy child development *Promote quality care and education early in life *Intervene to lessen harm and prevent future riskGraphical Data Views
Self-reported child emotional abuse prevalence (YRBS/youth and age-adjusted BRFSS/adults) by sex and data source, Utah, 2021 (YRBS) and 2013, 2016, 2018, 2020 (BRFSS)
Female adults indicated a significantly higher prevalence of emotional abuse during their childhood than male adults (both ~1 in 3). Among youth, females also indicated a significantly higher prevalence of emotional abuse in the last 12 months than males (~1 in 2 vs ~1 in 3).
Males vs. Females | Adults/youth | Percentage | Lower Limit | Upper Limit | Note | Numer- ator | Denom- inator |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Record Count: 6 | |||||||
Male | Adults | 37.6 | 36.4 | 38.7 | 4,183 | ||
Male | Youth | 37.3 | 34.2 | 40.5 | 702 | ||
Female | Adults | 39.2 | 38.0 | 40.3 | significantly higher than the adult male prevalence | 4,695 | |
Female | Youth | 46.8 | 42.6 | 51.1 | significantly higher than the adult male prevalence | 779 | |
Total | Adults | 38.3 | 37.5 | 39.2 | 8,882 | ||
Total | Youth | 42.0 | 39.0 | 45.1 | 1,492 |
Data Notes
Adult/BRFSS and youth/YRBS emotional abuse data are each collected with different questions that include different time frames. The emotional abuse question utilized in the YRBS has only been asked one time in 2021, while the BRFSS question has been asked in 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2020.Self-reported child emotional abuse prevalence (YRBS/youth and BRFSS/adults) by grade/age-group, Utah, 2021 (YRBS) and 2013, 2016, 2018, 2020 (BRFSS)
11th-grade youth respondents indicated the highest prevalence of emotional abuse in the last 12 months (~1 in 2). Adults 18-34 and 35-49 indicated a significantly higher prevalence of emotional abuse during their childhood than the overall state adult prevalence (~1 in 2 and 1 in 3 vs ~1 in 3).
Percentage | Lower Limit | Upper Limit | Note | Numer- ator | Denom- inator | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Record Count: 8 | ||||||
9th graders | 42.3 | 36.2 | 48.6 | 483 | ||
10th graders | 44.8 | 39.4 | 50.3 | 487 | ||
11th graders | 45.0 | 38.6 | 51.6 | 302 | ||
12th graders | 34.8 | 28.8 | 41.4 | 205 | ||
Ages 18-34 | 42.9 | 41.3 | 44.6 | significantly higher than the state prevalence | 2,403 | |
Ages 35-49 | 41.5 | 39.9 | 43.1 | significantly higher than the state prevalence | 2,546 | |
Ages 50-64 | 37.2 | 35.5 | 38.8 | 2,198 | ||
Ages 65+ | 25.9 | 24.5 | 27.3 | 1,735 |
Data Notes
Adult/BRFSS and youth/YRBS emotional abuse data are each collected with different questions that include different time frames. The emotional abuse question utilized in the YRBS has only been asked one time in 2021, while the BRFSS question has been asked in 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2020.Self-reported child emotional abuse prevalence (BRFSS, age-adjusted) by race/ethnicity, Utah, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2020
Adults who did not specify a race or ethnicity had a significantly higher prevalence of emotional abuse during their childhood than all races and ethnicities together (~1 in 2 vs ~1 in 3), while Asian (non-Hispanic) adults had a significantly lower prevalence (both ~1 in 3).
