Childhood Emotional Abuse Research Articles

Home Is Not a Shelter & Workplace Is a Warm Harbor: Childhood Emotional Abuse and Leader Emergence

Home Is Not a Shelter & Workplace Is a Warm Harbor: Childhood Emotional Abuse and Leader Emergence

Adolescent mentalizing and childhood emotional abuse: implications for depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder features.

There is preliminary evidence that childhood emotional abuse (CEA) is a risk factor for adolescent mentalizing difficulties (Uncertainty/Confusion about mental states) and borderline personality features and that Uncertainty/Confusion about mental states mediate the relationship between CEA and adolescent borderline personality features, but these findings need replication. Furthermore, no previous studies have examined the relationship between adolescent mentalizing deficits, anxiety, and depression in the context of CEA. This study examined the associations between CEA, adolescent borderline personality features, depression and anxiety symptoms and tested a pathway model where Uncertainty/Confusion about mental states mediates the relationships between CEA and adolescent borderline personality features, depression and anxiety symptoms. A clinical sample of 94 adolescents completed the Reflective Function Questionnaire for Youth (RFQY) to assess mentalizing, the Childhood Experiences of Care and Abuse Questionnaire (CECA-Q), the Borderline Personality Disorders Features Scale (BPFS-C), and the Beck Youth Inventories for Depression (BDI-Y) and Anxiety (BAI-Y). Uncertainty/Confusion about mental states partially mediated the relationship between CEA and borderline traits as well as anxiety. In addition, there was an indirect effect where CEA predicted Uncertainty/Confusion about mental states, which then predicted depression. The findings are consistent with the mentalizing model of psychopathology and provide new evidence that Uncertainty/Confusion about mental states might be a critical mentalizing deficit that characterizes the associations between CEA and adolescent BPD features and depression and anxiety symptoms. Uncertainty/Confusion may be a transdiagnostic risk factor for adolescent psychological distress and dysfunction. We discuss the clinical implications.

The relationship between childhood trauma, eating behaviours, and the mediating role of metacognitive beliefs

Disordered eating poses a significant risk to psychological and physical health. The experience of childhood trauma has been linked to the development of disordered eating behaviours, but the causal psychological mechanisms remain unclear. The metacognitive model holds promise as a potential framework for understanding the mediating psychological processes that explain how childhood trauma may lead to disordered eating. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of metacognitive beliefs mediating the relationship between childhood trauma and disordered eating behaviours. Adults from the Australian community (N = 461) completed an online self-report survey measuring childhood maltreatment (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire – Short Form), disordered eating behaviour (Three Factor Eating Questionnaire – Revised 21), and metacognitive beliefs (Metacognitive Questionnaire 30). Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed no independent associations between any forms of childhood maltreatment and cognitive restraint, while childhood emotional abuse was uniquely associated with uncontrolled eating and emotional eating. Through bootstrapping tests, the mediating effect between childhood trauma and uncontrolled and emotional eating consistently involved the metacognitive beliefs that thoughts are uncontrollable and dangerous. Future longitudinal research is required to confirm causal relationships.

The relationship of university students' childhood mental trauma with depression, anxiety and stress

Objectives: The aim of this study is to examine the relationships between childhood mental trauma experiences, depression, anxiety and stress concepts. Methods: The research is a descriptive and relationship-seeking type of study. The study sample consisted of 192 students. Data were collected with the “Personal Information Form, Childhood Mental Trauma Scale and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale Short Form”. Results: The rate of students who stated that they were exposed to any trauma in their childhood is 74%. The majority of students reported physical (28.2%) and emotional abuse (33.1%). Those who were exposed to childhood traumas had high Depression Anxiety Stress Scale anxiety and depression subscale scores, and the difference between them was statistically significant. When the correlations between the scales are examined; There was a positive correlation between Depression Anxiety Stress Scale depression sub-dimension and Childhood Mental Trauma Scale total and physical abuse sub-dimensions, and a positive significant relationship between anxiety sub-dimensions and Childhood Mental Trauma Scale total, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and emotional neglect sub-dimensions. Conclusions: Childhood traumas are one of the important risk factors especially for depression and anxiety disorders. It can be recommended to take mental health measures to prevent the negative consequences of childhood traumas observed in adulthood, to provide psychosocial support to students and to include practices that will increase psychological resilience.

