Childhood abuse increases the risk of early death in adulthood.

The researchers studied data from 67,726 American nurses aged 37-54 who took part in a massive health study that began in 1989. They calculated total abuse rates and linked them to medical records, autopsy reports, or death certificates to determine age and cause of death. Nurses who were sexually abused or coerced into childhood and adolescence had a higher rate of premature mortality than others.