Race/ethnicity group | Percentage | Lower Limit | Upper Limit | Note | Numer- ator | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Record Count: 9 | ||||||
Hispanic/Latino | 36.1 | 33.3 | 39.1 | 657 | ||
Two or more races | 39.1 | 30.6 | 48.8 | 79 | ||
American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic/Latino | 45.4 | 37.3 | 53.8 | 118 | ||
Asian, non-Hispanic/Latino | 30.7 | 24.4 | 37.9 | significantly lower than the state prevalence | 85 | |
Black/African American, non-Hispanic/Latino | 37.7 | 27.6 | 49.0 | 69 | ||
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic/Latino | 31.0 | 21.9 | 41.8 | 45 | ||
White, non-Hispanic/Latino | 38.7 | 37.8 | 39.5 | 7,746 | ||
Unknown | 50.2 | 40.6 | 59.7 | significantly higher than the state prevalence | 83 | |
All races/ethnicities | 38.3 | 37.5 | 39.2 | 8,882 |
Data Notes
Analysis by race and ethnicity only utilizes age-adjusted adult data collected in the 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2020 BRFSS and not youth/YRBS data.Self-reported child emotional abuse prevalence (BRFSS, age-adjusted) by sexual orientation, Utah, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2020
Adults who indicated a sexual orientation other than heterosexual (homosexual, bisexual, or other) had a significantly higher prevalence of emotional abuse during their childhood than the overall state prevalence (~1 in 2 vs ~1 in 3).
Percentage | Lower Limit | Upper Limit | Note | Numer- ator | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Record Count: 2 | ||||||
Heterosexual | 37.8 | 37.0 | 38.7 | 8,179 | ||
Other | 44.9 | 41.1 | 48.8 | significantly higher than the state prevalence | 575 |
Data Notes
Analysis by sexual orientation only utilizes age-adjusted adult data collected in the 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2020 BRFSS and not youth/YRBS data.Self-reported child emotional abuse prevalence (BRFSS, age-adjusted) by disability type, Utah, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2020
Adults who indicated any type of disability (cognitive, mobility, self-care, independent living, difficulty seeing/blind, or difficulty hearing/deaf) all had a significantly higher prevalence of emotional abuse during their childhood than adults with no disability, and significantly higher than the overall state prevalence (all ~1 in 2 vs ~1 in 3).
Disability type | Percentage | Lower Limit | Upper Limit | Note | Numer- ator | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Record Count: 7 | ||||||
Cognitive disability | 57.7 | 55.0 | 60.3 | significantly higher than the state prevalence | 1,349 | |
Mobility disability | 48.7 | 44.6 | 52.9 | significantly higher than the state prevalence | 1,145 | |
Self-care disability | 53.8 | 45.8 | 61.6 | significantly higher than the state prevalence | 313 | |
Independent living disability | 58.7 | 54.9 | 62.5 | significantly higher than the state prevalence | 699 | |
Difficulty seeing or blind | 48.4 | 43.0 | 53.9 | significantly higher than the state prevalence | 366 | |
Difficulty hearing or deaf | 51.5 | 46.0 | 56.9 | significantly higher than the state prevalence | 509 | |
No disability | 36.5 | 35.4 | 37.5 | 4,864 |
Data Notes
Analysis by disability type only utilizes age-adjusted adult data collected in the 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2020 BRFSS and not youth/YRBS data.Self-reported child emotional abuse prevalence (BRFSS, age-adjusted) by education, Utah, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2020
There was no significant difference in the prevalence of emotional abuse during childhood when comparing different levels of adult educational attainment (all ~1 in 3).
Education level | Percentage | Lower Limit | Upper Limit | Numer- ator | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Record Count: 5 | ||||||
Less than high school | 35.8 | 32.2 | 39.5 | 362 | ||
H.S. grad or G.E.D. | 38.3 | 36.8 | 40.0 | 2,192 | ||
Some post high school | 39.6 | 38.2 | 41.0 | 3,041 | ||
College graduate | 37.1 | 35.7 | 38.6 | 3,278 | ||
Total | 38.3 | 37.5 | 39.2 | 8,882 |
Data Notes
Analysis by education only utilizes age-adjusted adult data collected in the 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2020 BRFSS and not youth/YRBS data.Self-reported child emotional abuse prevalence (BRFSS, age-adjusted) by income, Utah, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2020
Adults who indicated a household income of <$25,000 a year had a significantly higher prevalence of emotional abuse during their childhood than the overall state prevalence (~1 in 2 vs ~1 in 3).