Operational Definitions and Structured Instruments for Childhood Emotional Abuse in Clinical Research: A Narrative Review

Childhood emotional abuse (CEA) is a highly prevalent but often overlooked area of child mental health research. One of the major hurdles in research in this area is the difficulty in defining emotional abuse (EA) across different cultures. This article aims to review the operational definitions and structured instruments used to assess CEA and to critically analyse the existing lacunae and challenges in this area. Original articles, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses with the objective of assessing emotional abuse in children and adolescent populations were chosen for the study. From the chosen articles, the data pertaining to the definition or structured instrument used to assess CEA was extracted and a narrative review was done. A total of 4 operational definitions and 9 structured instruments were included in the review of the 26 included articles. From this review, as per the author, some of the shortcomings of the available definitions and tools for assessing CEA include a paucity of instruments to assess EA in young children and special populations, the need for consensus on the terminologies used to denote EA, the need for longitudinal studies, the need for culturally appropriate standards for assessment, and also the need to understand the context of EA. A CEA assessment framework has been proposed that includes a longitudinal and qualitative assessment of the subjective experience of the child, which includes the context of EA, so as to plan individualized interventions.

Prevalence, Correlates and Subjective Experience of Emotional Abuse in Adolescents Presenting to Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Services: A Mixed Methods Study

Introduction: The burden and impact of childhood emotional abuse (CEA) among children and adolescents utilizing psychiatry services is a less studied area, especially in the Indian context. This study aims to study the prevalence and correlates of CEA in adolescents attending psychiatry services and to understand the subjective experience of emotional abuse (EA) in this population. Methods: Adolescents aged between 12 and 18 years attending child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP) services were recruited for the study. The prevalence of CEA was assessed using ICAST-C (ISPCAN Child Abuse Screening Tool), temperament was assessed using the Malhotra Temperament Scale, and psychosocial adversities were assessed with the Parent Interview Schedule (PIS). From those reporting CEA, a few of them were interviewed to get narratives of subjective experiences of CEA, and this was analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: In total, 81 adolescents were recruited for the study, and among them, 82.7% ( n = 67) reported at least 1 form of EA in the last year, and 93.8% ( n = 76) of them reported a lifetime history of at least 1 form of EA. The frequency of other psychosocial adversities like abnormal intrafamilial relationships ( n = 33; 40.7%) and inadequate or distorted intrafamilial communications ( n = 49; 60.5%) was high in this sample. There was a significant association between the presence of EA in the last year and physical abuse ( p = .00) and neglect ( p = .01) in the last year. Narratives for qualitative analysis were collected from 21 adolescents. The most common themes in the context of CEA were related to academics ( n = 10) and emotional and behavioral problems in the child ( n = 7). Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of EA among adolescents attending CAP services. There is a high co-occurrence of other forms of abuse and other psychosocial adversities with EA. As adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) pose a high risk for future physical and mental health sequelae, this needs to be identified early and intervened with.

