Aversive Childhood Experiences Research Articles

The relationship between childhood gender nonconformity, aversive childhood experiences, and mental health in heterosexual and non-heterosexual cisgender men: Thebuffering effect of sense of coherence.

Childhood gender nonconformity (CGNC) seems to be associated with more mental health problems in adulthood. Previous research has suggested that this link might be mediated via the increased risk for aversive childhood experiences (ACEs) as a negative social reaction to CGNC. However, no study yet examined the role of resilience factors in this relationship. The present study aims to address this gap by examining the potential buffering effect of sense of coherence (SOC). In a German sample of 371 cisgender men, we used mediation models to investigate the relationship between CGNC, ACEs, and mental health problems in adulthood, that is, depressive symptoms, loneliness, and suicidal behavior. We then employed moderated mediation models to examine the buffering effect of SOC on the association ACEs and mental health problems. The results showed that higher levels of CGNC were associated with more severe adult mental health problems, with this link being partially mediated by higher levels of ACEs. For depressive symptoms and suicidal behavior in the last 12months, we found evidence of a buffering effect of SOC. Higher levels of SOC were associated with a weaker association between ACEs and mental health problems. In contrast, this effect was absent for loneliness and lifetime suicidal behavior. Our study provides evidence that ACEs partly account for the relationship between CGNC and mental health in adulthood. Moreover, we found support for SOC having a buffering effect on this link. Future studies need to examine whether SOC might be an important target for resilience training in those experiencing CGNC. However, sustainable interventions may rather address the negative social reactions to CGNC.

Prevention of aversive childhood experiences: social and health policy consequences

Prevention of aversive childhood experiences: social and health policy consequences Abstract. Neglect, as well as physical, psychological or sexual abuse increase the risk of developmental disorders and of long-term health consequences in adulthood. The prevention of maltreatment is therefore crucial. In Switzerland, a multi-layered prevention model mainly focuses on supporting the family. An improved social awareness of the importance of adequate childcare is in the interest of each individual as well as of the health care system and society as a whole.

Long-term consequences of aversive childhood experiences: effects on cerebral structures

Long-term consequences of aversive childhood experiences: effects on cerebral structures Abstract. Early childhood stress experiences due to neglect, and physical, psychological or sexual abuse can lead to permanent changes in central nervous structures. The central nervous system generally shows a very high plasticity in early childhood. Objectively, these influences are reflected in functional and structural-morphological changes in certain brain areas. Subjectively, they are manifested through changes in cognitive, emotional, perceptive and social experiencing. This review aims to summarize the current status of the limited number of studies with human subjects on the consequences of early childhood stress experiences with focus on the central nervous system.

Long-term consequences of aversive childhood experiences: effects on pain processing

Long-term consequences of aversive childhood experiences: effects on pain processing Abstract. Childhood experiences of stress due to neglect, physical, psychological or sexual abuse often lead to lasting changes in pain processing. Clinically, this is shown, among other things, in an increased sensitivity to pain, a stronger negative-affective connotation of pain and ultimately an increased risk of pain disorders in adulthood. George L. Engel already postulated in the 1960s a child's experience of stress can affect later pain behaviors. This narrative review sets out to summarize the current state of knowledge.

Consequences of aversive childhood experiences: effects on the neuroendocrine system

Consequences of aversive childhood experiences: effects on the neuroendocrine system Abstract. Childhood experiences of stress due to neglect, physical, psychological or sexual abuse lead in many cases to permanent changes in the stress-regulating neuroendocrine processes. Epidemiological studies already showed 20 years ago that the extent of childhood stressors correlates with the occurrence of various somatic, functional and psychological diseases in adulthood and that cumulative stressors are also reflected in a significantly reduced average life expectancy. The altered stress-related endocrine system is of major importance with regard to the pathogenesis of the secondary somatic, functional and psychological disorders mentioned above.

