Childhood Maltreatment Experiences Research Articles

Maternal child maltreatment and trajectories of offspring behavioural and emotional difficulties from age 4 to 7 years - results from a prospective birth cohort study.

Maternal experience of child maltreatment (CM) has been associated with maternal and child mental health. However, evidence about the course of child mental health and maternal CM is scarce. Therefore, this study aims to compare trajectories of mental health in children according to maternal CM exposure and maternal mental health. We included 327 mothers and their singleton child from the Ulm SPATZ Health Study, a prospective birth cohort study. Child mental health was determined by the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) at the age of 4, 5, 6, and 7 years and maternal CM by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Results display that maternal CM is associated with more behavioural and emotional difficulties in children, a trend that tends to increase with older child age. The sum of maternal mental health problems across this time course mediates this association. Male child sex is associated with more mental health problems in the child and the mother. These results provide an important first insight into the relevance of maternal CM on the trajectories of mental health in the offspring and highlight the importance of chronicity and severity of maternal mental health. Further prospective research in cohorts with longer follow-ups up into adolescence and adulthood is needed.

The Effect of Parental Experience of Childhood Maltreatment on children’s Attachment Type: The Mediating Role of Parenting Self-Efficacy

ABSTRACT Attachment has emerged as a major topic of contemporary study on children’s social and personality development, with a rising acknowledgment of the impact of attachment type on children’s physical and mental health, personality development, and adult social connections. Although different factors determine attachment type in children, parental influence is the most essential. However, the impact of childhood maltreatment suffered by parents in their original families on the attachment type of their children and its internal mechanisms still needs to be investigated. Based on attachment theory and self-efficacy theory, this study explored the mediating role of parenting self-efficacy between parental childhood maltreatment and children’s different attachment types. The results showed that although parental childhood maltreatment did not directly predict children’s secure attachment, parenting self-efficacy significantly mediated the relationship between parental childhood maltreatment and children’s secure, resistant, avoidant and disorganized attachments. Meanwhile, parental childhood maltreatment negatively predicted parenting self-efficacy scores, and the mediating effect showed consistent significance between parents. These findings not only add to the existing literature of knowledge about the elements that influence attachment type but also give a theoretical foundation for mitigating the harmful impacts of parents’ early maltreatment experiences on their children’s attachment development.

The Role of Perceived Stress in the Relation between Childhood Maltreatment and Severity of Alcohol Use Disorder: A Mediation Analysis

Introduction: Experiences of Childhood Maltreatment (CM) relate to relapse and lower treatment success in Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), one of the most prevalent substance use disorders. However, the exact mechanisms of this relationship still remain unclear. This study examines perceived stress and “drinking to cope with negative affect” (coping) as possible mediators in this relationship. Moreover, it aims at uncovering the differential effects of the subtypes of CM. Methods: N = 96 individuals (42% women; mean age 41 ± 13 years) including healthy controls and individuals with varying severity of AUD and CM completed the Alcohol-Dependence Scale, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale and German Inventory of Drinking Situations. Mediation analyses including perceived stress as a mediator between CM (and subtypes) and severity of AUD, as well as a serial mediation of the relationship between CM and AUD severity by perceived stress and coping were conducted. Results: Perceived stress significantly mediated the relation between CM and AUD severity and the serial mediation by perceived stress and coping turned out significant. Subtype-specific analyses did not yield significant results. Conclusion: This study reinforces perceived stress as a potential mechanism in the relation between CM and AUD severity. Moreover, coping further mediated the relationship between CM and AUD severity. Our results suggest including screening for CM (subtypes) in clinical routine in order to individually emphasize interventions focusing on stress regulation, as well as on developing healthy coping mechanisms, in patients with AUD. This might prevent heightened stress sensitivity, relapse and further maintenance of AUD.

