Child Maltreatment Research Articles

The balancing act of fitting in: A grounded theory study on how patients with posttraumatic stress disorder following childhood maltreatment experience participating in a randomized controlled psychotherapy study.

The balancing act of fitting in: A grounded theory study on how patients with posttraumatic stress disorder following childhood maltreatment experience participating in a randomized controlled psychotherapy study.

Childhood emotional maltreatment and romantic relationship satisfaction: the mediating role of early maladaptive schemas

ABSTRACT Objective Survivors of childhood emotional maltreatment (CEM) often report lower levels of romantic relationship satisfaction in later life, yet the mechanisms through which this occurs are unclear. Theoretical and empirical evidence suggests a potential pathway underlying this association is early maladaptive schemas (EMS), however, research is limited. The present study sought out to clarify the association between CEM and current romantic relationship satisfaction, and whether EMS mediate this relationship. Method The final sample consisted of 230 undergraduate psychology students. An anonymous online survey was administered assessing childhood maltreatment, EMS and current romantic relationship satisfaction. Data pertaining to possible covariates were also collected. Results CEM was found to be negatively correlated with relationship satisfaction. The results of path analysis additionally revealed emotional deprivation as the only early maladaptive schema to mediate this relationship. Conclusions These findings contribute to the understanding of how CEM may be related to relationship satisfaction, via EMS. In particular, they suggest experiences of CEM may strengthen the belief that others will not meet one’s emotional needs, which in turn, may be associated with reduced levels of romantic relationship satisfaction. Implications for clinical interventions to support adult survivors of CEM are discussed.

Childhood maltreatment and adult aggression: The moderating role of neurocognitive ability and substance use

BackgroundAchieving positive intervention outcomes for aggressive behaviour in adulthood is challenging. This difficulty is enhanced by the complex presentations of those engaging in such behaviours and the impact this has on their engagement with interventions. ObjectiveThis study assessed the cumulative impact of childhood maltreatment, substance use, and neurocognitive ability (working memory, cognitive flexibility, decision making, response inhibition, and cognitive control) on aggressive behaviour in adulthood. Participants and settingAdult participants (N = 179; 69 % female) recruited from the community, and clinical and forensic services, aged 18 to 81 (M = 40.5, SD = 15.9). MethodsParticipants completed an online Qualtrics survey and remote neurocognitive testing via Inquisit. ResultsWe implemented an a priori approach, assessing three-way interactions between childhood maltreatment, substance use, neurocognitive ability, and aggression. No three-way interactions were significant. We then utilised a data-driven modelling approach, using automatic linear forward stepwise modelling to identify the most important variables for predicting aggression. Four were significant: physical maltreatment (b = 0.053, p < .001), drug use risk level (b = 0.015, p < .001), poorer response inhibition (b = 0.001, p = .016), and the interaction between poorer response inhibition and physical maltreatment (b = 0.205, p = .017). ConclusionsPhysical maltreatment in childhood, drug use risk level, and response inhibition impact significantly on adult aggression, indicating a need for early intervention for children who have experienced maltreatment. Consideration should be given to how maltreatment in childhood may impact on ability to engage with interventions as an adult, particularly response inhibition difficulties that may hinder skill implementation.

Child Maltreatment Increases the Risk for Callous-Unemotional Traits: A Three-Level Meta-Analytic Review.

Callous-unemotional (CU) traits are characterized by lack of remorse and guilt, lack of empathy, and shallow and deficient emotions. A growing body of research has examined the association between child maltreatment and CU traits. However, empirical findings on this association are inconclusive. Therefore, this meta-analytic review aimed to examine the overall association between child maltreatment and CU traits and potentially moderating variables. After searching five databases (Web of Science, ScienceDirect, PubMed, MEDLINE, and CNKI), a total of 37 studies (N = 26,010 participants) yielding 165 effect sizes were synthesized in three-level meta-analytic models. Results showed that child maltreatment is significantly and positively related to CU traits (mean r = .183; p < .001). Moderator analyses showed that this association is larger in females than in males, larger in community samples (r = .243) than in clinical samples (r = .073), and in terms of CU trait dimensions stronger for callousness (r = .251) than for uncaring (r = .134) and unemotional dimensions (r = .050). It is concluded that child maltreatment is a risk factor for the development of CU traits and discussed that interventions for CU traits in antisocial groups should be aware of the environmental influence of interpersonal trauma resulting from childhood maltreatment experiences.