Cross-sectional study of retrospective self-reported childhood emotional neglect and inhibitory neurometabolite levels in the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex in adult humans

High childhood emotional maltreatment (CM-EMO) is reported in mood and anxiety disorders. The associations with an increased risk for psychopathology are not fully understood. One potential factor may be through alterations in gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA). The pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC) is an important brain region for emotion processing and its’ GABA levels were previously implicated in mood and anxiety disorders pathophysiology. We examined the association between the self-reported CM-EMO in adulthood and GABA + levels in the pgACC and in a control region, anterior mid cingulate cortex. GABA+ and total creatine (tCr) were measured in the pgACC and aMCC voxels in seventy-four healthy volunteers (32 (43%) women, ages 19–54, age [standard deviation] = 27.1 [6.5]) using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 7 T. Childhood Trauma Questionnaire was completed by adult participants to measure retrospective self-reported experience of emotional neglect (CM-EMO-NEG) and emotional abuse (CM-EMO-AB) during childhood. Linear mixed models tested the interaction between the region and the two subscales, and GABA+/tCr ratios, with an adjusted alpha = 0.025. Following, linear models, including with covariates were tested. There was an interaction effect between region and CM-EMO-NEG (B = −0.007, p = 0.009), driven by a negative relationship between CM-EMO-NEG and GABA+/tCr in the pgACC (B = −0.004, p = 0.013). Results for CM-EMO-NEG were robust to inclusion of different covariates (ps < 0.035). There was no interaction effect for the CM-EMO-AB (B = 0.007, p = 0.4). Limitations include cross-sectional measurement and retrospective nature of the CTQ. The findings indicate preliminary importance of inhibitory neurometabolite concentrations in the pgACC for retrospective reporting of CM-EMO-NEG.

The Indirect Effect of Avoidant Motives for Sex on the Pathways From Childhood Maltreatment to Risky Sex Behaviors.

Literature supports a strong link between engagement in risky sex and childhood maltreatment, with engagement in risky sexual behavior proposed as a manifestation of avoidant coping. Sex motives refer to underlying motivations for engaging in sex such as increased intimacy, or peer pressure. Limited research has examined the role of sex motives on the relationship between childhood maltreatment and risky sex. This study sought to examine this path between childhood maltreatment types and later engagement in risky sex through sex motivations that seek to avoid or reduce negative affect (i.e., sex to cope and sex to affirm self-esteem). A sample of sexually active undergraduate women (n = 551) completed a series of questionnaires on childhood maltreatment, risky sexual behavior, and motivations for sexual intercourse as part of a larger parent study on revictimization. Path analysis was conducted to examine differential indirect effects of childhood maltreatment on risky sex (i.e., sex with a stranger and hookup behaviors). Results suggested sex to cope with negative affect mediated the relationship between emotional abuse, sexual abuse, physical neglect, and hookup behavior. Only an indirect path between childhood emotional abuse and sex with a stranger was identified through sex to cope. Emotional abuse was the only maltreatment to predict sex to affirm, but sex to affirm did not predict risky sex outcomes. Findings provide support for differential pathways from various forms of childhood maltreatment, specifically sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and physical neglect, to increased risky sex as a manifestation of avoidant coping. Furthermore, results support the call for more inclusion of nonsexual forms of childhood maltreatment in studies of risky sex and avoidant coping as a potential intervention target for risky sexual behavior regardless of childhood maltreatment type.

A randomized controlled trial of Safer Kids – A program for parents reported for child abuse: Short-term effects on further reports of child abuse and related risk factors

