Do positive reappraisals moderate the association between childhood emotional abuse and adult mental health?

Abstract

Background It is well-established that childhood emotional abuse is associated with poor mental health in adulthood. Yet, less is known about the ways that this association is contingent upon psychological resources. Aims The purpose of this study is to examine whether positive reappraisals moderate the association between childhood emotional abuse and adult mental health. Methods This study employs regression analyses using nationally representative, cross-sectional data from the 1995–1996 National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (N = 3,034). Results The analysis shows that childhood emotional abuse is positively associated with negative affect whereas it is negatively associated with positive affect in adulthood. Yet, positive reappraisals reduce the positive association between childhood emotional abuse and negative affect. Similarly, positive reappraisals weaken the negative association between childhood emotional abuse and positive affect. Conclusions These observations indicate that positive reappraisals act as a countervailing mechanism that buffers the deleterious association of childhood emotional abuse with adult mental health.