Exploring the Association between Parenting Stress and a Child’s Exposure to Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs)

AbstractHigh levels of parenting stress, defined as a caregiver or parent feeling stress or aggravation from parenting, has been previously shown to be associated with an increased likelihood of neglect, child maltreatment, and household dysfunction: adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Despite the potential mitigation of positive childhood experiences (PCEs) on ACEs, prior studies on the increased likelihood of a child experiencing ACEs due to parenting stress have left a critical question unanswered: whether high parenting stress may decrease a child’s likelihood of experiencing PCEs. We analyzed the 2019–2020 National Survey of Children’s Health to examine whether higher levels of parenting stress are associated with the lower likelihood of experiencing PCEs among children. Children with caregivers experiencing high parenting stress had a lower odds of experiencing many types of PCEs, including after school activities (aOR 0.48; 95% CI 0.38–0.57), community volunteer (aOR 0.63; 95% CI 0.52–0.77), and guiding mentor (aOR 0.65; 95% CI 0.50–0.85). Lowering parenting stress through economic supports and parenting programs/interventions could increase the likelihood that a child experiences PCEs.

Shedding Light on the Aftermath: Childhood Maltreatment's Role in Modifying the Association Between Recent Life Stress and Resting-State Network Connectivity.

Childhood maltreatment has been demonstrated to impact brain development. However, whether childhood maltreatment can influence the effects of recent stress on brain networks remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether childhood maltreatment moderates the longitudinal relationship between recent life stress and within- and between-network connectivity in key brain networks, including the anterior salience (ASN), central executive (CEN), default mode (DMN), and emotional regulation network (ERN). A cohort of 172 individuals from the Neuroscience in Psychiatry Network (NSPN) underwent MRI scans at two specific time points and undertook evaluations of childhood maltreatment and recent life stress. The results showed that childhood abuse moderated the association of recent life stress with the within-network connectivity of ASN and ERN but not DMN and CEN. Furthermore, recent life stress significantly interacted with childhood abuse to be associated with the between-network connectivity of ASN-DMN, ASN-CEN, ASN-ERN, DMN-ERN and CEN-ERN. Overall, among youth exposed to higher degrees of childhood abuse, greater recent life stress was longitudinally associated with increased network connectivity. Understanding these interactions can provide valuable insights for developing prevention strategies and interventions aimed at mitigating the lasting impact of childhood maltreatment on brain development and overall well-being.

Child sex trafficking: A model of survivor inclusion and survivor-informed practice

Survivor inclusion is a fundamental component to the success of efforts to combat child sex trafficking. Recognizing, honoring, and leveraging the wisdom that comes from lived experience with adversity, and centering the voices of survivors of sex trafficking, can help to balance power relations and inform more effective interventions. This critical discussion article responds to appeals for meaningful and ethical engagement of survivor leaders in program development, implementation, and evaluation. We propose a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, empowerment-based model of survivor inclusion and survivor-informed practice grounded in guiding principles and practice strategies derived from lived experience. This work emerged from a unique collaboration between a diverse group of survivor advisors and pediatric health care program specializing in child sex trafficking. It serves as a survivor-led resource for anti-trafficking and child maltreatment organizations across sectors as they move toward building survivor-centered approaches to care for children exposed to sex trafficking.

Childhood maltreatment, adulthood obesity and incident type 2 diabetes: a retrospective cohort study using UK Biobank.