BackgroundMillions of children are victims of child abuse world-wide. Consequences include long-term health impacts and large societal costs. Parent training is promising to prevent abuse, but challenges with motivation and attrition must be overcome to reach parents in need. ObjectiveTo assess the effectiveness and acceptability of Safer Kids, a cognitive behavioral therapy-based parenting program delivered immediately after a report of child abuse. Safer Kids is used within the Child Welfare Services (CWS) in Sweden but has never been evaluated in an RCT. Participants and settingIn total, 112 families with children 2–12 years referred to the Swedish CWS for physical or emotional child abuse participated. MethodsFamilies were randomized to Safer Kids or intervention as usual (IAU). Data from parents, children and CWS were analyzed with multilevel and survival analyses. Primary outcomes were parent-rated child abuse potential and re-reports of abuse. Secondary outcomes were child abuse risk factors and treatment satisfaction. ResultsData 4 and 7 months from baseline were available for 96 % of the families. All except one family (98 %) who started Safer Kids completed the program. Both groups improved from baseline to follow-ups on most effectiveness outcomes. The changes were not statistically different between groups. Parents and social workers were more satisfied with Safer Kids than IAU. ConclusionsShort manualized parenting programs can be a way to reach parents reported for child abuse with support. Safer Kids is a viable option to the CWS's standard interventions, as it was equally effective and slightly better accepted than IAU.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Tobacco Use Patterns Among Adults in the United States: Exploring sex differences.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which refer to childhood traumatic events, have been identified as risk factors for tobacco use in adulthood. However, studies are limited on the effect of sex on the association of ACEs with e-cigarettes and dual use of e-cigarettes and cigarettes. This study explored sex differences in the association of ACEs with e-cigarettes, cigarettes, and dual use of e-cigarettes and cigarettes among adults in the United States. This was a cross-sectional analysis of data from adults aged ≥18 years in the 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (N = 62,768). ACEs, the independent variable, was a composite score assessed from 11 questions (with responses yes-1 or no/never-0) related to childhood emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and household dysfunction and categorized as 0 (reference), 1, 2, 3, or ≥4. The dependent variable, tobacco use patterns, included nonuse (reference), e-cigarette only, cigarette only, and dual use of e-cigarettes and cigarettes. Multinomial logistic regression was performed to test the interaction between sex and ACEs while controlling for potential confounders. Although we found no statistically significant interaction by sex, a greater number of ACEs were associated with higher odds of the different tobacco use patterns among females and males, with varying strengths of associations. Specifically, females who reported ≥4 ACEs compared with none had higher odds of e-cigarette (aOR [95% CI]: 3.58 [1.49-8.63]), cigarette (2.57 [1.72-3.83]) and dual use (3.25 [1.79-5.91]) relative to nonuse. Males with ≥4 ACEs had higher odds of cigarette (1.75 [1.15-2.65]) and dual use (7.64 [3.95-14.79]). Our findings underscore the importance of developing appropriate, tailored trauma-informed intervention strategies for females and males. It is also important to consider ACEs in designing tobacco-specific preventive programs to curb initiation and promote cessation among U.S. adults.

The influence of childhood emotional maltreatment on cognitive symptoms, rumination, and hopelessness in adulthood depression.

Childhood emotional maltreatment (CEM) is a risk factor for the pathogenesis of depressive disorders. However, it is not clear whether CEM is more strongly related to specific symptoms of depression and whether specific traits or cognitive states may mediate the association between CEM and depressive symptoms. In our cross-sectional study, including 72 patients with a current depressive episode, we investigated if CEM is specifically related to cognitive symptoms of depression. In addition, we evaluated whether CEM also influences the extent of rumination and hopelessness in adult depression. Using multiple regression analyses, we tested if CEM and rumination could predict cognitive symptoms and hopelessness. A structural equation model (SEM) was used to examine if rumination mediates the relationship between CEM and cognitive symptoms. Correlational analyses revealed that CEM was related to cognitive symptoms, rumination, and hopelessness. The regression analyses showed that only rumination was a significant predictor for cognitive symptoms and hopelessness, whereas CEM could not significantly predict the two constructs. SEM revealed that the association between CEM and cognitive symptoms in adult depression was mediated by rumination. Our results thereby suggest that CEM is a risk factor particularly for the development of cognitive symptoms as well as rumination and hopelessness in adult depression. However, the influence on cognitive symptomatology seems to be indirectly regulated by rumination. These findings may contribute to a better understanding of processes that promote depression, as well as provide guidance for more targeted treatment options.

Antidepressant emergent mood switch in major depressive disorder: onset, clinical correlates and impact on suicidality.

