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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 maltreatment
U.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 risk


Graphical 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)

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confidence limits

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. FemalesAdults/youthPercentageLower LimitUpper LimitNoteNumer- atorDenom- inator
Record Count: 6
MaleAdults37.636.438.74,183
MaleYouth37.334.240.5702
FemaleAdults39.238.040.3significantly higher than the adult male prevalence4,695
FemaleYouth46.842.651.1significantly higher than the adult male prevalence779
TotalAdults38.337.539.28,882
TotalYouth42.039.045.11,492

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)

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confidence limits

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).
PercentageLower LimitUpper LimitNoteNumer- atorDenom- inator
Record Count: 8
9th graders42.336.248.6483
10th graders44.839.450.3487
11th graders45.038.651.6302
12th graders34.828.841.4205
Ages 18-3442.941.344.6significantly higher than the state prevalence2,403
Ages 35-4941.539.943.1significantly higher than the state prevalence2,546
Ages 50-6437.235.538.82,198
Ages 65+25.924.527.31,735

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

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confidence limits

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 groupPercentageLower LimitUpper LimitNoteNumer- ator
Record Count: 9
Hispanic/Latino36.133.339.1657
Two or more races39.130.648.879
American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic/Latino45.437.353.8118
Asian, non-Hispanic/Latino30.724.437.9significantly lower than the state prevalence85
Black/African American, non-Hispanic/Latino37.727.649.069
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic/Latino31.021.941.845
White, non-Hispanic/Latino38.737.839.57,746
Unknown50.240.659.7significantly higher than the state prevalence83
All races/ethnicities38.337.539.28,882

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

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confidence limits

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).
PercentageLower LimitUpper LimitNoteNumer- ator
Record Count: 2
Heterosexual37.837.038.78,179
Other44.941.148.8significantly higher than the state prevalence575

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

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confidence limits

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 typePercentageLower LimitUpper LimitNoteNumer- ator
Record Count: 7
Cognitive disability57.755.060.3significantly higher than the state prevalence1,349
Mobility disability48.744.652.9significantly higher than the state prevalence1,145
Self-care disability53.845.861.6significantly higher than the state prevalence313
Independent living disability58.754.962.5significantly higher than the state prevalence699
Difficulty seeing or blind48.443.053.9significantly higher than the state prevalence366
Difficulty hearing or deaf51.546.056.9significantly higher than the state prevalence509
No disability36.535.437.54,864

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

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confidence limits

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 levelPercentageLower LimitUpper LimitNumer- ator
Record Count: 5
Less than high school35.832.239.5362
H.S. grad or G.E.D.38.336.840.02,192
Some post high school39.638.241.03,041
College graduate37.135.738.63,278
Total38.337.539.28,882

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

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confidence limits

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 categoryPercentageLower LimitUpper LimitNoteNumer- ator
Record Count: 5
<$25,00042.940.645.3significantly higher than the state prevalence1,414
$25,000-$49,99937.935.939.81,712
$50,000-$74,99939.737.641.81,472
$75,000+38.336.939.83,235
Total38.337.539.28,882

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

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confidence limits

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 districtPercentageLower LimitUpper LimitNoteNumer- ator
Record Count: 14
Bear River38.635.641.7553
Central34.931.038.9447
Davis County36.734.339.1844
Salt Lake County40.238.841.8significantly higher than the state2,627
San Juan34.026.941.9105
Southeast36.531.641.6301
Southwest36.433.439.5550
Summit33.628.938.7204
Tooele42.538.247.0410
TriCounty35.832.439.4453
Utah County36.935.038.91,332
Wasatch28.123.133.6significantly lower than the state205
Weber-Morgan40.838.143.5789
State of Utah38.337.539.28,882