This study aims to explore the association of childhood maltreatment with obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in adulthood, and whether obesity is a mediator of the latter. In a retrospective cohort study using UK Biobank data, participants recalled childhood maltreatment. Linear regression, logistic regression, and Cox proportional hazard models were used to investigate the associations with body mass index (BMI), obesity, and T2D, adjusted for sociodemographic factors. Decomposition analysis was used to examine the extent to which T2D excess risk was attributed to BMI. Of the 153,601 participants who completed the childhood maltreatment questions, one-third reported some form of maltreatment. Prevalence of adult obesity and incidence of T2D were higher with the number of reported childhood maltreatment types. People who reported ≥3 types of childhood maltreatment were at higher risk of obesity (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.47-1.63) and incident T2D (HR 1.65, 95% CI 1.52-1.80). Excess T2D risk among those reporting maltreatment could be reduced by 39% if their BMI was comparable to participants who had not been maltreated, assuming causality. People who recalled maltreatment in childhood are at higher risk of T2D in adulthood, partly due to obesity.

Childhood Maltreatment and Electrodermal Reactivity to Stress Among Pregnant Women.

There are competing theoretical hypotheses regarding the consequences of early adversity, such as childhood maltreatment, for individuals' autonomic nervous system activity. Research examining potential implications of child maltreatment for sympathetic nervous system activity, specifically, is scarce. In this preregistered study, we examined whether childhood maltreatment history is associated with pregnant adults' sympathetic responses to different stressors. This population is particularly relevant, given potential intergenerational consequences of pregnant individuals' physiological responses to stress. Pregnant women's (N=162) electrodermal levels were recorded while completing the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), which elicits social-evaluative threat, and while watching a video of an unfamiliar infant crying, which was intended to activate the attachment system. Pregnant women's retrospective reports of childhood maltreatment were negatively associated with their electrodermal reactivity to the TSST and to the video of the infant crying. Follow-up analyses indicated that these associations were specific to reported experiences of childhood abuse and not childhood neglect. Altogether, these findings indicate that self-reported childhood maltreatment experiences, and childhood abuse in particular, may result in blunted activity of the sympathetic nervous system in response to multiple types of stressors.

Psychological Predictors of Recidivism for Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators: A Systematic Scoping Review.

Theoretical accounts of recidivistic intimate partner violence (IPV) continue to differ considerably in relation to the relative weight given to psychological risk factors. A systematic overview of studies that have established psychological predictors of reoffending is currently lacking. This study aimed to identify and provide an overview of studies examining various psychological factors associated with IPV perpetration patterns. A systematic search of research conducted from 1945 to 2024 was carried out on PsycINFO, PubMed, and PILOTS. The inclusion criteria were that studies must not use self-reported reoffending data only, must use a criminal justice sample, must be longitudinal, participants must be over 17 years of age, and that studies must be published in the English language and peer reviewed. A total of 25 longitudinal studies examining individual psychological factors, proposed as potential predictors of IPV reoffending, were eligible. The identified factors were grouped into five categories: personality, anger and hostility, beliefs, attitudes and motivation, neurocognitive deficits and trauma (i.e., family of origin abuse/post-traumatic stress disorder). The current systematic scoping review found that the most-researched psychological predictor of IPV recidivism was personality. While studies vary in relation to the personality traits or disorders that contribute most to the likelihood of reoffending, in general, personality assessment appears to be a promising tool in predicting reoffending. Anger, childhood maltreatment, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), implicit attitudes, and neurocognitive deficits were also identified as predictors of IPV recidivism. Methodological issues were found to be present across studies.