Antidepressant (AD)- emergent mood switch (AEMS) is a common complication of bipolar depression. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and clinical correlates of subthreshold AEMS (i.e. not fulfilling DSM criteria for hypomanic episodes) in major depressive disorder (MDD) and, prognostically, its impact on AD treatment outcome and suicidality. The study involved 425 outpatients with MDD followed during the acute phase (12 weeks) and continuation (weeks 13-28) AD treatment. AEMS was assessed through the Altman Self-Rating Mania scale (ASRM ≥ 6). Several clinical features differentiated individuals with or without subthreshold AEMS (n = 204 vs. 221): negative self-perception [odds ratio (OR) 1.017-1.565]; panic disorder (OR 1.000-1.091); subthreshold hypomanic episodes (OR 1.466-13.352); childhood emotional abuse (OR 1.053-2.447); lifetime suicidal behaviour (OR 1.027-1.236); AD-related remission (χ 2 = 22.903 P < 0.0001) and suicide ideation (χ 2 = 16.701 P < 0.0001). In AEMS earlier onset showed a strong correlation with bipolar spectrum disorder (overall score: P = 0.0053; mixed depression: P = 0.0154; subthreshold hypomania: P = 0.0150) whereas late-onset was associated with more severe suicidal behaviour ( P < 0.001). In conclusion, our results demonstrate that subthreshold mood switches occur frequently in unipolar depression during acute AD treatment as well as in continuation phase. Time of switch onset seems to have the greatest diagnostic and prognostic value.

Child Maltreatment and Links with Experiences of Interpersonal Violence in Sport in a Sample of Canadian Adolescents

Purpose: This study aimed to explore links between child maltreatment (CM) and experiences of interpersonal violence (IV) in sport among adolescent sport participants. To our knowledge, no studies have yet considered this association. This is surprising given that the literature outside of sport clearly shows that CM is related to revictimization in adolescence and adulthood. Methods: The sample consists of 983 adolescents aged 14 to 18 years old participating in an organized sport. They completed a self-report survey in class at six Canadian schools assessing CM and IV in sport. Logistic regressions were performed to examine the associations between CM and IV in sport. Results: Child physical abuse, emotional abuse, and exposure to domestic violence were significantly associated with psychological violence and neglect in sport. Exposure to domestic violence was the only form of CM significantly associated with physical violence in sport. Child sexual abuse and neglect were significantly associated with sexual violence in sport, while child emotional abuse and exposure to domestic violence were significantly associated with peer violence in sport. Physical abuse was the only form of CM significantly associated with coach violence. Child physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, and exposure to domestic violence were positively associated with violence from parents in sport. Conclusions: Considering the associations between CM and IV in sport, further investigations are necessary on how to prevent revictimization. It also highlights the importance of athlete-centered and trauma-informed practices in sport. Implications and Contribution: This study was the first, to our knowledge, to show the relationship between CM and the experience of IV in organized sport, as reported by 983 Canadian adolescents. Our findings reveal different associations depending on the type of IV (physical, sexual, psychological, or neglect) and the perpetrators (peers, coaches, or parents).

아동기 정서적 학대와 대학생 시기 불안의 관계 - 감정표현 곤란과 자기파괴적 행동의 이중매개효과 -

The purpose of this study was to examine the dual mediating effect of difficulty in describing feeling and self-destructive behavior in the relationship between childhood emotional abuse and college students’ anxiety. The subjects were 296 college students. A correlation analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between measurement variables using SPSS 24.0. The dual mediating effect of difficulty in describing feeling and self-destructive behavior was identified using PROCESS macro 3.5 Model 6. The results were as follows: First, the direct effect of emotional abuse on college student’s anxiety was not significant. Second, difficulty in describing feeling and self-destructive behavior showed significant dual mediating effect in the relationship between emotional abuse and anxiety. These results indicate that interventions for emotional abuse, difficulty in describing feeling and self-destructive behavior are needed for college students suffering from anxiety due to childhood emotional abuse.