Self-stigma mediates the relationships between childhood maltreatment and symptom levels of PTSD, depression, and anxiety

ABSTRACT Background: Childhood maltreatment is a risk factor for developing multiple forms of psychopathology, including depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety. Yet, the mechanisms linking childhood maltreatment and these psychopathologies remain less clear. Objective: Here we examined whether self-stigma, the internalization of negative stereotypes about one's experiences, mediates the relationship between childhood maltreatment and symptom severity of depression, PTSD, and anxiety. Methods: Childhood trauma survivors (N = 685, Mage = 36.8) were assessed for childhood maltreatment, self-stigma, and symptoms of depression, PTSD, and anxiety. We used mediation analyses with childhood maltreatment as the independent variable. We then repeated these mediation models separately for childhood abuse and neglect, as well as the different subtypes of childhood maltreatment. Results: Self-stigma significantly mediated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and depression, PTSD, and anxiety symptoms. For sexual abuse – but not physical or emotional abuse – a significant mediation effect of self-stigma emerged on all symptom types. For childhood neglect, self-stigma significantly mediated the relationship between both emotional and physical neglect and all symptom types. Conclusion: Our cross-sectional study suggests that different types of childhood maltreatment experiences may relate to distinct mental health problems, potentially linked to increased self-stigma. Self-stigma may serve as an important treatment target for survivors of childhood abuse and neglect.

Linking mentalizing capacity, shame, and depressive symptoms in the context of childhood maltreatment

BackgroundExperiences of childhood maltreatment have been shown to be a crucial predictor of depressive symptoms. ObjectiveThis study investigated the association between a history of maltreatment and depressive symptoms in a mixed sample of adults, exploring whether feelings of shame and impairments in mentalizing mediate this association and potentially represent health-affecting factors associated with an increase in depressive symptoms. Further, the association between feelings of shame and depressive symptoms was expected to be moderated by impairments in mentalizing. Participants and settingA mixed sample of 796 adults, including clinical and non-clinical participants, completed questionnaires assessing retrospectively rated experiences of childhood maltreatment, feelings of shame, mentalizing capacities, and current depressive symptoms in a cross-sectional design. MethodsThe hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling. ResultsAssociations were found between childhood maltreatment, feelings of shame, impairments in mentalizing, and depressive symptoms. Impairments in mentalizing and feelings of shame partially mediated the link between maltreatment and depressive symptoms. However, impairments in mentalizing did not moderate the link between shame and depressive symptoms. ConclusionThe current study provides evidence for the role of metacognitive processes that affect mental health problems in the domain of depression. Psychological treatments that promote mentalizing capacities might be helpful in reducing feelings of shame, and consequently in reducing depressive symptoms.

The effects of a defendant's childhood physical abuse on lay support for sentencing: The moderating role of essentialism.

Research suggests that a defendant's history of experiencing childhood abuse, and its effects on their life and later decision-making, may impact public support for a defendant's sentencing, particularly mitigation. However, no existing research has examined how and why sentencing support may vary based on the time period when the abuse occurs during a defendant's childhood. This experiment, using a sample of the U.S. public (N=400), examines how the age at which a defendant's childhood physical abuse occurs affects lay support for the goals of their sentencing. We hypothesized that participants with higher levels of social and biological trait essentialism would moderate their increased support for more punitive sentencing goals-particularly when a defendant was abused earlier, rather than later, in childhood. Results suggest that social essentialism is associated with increased support for restoration and rehabilitation toward defendants with histories of childhood physical abuse, potentially indicating that the public views the effects of child abuse as more of a social, versus biological, process which may affect support for utilitarian punishment goals.

Alexithymia as a mediator between adverse childhood events and the development of psychopathology: a meta-analysis.

Victims of child abuse have an elevated risk of developing mental health issues later in life. Several variables have been suggested as mediators of this correlation, but little is known about the possible influence of alexithymia. Alexithymia is a sub-clinical personality trait that manifests as difficulties recognizing and verbalizing emotions. In this study, two separate meta-analyses were conducted using questionnaire data, and Pearson correlations for overall effects were estimated. The correlation between child abuse and alexithymia showed to be significant (r = .26), as did the correlation between alexithymia and general psychopathology (r = .44). Further analyses revealed no indication for possible publication bias. When investigating differences between various subtypes of child maltreatment, each subtype significantly correlated with alexithymia. Emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect had stronger correlations than physical and sexual abuse. These results suggest that alexithymia plays a mediating role, at least in part, in the relationship between experiences of child abuse and general psychopathology in adulthood. Therefore, alexithymia may be relevant to further research and deserves attention in the prevention of and therapy for mental health issues in victims of child abuse.