Father–Child Relationship Quality and Social Functioning Among Children at Risk for Child Maltreatment

AbstractDespite the considerable growth and advancement in fatherhood research, relatively little is known about the effects of father–child relationship quality on social functioning among children who experience child maltreatment. Applying the strengths-based perspective, the current study sought to examine the association between father–child relationship quality and social functioning (social competence and positive peer relationships) among at-risk children, and to determine whether these associations are moderated by perpetrator type. This study included a sample of 681 US children (age 12 years) drawn from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect. We conducted a series of ordinary least squares multiple regression analyses. Higher-quality father–child relationships were associated with higher levels of social competence (B = 0.19, SE = 0.06, p = .002) and positive peer relationships (B = 0.05, SE = 0.02, p = .005). Significant interaction effects were found. The positive association between father–child relationships and peer relationships was significantly stronger among children with a history of maltreatment perpetrated by fathers with or without mothers (B = 0.16, SE = 0.05, p = .002). Findings highlight the importance of positive father–child relationships in building social resilience among children who experience maltreatment. Practitioners working with youth who are at risk for maltreatment should consider engaging fathers in services to support the development of strong father–child relationships.

Endocannabinoid concentrations in major depression: effects of childhood maltreatment and relation to hippocampal volume

Evidence from preclinical animal models suggests that the stress-buffering function of the endocannabinoid (eCB) system may help protect against stress-related reductions in hippocampal volume, as is documented in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, stress exposure may also lead to dysregulation of this system. Thus, pathways from marked stress histories, such as childhood maltreatment (CM), to smaller hippocampal volumes and MDD in humans may depend on dysregulated versus intact eCB functioning. We examined whether the relation between MDD and peripheral eCB concentrations would vary as a function of CM history. Further, we examined whether eCBs moderate the relation of CM/MDD and hippocampal volume. Ninety-one adults with MDD and 62 healthy comparison participants (HCs) were recruited for a study from the Canadian Biomarker Integration Network in Depression program (CAN-BIND-04). The eCBs, anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG), were assessed from blood plasma. Severe CM history was assessed retrospectively via contextual interview. MDD was associated with eCBs, though not all associations were moderated by CM or in the direction expected. Specifically, MDD was associated with higher AEA compared to HCs regardless of CM history, a difference that could be attributed to psychotropic medications. MDD was also associated with higher 2-AG, but only for participants with CM. Consistent with hypotheses, we found lower left hippocampal volume in participants with versus without CM, but only for those with lower AEA, and not moderate or high AEA. Our study presents the first evidence in humans implicating eCBs in stress-related mechanisms involving reduced hippocampal volume in MDD.

Childhood maltreatment and aggressive behavior among college students: a serial mediation model of authenticity and alexithymia.

Aggressive behavior among college students is a concerning issue that not only affects the mental health and personal development of those involved but also poses a threat to societal stability. Existing literature has consistently demonstrated a positive correlation between childhood maltreatment and aggressive behavior. However, the specific mechanisms through which childhood maltreatment leads to aggressive behavior remain unclear. This study aims to explore the impact of childhood maltreatment on aggressive behavior among college students and to examine the mediating roles of authenticity and alexithymia in this relationship. To investigate these relationships, we conducted an online survey among 1,148 Chinese college students. Participants completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), Authenticity Scale, Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and 12-item Aggression Questionnaire (12-AQ). These instruments allowed us to measure the variables of interest and to analyze the potential mediating effects of authenticity and alexithymia. The findings of our study indicate that both authenticity and alexithymia mediate the positive relationship between childhood maltreatment and aggressive behavior. Specifically, the mediating effect of authenticity was 0.04 (95% CI [0.01, 0.06]), while that of alexithymia was 0.10 (95% CI [0.07, 0.13]). Moreover, we observed a chain-mediating effect involving both authenticity and alexithymia, with a chain-mediating effect of 0.03 (95% CI [0.02, 0.05]). This study demonstrates that childhood maltreatment can positively predict aggressive behavior in college students, and this relationship is mediated individually and sequentially by authenticity and alexithymia. Our findings contribute valuable insights to the existing research on aggressive behavior and provide a theoretical framework for developing interventions aimed at reducing aggressive behaviors among college students.

Hsa-miR-582-3p in umbilical cord blood is negatively associated with maternal exposure to childhood maltreatment.