Childhood trauma and fear of childbirth: findings from a birth cohort study

The aim of this study is to investigate if experiencing childhood trauma (emotional abuse, emotional neglect, physical abuse, physical neglect, or sexual abuse) or a greater total burden of childhood trauma increase the risk of fear of childbirth (FOC). This study included 2556 women living in Southwest Finland. Women were recruited during routine ultrasound visits at gestational week (gwk) 12. Experiencing childhood trauma was assessed in retrospect with the Trauma and Distress Scale (TADS) questionnaire completed at gwk 14. Information on the diagnosis of FOC (ICD-10 diagnosis O99.80) was obtained from the Finnish Medical Birth Register. Associations between childhood trauma (domains and total TADS score) and FOC were analyzed with logistic regression in unadjusted and adjusted models. Emotional abuse (aOR 1.25, 95% CI 1.10–1.42), emotional neglect (aOR 1.26, 95% CI 1.08–1.46), and a greater total burden of trauma (TADS total score) (aOR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02–1.10) increased the risk for FOC. We found no evidence for physical abuse (aOR 1.15, 95% CI 1.00–1.32), physical neglect (aOR 1.06, 95% CI 0.92–1.22), and sexual abuse (aOR 1.24, 95% CI 0.99–1.56) associating with FOC. Childhood emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and a greater total burden of childhood trauma increase the risk for FOC. However, the childhood traumatic events were inquired in retrospect, which could distort the events.

The impact of childhood traumatization on diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2D) risk in World War II refugees and their offspring.

T2D is a chronic disease that is influenced by different factors. The extent to which degree adverse childhood events (ACEs) can modify the potential to development of T2D is still not explored and therefore represents one of the central questions of the CELLO (childhood escape - late life outcome, DRKS00012419) study. In addition, transgenerational effects were considered in the analyses. The study analyzed the association of self-reported traumatic experiences and T2D disease of refugees from East Prussia, who were displaced from their former homeland at the end of the World War II. In addition, an independent sample consisting of participants of first-generation offspring of refugees was analyzed. Of the 242 refugees, all aged between 73 and 93, 17.36% reported T2D disease, while among the offspring (n = 272), aged between 47 and 73, it was 5.5%, meaning reduced T2D prevalence for both generations compared to the German population of comparable age. In the refugee generation, emotional neglect showed a negative association with development of T2D in later life. In women, separation from close caregivers in childhood showed a negative association with later T2D. In contrast, experiencing emotional abuse in childhood showed a positive association with later T2D. The offspring generation showed no associations of ACEs and reported T2D diagnoses in later life. Our results demonstrate that individual trauma in childhood is responded to with different mechanisms that can lead to both increased and decreased reported T2D diagnoses in adulthood and thus should by no means be considered in a generalized manner.

Influence of childhood trauma, HIV infection, alcohol use disorder, and resilience on health-related quality of life in adulthood

Experience of childhood trauma, especially physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, carries a risk for developing alcohol use disorder (AUD) and engaging in risky behaviors that can result in HIV infection. AUD and HIV are associated with compromised self-reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL) possibly intersecting with childhood trauma. To determine whether poor HRQoL is heightened by AUD, HIV, their comorbidity (AUD + HIV), number of trauma events, or poor resilience, 108 AUD, 45 HIV, 52 AUD + HIV, and 67 controls completed the SF-21 HRQoL, Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), Ego Resiliency Scale (ER-89), and an interview about childhood trauma. Of the 272 participants, 116 reported a trauma history before age 18. Participants had a blood draw, AUDIT questionnaire, and interview about lifetime alcohol consumption. AUD, HIV, and AUD + HIV had lower scores on HRQoL and resilience composite comprising the BRS and ER-89 than controls. Greater resilience was a significant predictor of better quality of life in all groups. HRQoL was differentially moderated in AUD and HIV: more childhood traumas predicted poorer quality of life in AUD and controls, whereas higher T-lymphocyte count contributed to better quality of life in HIV. This study is novel in revealing a detrimental impact on HRQoL from AUD, HIV, and their comorbidity, with differential negative contribution from trauma and beneficial effect of resilience to quality of life. Channeling positive effects of resilience and reducing the incidence and negative impact of childhood trauma may have beneficial effects on health-related quality of life in adulthood independent of diagnosis.