Income category | Percentage | Lower Limit | Upper Limit | Note | Numer- ator | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Record Count: 5 | ||||||
<$25,000 | 42.9 | 40.6 | 45.3 | significantly higher than the state prevalence | 1,414 | |
$25,000-$49,999 | 37.9 | 35.9 | 39.8 | 1,712 | ||
$50,000-$74,999 | 39.7 | 37.6 | 41.8 | 1,472 | ||
$75,000+ | 38.3 | 36.9 | 39.8 | 3,235 | ||
Total | 38.3 | 37.5 | 39.2 | 8,882 |
Data Notes
Analysis by income only utilizes age-adjusted adult data collected in the 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2020 BRFSS and not youth/YRBS data.Self-reported child emotional abuse prevalence (BRFSS, age-adjusted) by local health district, Utah, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2020
Adults in Salt Lake County had a significantly higher prevalence of emotional abuse during their childhood than the overall state prevalence (both ~1 in 3). Adults in Wasatch County had a significantly lower prevalence than the state (~1 in 4 vs ~1 in 3).
Local health district | Percentage | Lower Limit | Upper Limit | Note | Numer- ator | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Record Count: 14 | ||||||
Bear River | 38.6 | 35.6 | 41.7 | 553 | ||
Central | 34.9 | 31.0 | 38.9 | 447 | ||
Davis County | 36.7 | 34.3 | 39.1 | 844 | ||
Salt Lake County | 40.2 | 38.8 | 41.8 | significantly higher than the state | 2,627 | |
San Juan | 34.0 | 26.9 | 41.9 | 105 | ||
Southeast | 36.5 | 31.6 | 41.6 | 301 | ||
Southwest | 36.4 | 33.4 | 39.5 | 550 | ||
Summit | 33.6 | 28.9 | 38.7 | 204 | ||
Tooele | 42.5 | 38.2 | 47.0 | 410 | ||
TriCounty | 35.8 | 32.4 | 39.4 | 453 | ||
Utah County | 36.9 | 35.0 | 38.9 | 1,332 | ||
Wasatch | 28.1 | 23.1 | 33.6 | significantly lower than the state | 205 | |
Weber-Morgan | 40.8 | 38.1 | 43.5 | 789 | ||
State of Utah | 38.3 | 37.5 | 39.2 | 8,882 |
Data Notes
Analysis by geography only utilizes age-adjusted adult data collected in the 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2020 BRFSS and not youth/YRBS data.Self-reported child emotional abuse prevalence (BRFSS, age-adjusted) by small area, Utah, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2020
Adults in the Utah Small Areas of Roy/Hooper, Centerville, Salt Lake City (Downtown) V2, South Salt Lake, Taylorsville (West), West Jordan (Northeast) V2, Daybreak, Riverton/Bluffdale, and Tooele County (Other) had a significantly higher prevalence of emotional abuse during their childhood than the overall state prevalence (~1 in 2 vs ~1 in 3). Adults in the Utah Small Areas of North Logan, Woods Cross/West Bountiful, Bountiful, West Valley (West) V2, South Jordan V2, Sandy (Northeast), Provo (East City Center), Summit County (East), Wasatch County, Nephi/Mona, and Hurricane/La Verkin had a significantly lower prevalence of emotional abuse during their childhood than the overall state prevalence (~1 in 3-5 vs ~1 in 3).