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

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confidence limits

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 AreasPercentageLower LimitUpper LimitNoteNumer- ator
Record Count: 100
Brigham City46.938.056.179
Box Elder Co (Other) V243.732.855.346
Tremonton35.826.446.443
Logan V241.435.947.2172
North Logan25.018.333.1significantly lower than the state61
Cache (Other)/Rich (All) V235.928.643.979
Hyrum28.718.940.916
Smithfield40.429.752.141
Ben Lomond39.133.744.8166
Weber County (East)33.927.640.9110
Morgan County32.923.044.629
Ogden (Downtown)42.836.149.8117
South Ogden42.535.449.9118
Roy/Hooper46.440.452.4significantly higher than the state146
Riverdale39.632.047.883
Clearfield Area/Hooper37.131.742.8145
Layton/South Weber41.336.446.3227
Kaysville/Fruit Heights35.629.042.993
Syracuse37.129.345.670
Centerville49.339.159.6significantly higher than the state50
Farmington43.233.953.044
North Salt Lake29.521.639.039
Woods Cross/West Bountiful27.819.438.1significantly lower than the state31
Bountiful31.225.737.2significantly lower than the state125
SLC (Rose Park)37.729.746.464
SLC (Avenues)38.529.648.370
SLC (Foothill/East Bench)36.027.146.062
Magna41.632.451.452
SLC (Glendale) V234.024.844.639
West Valley (Center)42.334.650.2104
West Valley (West) V229.722.638.0significantly lower than the state57
West Valley (East) V244.537.252.1116
SLC (Downtown) V250.642.358.8significantly higher than the state108
SLC (Southeast Liberty)35.826.945.858
South Salt Lake49.639.559.7significantly higher than the state79
SLC (Sugar House)44.836.453.590
Millcreek (South)34.424.945.355
Millcreek (East)40.731.450.760
Holladay V246.337.455.561
Cottonwood34.027.241.499
Kearns V246.137.954.597
Taylorsville (E)/Murray (W)44.937.153.193
Taylorsville (West)47.439.755.2significantly higher than the state93
Murray42.334.350.791
Midvale43.834.853.267
West Jordan (Northeast) V247.138.456.0significantly higher than the state79
West Jordan (Southeast)38.831.746.585
West Jordan (W)/Copperton41.834.549.495
South Jordan V229.924.036.6significantly lower than the state85
Daybreak49.039.358.7significantly higher than the state55
Sandy (West)35.327.044.659
Sandy (Center) V244.835.454.469
Sandy (Northeast)25.817.835.8significantly lower than the state37
Sandy (Southeast)39.631.748.180
Draper35.428.043.582
Riverton/Bluffdale47.139.554.9significantly higher than the state105
Herriman37.630.844.9100
Tooele County (Other)49.539.759.3significantly higher than the state101
Tooele Valley40.635.845.6300
Eagle Mountain/Cedar Valley34.325.144.849
Lehi36.230.443.5126
Saratoga Springs44.234.953.962
American Fork35.629.242.7106
Alpine29.117.344.714
Pleasant Grove/Lindon43.236.350.4124
Orem (North)40.633.548.287
Orem (West)31.524.939.080
Orem (East)40.031.249.463
Provo/BYU33.927.141.389
Provo (West City Center)35.027.443.476
Provo (East City Center)25.518.134.7significantly lower than the state53
Salem City44.133.954.833
Spanish Fork35.628.743.197
Springville37.530.145.585
Mapleton28.419.339.626
Utah County (South) V243.032.054.738
Payson36.428.245.468
Park City38.531.446.1112
Summit County (East)31.225.038.1significantly lower than the state90
Wasatch County28.123.133.6significantly lower than the state205
Daggett and Uintah County35.931.440.7282
Duchesne County35.830.741.3171
Nephi/Mona25.117.035.4significantly lower than the state33
Delta/Fillmore35.326.545.359
Sanpete Valley41.033.948.4124
Central (Other)33.426.341.2137
Richfield/Monroe/Salina36.728.745.580
Carbon County35.629.442.3145
Emery County38.531.146.4103
Grand County33.323.145.453
Blanding/Monticello37.730.245.878
San Juan County (Other)25.114.439.925
St. George37.532.442.9197
Washington Co (Other) V240.130.450.636
Washington City37.228.047.152
Hurricane/La Verkin21.715.130.2significantly lower than the state36
Ivins/Santa Clara35.325.047.133
Cedar City37.030.943.5102
Southwest LHD (Other)36.828.645.881
State of Utah38.337.539.28,882

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:

Medical literature can be queried at PubMed library.

Page Content Updated On 10/07/2022, Published on 06/15/2023
The information provided above is from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services IBIS-PH website (https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: " Retrieved Tue, 05 November 2024 3:58:35 from Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health website: https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/ ".

Content updated: Fri, 18 Oct 2024 10:58:30 MDT