Long-term consequences of aversive childhood experiences: effects on the incidence of psychiatric illnesses

Long-term consequences of aversive childhood experiences: effects on the incidence of psychiatric illnesses Abstract. Early childhood stress experiences through physical, psychological and sexual abuse as well as emotional or physical neglect often lead to permanent changes in the psychological well-being. Clinically, this is shown among other things in an increased incidence of various psychiatric disorders. This narrative survey aims to summarize the current status of existing studies on early childhood stress experiences and related psychiatric consequences. Scientific publications from the online libraries PubMed, PsycINFO and GoogleScholar served as the database. The search was conducted under the keywords Adversive Childhood Events (ACE), Adverse Childhood, Childhood Trauma, Psychiatric Disorders, Health Consequences as well as their German translations. The search resulted in 46 studies to be considered.

Is there a prodrom period in patients with social anxiety disorder? A discussion on the hypothesis of social anxiety disorder development secondary to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

The association between social anxiety disorder (SAD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is poorly established. In fact, increasing and converging evidences suggest that there is a close relationship between the two disorders. High comorbidity rate between these two disorders, follow-up studies showing high rates of later development of SAD in ADHD and treatment studies in which ADHD medications have been helpful for both conditions all indicate this relationship. Recently, we have published a hypothesis regarding the development of SAD secondary to ADHD. In this hypothesis, we recognized that patients with SAD seem to go through a prodromal period that we labeled as "pre-social anxiety." Detecting patients in this period before meeting full-blown SAD criteria provides early intervention and prevention of SAD. New, comprehensive follow-up studies which will investigate whether ADHD causes later SAD secondarily are needed. In the current review, taken into account our developmental hypothesis, we will discuss whether high comorbidity of SAD and ADHD is a chance finding (i.e., the two disorders are found in cases with no causal relationship between them) or can SAD develop secondarily due to childhood ADHD. Is there a prodrom period in patients with SAD as in cancer or psychosis patients? We are going to summarize the overlapping features of SAD and ADHD in terms of child/parents interaction and family issues, aversive childhood experiences, social skill deficits, and development of cognitive distortions.

The Role of Mindfulness in the Relationship Between Perceived Parenting, Early Maladaptive Schemata and Parental Sense of Competence

Transgenerational patterns of child rearing practices have been implicated in the maintenance of psychosocial problems across generations. Understanding such patterns has been an important aim of research in developmental psychology for decades. Recently, it has been suggested that individuals’ current parenting practices are strongly influenced by their early maladaptive schemata, which are thought to arise from their own childhood experiences with their caregivers. In the context of family interventions, increasing parental mindfulness has been proposed to reduce the effects of such schemata. However, there is currently no research testing the possible interrelationships among these variables in community samples. The first aim of the current study was, therefore, to test the associations between parents’ perceptions of their own aversive childhood experiences with their caregivers, the extent of their early maladaptive schemata, and their current level of perceived parenting competence. The second aim was to explore whether parents’ level of mindfulness is moderating or mediating this relationship. A community sample of 145 parents completed a packet of self-report questionnaires. Results of path analyses indicated that participants’ early maladaptive schemata mediated the relationship between their perception of their own childhood experiences with their caregivers and their current sense of parental competence. Furthermore, stronger early maladaptive schemata were related to lower levels of mindfulness, which in turn was associated with lower levels of parental competence. Our results provide an important initial step towards exploring the potential role of mindfulness in the intergenerational transmission of parenting practices in the community.

Aversive Childhood Experiences, Without Appropriate Interventions, Lead to Life Course Violent and Criminal Behavior