Utah Small Areas | Percentage | Lower Limit | Upper Limit | Note | Numer- ator | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Record Count: 100 | ||||||
Brigham City | 46.9 | 38.0 | 56.1 | 79 | ||
Box Elder Co (Other) V2 | 43.7 | 32.8 | 55.3 | 46 | ||
Tremonton | 35.8 | 26.4 | 46.4 | 43 | ||
Logan V2 | 41.4 | 35.9 | 47.2 | 172 | ||
North Logan | 25.0 | 18.3 | 33.1 | significantly lower than the state | 61 | |
Cache (Other)/Rich (All) V2 | 35.9 | 28.6 | 43.9 | 79 | ||
Hyrum | 28.7 | 18.9 | 40.9 | 16 | ||
Smithfield | 40.4 | 29.7 | 52.1 | 41 | ||
Ben Lomond | 39.1 | 33.7 | 44.8 | 166 | ||
Weber County (East) | 33.9 | 27.6 | 40.9 | 110 | ||
Morgan County | 32.9 | 23.0 | 44.6 | 29 | ||
Ogden (Downtown) | 42.8 | 36.1 | 49.8 | 117 | ||
South Ogden | 42.5 | 35.4 | 49.9 | 118 | ||
Roy/Hooper | 46.4 | 40.4 | 52.4 | significantly higher than the state | 146 | |
Riverdale | 39.6 | 32.0 | 47.8 | 83 | ||
Clearfield Area/Hooper | 37.1 | 31.7 | 42.8 | 145 | ||
Layton/South Weber | 41.3 | 36.4 | 46.3 | 227 | ||
Kaysville/Fruit Heights | 35.6 | 29.0 | 42.9 | 93 | ||
Syracuse | 37.1 | 29.3 | 45.6 | 70 | ||
Centerville | 49.3 | 39.1 | 59.6 | significantly higher than the state | 50 | |
Farmington | 43.2 | 33.9 | 53.0 | 44 | ||
North Salt Lake | 29.5 | 21.6 | 39.0 | 39 | ||
Woods Cross/West Bountiful | 27.8 | 19.4 | 38.1 | significantly lower than the state | 31 | |
Bountiful | 31.2 | 25.7 | 37.2 | significantly lower than the state | 125 | |
SLC (Rose Park) | 37.7 | 29.7 | 46.4 | 64 | ||
SLC (Avenues) | 38.5 | 29.6 | 48.3 | 70 | ||
SLC (Foothill/East Bench) | 36.0 | 27.1 | 46.0 | 62 | ||
Magna | 41.6 | 32.4 | 51.4 | 52 | ||
SLC (Glendale) V2 | 34.0 | 24.8 | 44.6 | 39 | ||
West Valley (Center) | 42.3 | 34.6 | 50.2 | 104 | ||
West Valley (West) V2 | 29.7 | 22.6 | 38.0 | significantly lower than the state | 57 | |
West Valley (East) V2 | 44.5 | 37.2 | 52.1 | 116 | ||
SLC (Downtown) V2 | 50.6 | 42.3 | 58.8 | significantly higher than the state | 108 | |
SLC (Southeast Liberty) | 35.8 | 26.9 | 45.8 | 58 | ||
South Salt Lake | 49.6 | 39.5 | 59.7 | significantly higher than the state | 79 | |
SLC (Sugar House) | 44.8 | 36.4 | 53.5 | 90 | ||
Millcreek (South) | 34.4 | 24.9 | 45.3 | 55 | ||
Millcreek (East) | 40.7 | 31.4 | 50.7 | 60 | ||
Holladay V2 | 46.3 | 37.4 | 55.5 | 61 | ||
Cottonwood | 34.0 | 27.2 | 41.4 | 99 | ||
Kearns V2 | 46.1 | 37.9 | 54.5 | 97 | ||
Taylorsville (E)/Murray (W) | 44.9 | 37.1 | 53.1 | 93 | ||
Taylorsville (West) | 47.4 | 39.7 | 55.2 | significantly higher than the state | 93 | |
Murray | 42.3 | 34.3 | 50.7 | 91 | ||
Midvale | 43.8 | 34.8 | 53.2 | 67 | ||
West Jordan (Northeast) V2 | 47.1 | 38.4 | 56.0 | significantly higher than the state | 79 | |
West Jordan (Southeast) | 38.8 | 31.7 | 46.5 | 85 | ||
West Jordan (W)/Copperton | 41.8 | 34.5 | 49.4 | 95 | ||
South Jordan V2 | 29.9 | 24.0 | 36.6 | significantly lower than the state | 85 | |
Daybreak | 49.0 | 39.3 | 58.7 | significantly higher than the state | 55 | |
Sandy (West) | 35.3 | 27.0 | 44.6 | 59 | ||
Sandy (Center) V2 | 44.8 | 35.4 | 54.4 | 69 | ||
Sandy (Northeast) | 25.8 | 17.8 | 35.8 | significantly lower than the state | 37 | |
Sandy (Southeast) | 39.6 | 31.7 | 48.1 | 80 | ||
Draper | 35.4 | 28.0 | 43.5 | 82 | ||