Feasibility and Acceptability of Parenting for Lifelong Health Program in Mainland China

Purpose: Parenting for Lifelong Health for Young Children (PLH-YC) is a program to prevent child maltreatment. This study aimed to examine the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effects of the adapted program for Chinese parents. Methods: A pre–post single-arm pilot trial was conducted with 21 Chinese parents. A mixed-method design was utilized to collect questionnaire-based quantitative data and qualitative data of interviews and focus group discussions. Results: Program implementation was feasible, with overall high recruitment, enrollment, attendance, acceptability and fidelity. Quantitative results demonstrated reductions in general child maltreatment, physical and emotional abuse, child behavioral problems, and improvements in positive parenting. Thematic analyses identified reduced violent discipline, psychological aggression, and child behavioral problems, strengthened parent–child bonds, increased parenting confidence, and decreased family conflict. Conclusion: The adapted PLH-YC program for Chinese parents has shown good feasibility and acceptability, and exhibited a significant association with reduced child maltreatment. Further randomized controlled trials are required.

Child Maltreatment, Mental Health, and Self-Reported Health Among Adolescent Girls in Child Welfare: Mediating Pathways.

Child maltreatment is common in the US and has been shown to be associated with physical and psychological health problems in adolescence and adulthood. Based on the allostatic load theory, this study examined the association between different types of child maltreatment (emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, and physical neglect) and self-rated health, and the mediating roles of post-traumatic stress and depression in these relationships. Participants were 249 girls involved in the child welfare system, ages 12-19 years, the majority of whom were African American. A one item self-reported general health measure, the Child Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS) and the Child Depression Inventory (CDI) measured self-reported health, child maltreatment,and posttraumatic and depression symptoms, respectively. Higher levels of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, and physical neglect were significantly associated with poorer ratings of health. PTSD and depression were significant mediators between histories of childhood emotional, physical, and sexual abuse and physical health. In conclusion, results indicate that the pathways from child abuse to physical health problems in adolescents are through psychological distress. Trauma focused interventions to reduce symptoms of PTSD and depression among this vulnerable group of adolescents are essential to improve health.

Foster parents’ history of adverse childhood experiences, adult attachment, and parenting stress

BackgroundConnections between parents’ trauma histories, adult attachment, and parenting stress are well established; those who have experienced trauma are more likely to have higher levels of insecure attachment (Jacobvitz & Reisz, 2019) and are more vulnerable to parenting stress (Steele et al., 2016) These processes in foster parents are understudied, even though they care for vulnerable children. This study examined relations between foster parents adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), adult attachment, and parenting stress. This is important to address because foster parents care for vulnerable children who can present unique stressors to caregivers. ObjectiveExamine links between ACEs, adult attachment, and parenting stress in foster parents. Participants & settingParticipants were 55 foster parents from central Texas, US, recruited from a larger RCT study. MethodsParticipants completed the ACEs questionnaire, Experiences in Close Relationships questionnaire, and Parenting Stress Inventory. ResultsFoster parents who reported higher total ACEs were more likely to report higher levels of attachment avoidance and higher levels of overall parenting stress. Foster parents who reported experiencing childhood emotional abuse reported higher levels of attachment anxiety. Those who reported experiencing childhood sexual abuse reported higher levels of parental distress. Lastly, those who reported higher levels of attachment anxiety reported higher levels of parental distress and defensive responding. ConclusionsACEs are an important factor for foster parents, particularly for parenting stress. It is crucial that appropriate support is provided to help foster parents manage parenting stress and provide optimal care for their foster children.