Early Life Witnessing Community Violence and Susceptibility to the Common Cold in Adulthood

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: 212 adults (42% female, aged 18 to 55) recalled witnessing community violence in childhood (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)=.75(.30), OR=2.11, 95% CI=1.18, 3.83, P=.012), even when controlling for current socioeconomic status, early socioeconomic status, pre-challenge serostatus, race/ethnicity, age, and sex, as well as other potential confounds (i.e., BMI and season of viral challenge, current health, health behaviors, perceived stress, and early physical, social, and safety of neighborhood environments and stressful home settings). CONCLUSIONS: Early witnessing of community violence may be an important variable to consider for determining adult common cold diagnosis.