Aim: Childhood maltreatment (CM) may affect not only directly exposed individuals but also their offspring. However, the underlying biological mechanisms remain unclear. microRNAs (miRNAs) may play a regulatory role in this process. This study investigates the relationship between maternal exposure to CM and miRNA expression in maternal and perinatal tissues.Methods: We enrolled 43 pregnant women and assessed their CM exposure. We collected maternal blood, cord blood and placental tissue samples during childbirth and performed miRNA profiling using next generation sequencing.Results: Maternal CM was inversely associated with hsa-miR-582-3p levels in cord blood. Pathway analysis revealed that this miRNA regulates genes involved in intrauterine development.Conclusion: Our findings highlight the potential impact of maternal CM exposure on offspring epigenetic mechanisms.

The moderating effect of maternal childhood maltreatment on the association between social support and parenting outcomes

Although social support is generally expected to improve parenting issues, previous findings on its efficacy among parents who have experienced childhood maltreatment are inconsistent. However, the reasons for this inconsistency have not yet been clarified. To address this, the present study examined the possibility that experiencing specific subtypes of childhood maltreatment (i.e., emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect) impairs the subsequent function of social support in parenting. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with Japanese mothers of children aged one to three years. In the survey, participants completed four scales: the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form, Parenting Skills Scales for Mothers of Toddlers, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form, and the Brief Inventory of the Social Support Exchange Network. A total of 360 datasets were analyzed (mean age = 33.73, SD = 4.73). The results indicated that physical abuse diminished the effect of social support on the prevention of negative parenting. However, social support alleviated parenting stress regardless of childhood maltreatment subtype. The effects of social support on increased positive parenting and decreased negative parenting were unclear compared to its effect on parenting stress. These findings have important implications for supporting parenting among parents who have experienced childhood maltreatment and preventing. intergenerational transmission.

Risk factors associated with child maltreatment in the second generation of a prospective longitudinal Australian birth cohort: A MUSP study

BackgroundAbuse and neglect affect over 1.7 billion children worldwide. While the consequences of child maltreatment (CM) across the life course are well understood, there remains ambiguity surrounding the risk factors associated with CM. This exploratory study examined the extent to which a wide range of sociodemographic, prenatal, and postpartum risk factors are associated with CM notifications in an Australian birth cohort. MethodsThis was a prospective longitudinal birth cohort study using data from the Mater-University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy (MUSP) which began in 1981. Child protection data were linked to MUSP records, identifying agency-reported and substantiated CM notifications (including subtypes) up to 16 years of age. A range of sociodemographic and perinatal risk factors were examined. ResultsChildren experienced higher odds of any agency-reported CM if their mothers did not have a high school education, had pregnancies at a young age, and were socially isolated postpartum. Similar risk factors were associated with substantiated CM. Female children had increased odds of both agency-reported and substantiated sexual abuse. Children born into large families had increased odds of agency-reported and substantiated neglect. First Nations status was not associated with any form of CM. ConclusionsSeveral individual, familial, and social risk factors were associated with CM in this cohort. Notably, different CM subtypes were associated with different risk factors. This research highlights key modifiable factors to support early intervention and prevention of CM.

CPS response and service factors for the child maltreatment recurrence in South Korea

ABSTRACT This study examined whether the response and service characteristics of Child Protective Services (CPS) in Korea are different between the initial reports and subsequent reports in the context of child maltreatment recurrence and to identify the CPS system factors at initial reports associated with the first recurrence and the second recurrence. Study results from 7,544 maltreatment cases show that children and families of maltreatment recurrence were likely to have more emergency separation, legal action, case closure, out-of-home placement, in-home services, and counselling services for subsequent reports compared to initial reports. Also, reporter type, time to disposition decision, out-of-home placement, caregiver receiving mental health therapy, in-home services, and counselling for family members were associated with the risk of the first recurrence and a number of field visits for investigation and mental health therapy for family members were associated with the risk of the second recurrence. Implications were discussed based on the study findings.