There is a continuum of severity, chronicity, and complexity of presentation and histories of those with mental health problems. These range from people with very mild mental health conditions and no confounding factors, needing only self-help, increased family support, and/or education to improve their condition to those with severe and complex histories of multiple problems in multiple domains, needing a very integrated treatment plan among multiple providers for there to be significant improvement. Determining the most effective level of care and integration needed is essential to provide the most effective care at each level of complexity [1]. For example, those with a mild Axis I diagnosis of mood disturbance, ADHD, or anxiety, with no history of violence, social maladaptation, or psychosis and very good coping skills may find that reading self-help books will give them the information they need to create more satisfying lives [2]. Those with moderate depression, ADHD phobia’s, or anxiety probably, few complicating factors, and good coping skills will do well with the traditional individual talk therapy such as CBT [3] National Association of psychotherapy, supportive relationship therapy or psycho-education once a week for 6 months or less. Consultation with a psychiatrist for medication may also be needed. Individual weekly therapy for the mild to moderate group has a recovery rate around 90%. Persons suffering from 2 diagnosable conditions such as mood or anxiety disorders and substance abuse issues, will likely need specialized group and individual and sometimes family therapy as much as twice a week for as much as 2 years. Skill building and medication may also be needed. Recovery rates for those with dual diagnoses and complicating factors using traditional talk therapy methods is typically 50%.

Fear assessment in brazilian children: the relevance of dental fear

Fear frequently interferes with dental treatment procedures, producing delays and poor technical quality results. Patients exhibit avoidance and escape behaviors that may be related to aversive childhood experiences in dental treatment situations. The aim of this study was to identify the most frequent children's fears, including dental ones, using an adaptation of the FSSC-R. This instrument was used to assess 549 children divided in three groups: (G1) private school children, (G2) public school children and (G3) public school children who were surveyed during dental treatment. Results indicated higher dental fear scores for females when compared with male children. Considering all groups studied, "injection" was the 5th higher fear for the group G3, 8th for the group G1 and 14th for the group G2. Family relationship items such as "parents fighting", "parents yelling at you", "hearing my parents argue", were considered frequent fears, suggesting that family conflicts may contribute to children's emotional problems.

Breaking the cycle of family violence: understanding the perceptions of battered women

Background Domestic violence screening recommendations that guide pediatric care providers exist but screening remains low. Many providers do not understand the linkages between aversive childhood experiences and adult abuse experiences. Purpose To describe the childhood abuse experiences in 40 battered women. Research questions How prevalent is childhood abuse in a sample of battered women? How do these women describe their childhood abuse experiences? Method Women who had left or were currently in abusive relationships were recruited by posting advertisements in public areas. Each woman participated in a semi-structured individual interview that included open-ended questions and administration of standardized measures. Results Most women described abuse during their childhood, reported high depressive symptoms, and indicated a high potential risk for child abuse. Content analysis of descriptions of childhood abuse experiences yielded five themes: socialization not to tell, normalcy of events, abandonment, escape, and shame. Women reported limited assistance during their childhood and adult abuse experiences from health care providers who lacked a family focus. Discussion Mothers' experiences with childhood and adult abuse challenge their ability to develop healthy family relationships. Pediatric health care providers must routinely screen for abuse in mothers and children within a family-centered approach.

Influence of negative childhood experiences on psychological functioning, social support, and parenting for mothers recovering from addiction

Objective: This study was conducted with mothers recovering from drug and alcohol addiction and had three aims: first, to understand the range of negative childhood events these mothers experienced; second, to understand their current level of distress and their parenting experiences; and third, to examine the relationships between negative childhood events and parenting experiences. Method: Forty-six mothers participated in a cross-sectional exploratory study and completed a range of self-report measures, including the Child Abuse & Trauma Scale, Social Support Inventory, CES-D, Parenting Stress Index, and the Parenting Scale. Results: When compared to norming samples these mothers reported significantly higher levels of aversive childhood experiences, psychological distress, parenting stress and use of problematic parenting behaviors along with lower levels of social support. Higher levels of neglect and growing up in a negative home environment were significantly correlated with lower levels of social support from the family, higher levels of distress and parenting stress, and greater use of problematic parenting behaviors. Conclusion: For this sample there is a greater incidence of aversive childhood experiences and greater problems with maternal functioning. Mothers recovering from addiction have an additional need for clinical attention towards issues of recovery from childhood abuse and responding to parenting difficulties with their own children.