Riverton/Bluffdale | 47.1 | 39.5 | 54.9 | significantly higher than the state | 105 | |
Herriman | 37.6 | 30.8 | 44.9 | 100 | ||
Tooele County (Other) | 49.5 | 39.7 | 59.3 | significantly higher than the state | 101 | |
Tooele Valley | 40.6 | 35.8 | 45.6 | 300 | ||
Eagle Mountain/Cedar Valley | 34.3 | 25.1 | 44.8 | 49 | ||
Lehi | 36.2 | 30.4 | 43.5 | 126 | ||
Saratoga Springs | 44.2 | 34.9 | 53.9 | 62 | ||
American Fork | 35.6 | 29.2 | 42.7 | 106 | ||
Alpine | 29.1 | 17.3 | 44.7 | 14 | ||
Pleasant Grove/Lindon | 43.2 | 36.3 | 50.4 | 124 | ||
Orem (North) | 40.6 | 33.5 | 48.2 | 87 | ||
Orem (West) | 31.5 | 24.9 | 39.0 | 80 | ||
Orem (East) | 40.0 | 31.2 | 49.4 | 63 | ||
Provo/BYU | 33.9 | 27.1 | 41.3 | 89 | ||
Provo (West City Center) | 35.0 | 27.4 | 43.4 | 76 | ||
Provo (East City Center) | 25.5 | 18.1 | 34.7 | significantly lower than the state | 53 | |
Salem City | 44.1 | 33.9 | 54.8 | 33 | ||
Spanish Fork | 35.6 | 28.7 | 43.1 | 97 | ||
Springville | 37.5 | 30.1 | 45.5 | 85 | ||
Mapleton | 28.4 | 19.3 | 39.6 | 26 | ||
Utah County (South) V2 | 43.0 | 32.0 | 54.7 | 38 | ||
Payson | 36.4 | 28.2 | 45.4 | 68 | ||
Park City | 38.5 | 31.4 | 46.1 | 112 | ||
Summit County (East) | 31.2 | 25.0 | 38.1 | significantly lower than the state | 90 | |
Wasatch County | 28.1 | 23.1 | 33.6 | significantly lower than the state | 205 | |
Daggett and Uintah County | 35.9 | 31.4 | 40.7 | 282 | ||
Duchesne County | 35.8 | 30.7 | 41.3 | 171 | ||
Nephi/Mona | 25.1 | 17.0 | 35.4 | significantly lower than the state | 33 | |
Delta/Fillmore | 35.3 | 26.5 | 45.3 | 59 | ||
Sanpete Valley | 41.0 | 33.9 | 48.4 | 124 | ||
Central (Other) | 33.4 | 26.3 | 41.2 | 137 | ||
Richfield/Monroe/Salina | 36.7 | 28.7 | 45.5 | 80 | ||
Carbon County | 35.6 | 29.4 | 42.3 | 145 | ||
Emery County | 38.5 | 31.1 | 46.4 | 103 | ||
Grand County | 33.3 | 23.1 | 45.4 | 53 | ||
Blanding/Monticello | 37.7 | 30.2 | 45.8 | 78 | ||
San Juan County (Other) | 25.1 | 14.4 | 39.9 | 25 | ||
St. George | 37.5 | 32.4 | 42.9 | 197 | ||
Washington Co (Other) V2 | 40.1 | 30.4 | 50.6 | 36 | ||
Washington City | 37.2 | 28.0 | 47.1 | 52 | ||
Hurricane/La Verkin | 21.7 | 15.1 | 30.2 | significantly lower than the state | 36 | |
Ivins/Santa Clara | 35.3 | 25.0 | 47.1 | 33 | ||
Cedar City | 37.0 | 30.9 | 43.5 | 102 | ||
Southwest LHD (Other) | 36.8 | 28.6 | 45.8 | 81 | ||
State of Utah | 38.3 | 37.5 | 39.2 | 8,882 |
Data Notes
Analysis by geography only utilizes age-adjusted adult data collected in the 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2020 BRFSS and not youth/YRBS data.More Resources and Links
Additional indicator data by state and county may be found on these websites:- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER database, a system for disseminating public health data and information.
- United States Census Bureau data dashboard.
- Utah Healthy Places Index, evidence-based and peer-reviewed tool, supports efforts to prioritize equitable community investments, develop critical programs and policies across the state, and much more.
- County Health Rankings
- Kaiser Family Foundation's State Health Facts
Medical literature can be queried at PubMed library.
Page Content Updated On 10/07/2022,
Published on 06/15/2023