ASPECTOS ORAIS DO ABUSO SEXUAL INFANTIL E CONDUTA DO CIRURGIÃO DENTISTA: REVISÃO DE LITERATURA

The study presents a literature review, the aim of which was to point out the main characteristics for detecting cases of child sexual abuse from the point of view of dentistry, as well as to highlight the importance of the dental surgeon in identifying and reporting cases of suspected child maltreatment and/or abuse. The bibliographic research was carried out in different databases, such as SciELO, Bireme, LILACS and PubMed, selecting studies that addressed the descriptors provided by the DECS database: children, child sexual abuse and dentistry, published between 2015 and 2023. To prepare the literature review, 40 articles were found. However, national and international articles that met the inclusion criteria were selected for the expanded abstract. The literature shows the importance of identifying child mistreatment and abuse in the dental field, listing the main manifestations of injuries in the head and neck region. This research is linked to increasing dental surgeons’ knowledge of child violence, so that professionals are better able to recognize the signs of abuse or neglect in children, which is crucial for identifying cases of violence and taking the necessary measures. Therefore, this paper aims to point out the main characteristics of child sexual abuse, as well as what the dental surgeon’s conduct should be when faced with this occurrence.

Child maltreatment and insomnia symptoms among Chinese university students: the buffering role of self-efficacy.

Insomnia symptoms represent a significant public health concern, as it engenders substantial long-term health consequences. Considerable research has established the detrimental impacts of child maltreatment on sleep problems among university students. However, the role of self-efficacy in the association between childhood maltreatment and insomnia remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the associations between child maltreatment and insomnia symptoms among university students, and to investigate whether self-efficacy moderated the effects of child maltreatment on insomnia symptoms. A total of 2014 participants with random cluster sampling method were recruited from Jinan University in Guangzhou, China, from October 2022 to November 2022. Adjusting for covariates, the results of multiple logistic regression indicated that the participants with the experience of any type of child maltreatment (odds ratio [OR] 2.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.63-3.07), childhood emotional abuse (OR 2.58, 95% CI 1.95-3.41), childhood emotional neglect (OR 1.16, 95% CI 0.87-1.54), childhood physical abuse (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.60-2.8), childhood physical neglect (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.64-2.92), childhood sexual abuse (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.46-2.68) were more likely to report insomnia symptoms than those without. Individuals reporting one-two types and three-five types of child maltreatment were 1.81 times (95% CI 1.30-2.52) and 3.77 times (95% CI 2.58-5.50) more likely to report insomnia symptoms than those reporting zero types of child maltreatment, respectively. Furthermore, robust linear regression analysis revealed that self-efficacy moderated the associations between child maltreatment and insomnia symptoms (β = 0.007, 95% CI 0.004-0.010). These findings underscore the need for integrated mental health education, support services, and faculty training to address the impact of child maltreatment on insomnia symptoms among university students. Policy recommendations include advocating for comprehensive mental health services, incorporating self-efficacy initiatives, and fostering community engagement for a holistic approach to student well-being.

Alliance processes in eating disorders with childhood maltreatment sequelae: Preliminary implications.

Effective eating disorder (ED) treatments are drastically needed for patients with experiences of sustained and prolonged emotional, physical and sexual childhood maltreatment (CM) that often results in post-traumatic sequelae such as severe, complex posttraumatic stress disorder (cPTSD). EDs with comorbid cPTSD (cPTSD-ED) have protracted treatment courses and poorer prognoses. To summarise the knowledge base on cPTSD-ED with specific emphasis on disturbances in self-organisation (DSO) in relation to therapeutic alliance (TA) processes. Expert opinions based on current relevant literature are critically examined. Preliminary insights on change and alliance processes suggest that neglecting to address emotional-relational processes in the conceptualisation and treatment of cPTSD-ED impedes treatment progress. We hypothesise that the DSO construct inherent in cPTSD-ED calls for a focus on TA processes in addition to traditional ED treatment elements such as nutritional rehabilitation and behaviour change, and regardless of ED treatment provided. More process research on a larger scale is urgently called for.