Association between Child Maltreatment and Intimate Partner Violence: Moderating Effects of Gender, Age, and Household Income Level

Purpose: This study examines the association between child maltreatment and the perpetration and victimization of intimate partner violence (IPV) in adulthood, exploring the moderating effects of gender, age, and household income level.Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed secondary data from the 2016 Domestic Violence Survey in South Korea, including 1,765 married individuals aged 65 or younger who responded to key variables. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze associations among the variables.Results: The paths from child maltreatment to IPV perpetration (β=.22, p<.001) and victimization (β=.22, p<.001) were statistically significant. Gender, age, and household income level significantly moderated this relationship. Women under 40 were more likely to be IPV victims than perpetrators. Low-income level increased the likelihood of being both perpetrators and victims. Women under 40 who had experienced child maltreatment and had a low-income level showed different probabilities of being victims or perpetrators of IPV.Conclusion: Our findings highlight the need to mitigate the negative impact of child maltreatment in adulthood by designing specific interventions for vulnerable groups, such as women, younger individuals, and those with low-income levels. Ensuring lifelong prevention of child maltreatment and establishing tailored programs for IPV is crucial.

성인의 아동기 정서적 학대 경험이 대인관계문제에 미치는 영향

Objectives The purpose of this study was to confirm the mediating effect of traumatized self-system, emotion dysregulation, and interpersonal problems. when emotional abuse experiences in childhood affect interpersonal problems in adults. Methods Data were collected and analyzed by using the childhood Emotional Abuse scale, traumatized self-system scale, emotion dysregulation scale, and interpersonal problems scale on 376 men and women aged 19 or older (77 men and 299 women). An analysis was conducted using SPSS 22.0 and PROCESS Macro v4.1 programs to verify the superior relationship and mediating effect of childhood emotional abuse, traumatized self-system, emotion dysregulation, and interpersonal problems. Results The main results of the study are summarized as follows. First, there was a significant positive correlation between childhood emotional abuse, traumatized self-system, emotion dysregulation, and interpersonal problems. Second, in the relationship between emotional abuse and interpersonal problems in childhood, self-system damage and emotion dysregulation showed complete mediating effects. Third, in the relationship between emotional abuse and interpersonal problems in childhood, there was a sequential dual mediating effect of traumatized self-system and emotion dysregulation. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that the greater the emotional abuse experience of adults in childhood, the higher the level of self-system damage, and the higher the level of self-system damage, the more difficulty in controlling emotions, causing interpersonal problems. Finally, the limitations of the study and the direction of the follow-up study were suggested.

A Brief Report on Empowering Children and Young People through Participation: Giving Space and Voice to Childhood Experiences of Domestic Violence and Abuse

A Brief Report on Empowering Children and Young People through Participation: Giving Space and Voice to Childhood Experiences of Domestic Violence and Abuse

What Psychological Structures Can Support the Satisfaction of Basic Psychological Needs? Attachment Styles, Childhood Maltreatment Experiences, and the Role of Interpersonal Communication Competence

This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the relationships between basic psychological needs, attachment styles, childhood maltreatment experiences, and interpersonal communication competence. The study group consisted of 283 university students. The Need Satisfaction Scale, Three-Dimensional Attachment Styles Scale, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, and Interpersonal Communication Competence Inventory were used as measurement tools. According to the correlation analysis findings, need satisfaction was associated with anxious-ambivalent attachment style, avoidant attachment style, physical abuse, emotional abuse, listening skills, social relaxation skills, and expressive skills. The hierarchical regression model included attachment styles in the first step, childhood maltreatment experiences in the second step, and interpersonal communication competence in the third step. Regression analysis results revealed that anxious-ambivalent attachment style, emotional abuse, listening skill, social relaxation skill, and expressive skill accounted for 40.3% of the total variance of need satisfaction. In line with the hierarchical regression analysis findings, it can be stated that the variable with the most robust predictive role is emotional abuse among childhood maltreatment experiences. The present study provides findings that early experiences and communication competence, which can be affected by these experiences, are essential factors in meeting basic psychological needs. Therefore, the results of the study may be effective in psychological interventions that focus on meeting basic psychological needs.

The Correlation Between Exposure to Violence and Parental Monitoring: Differences Between Mothers and Fathers From Palestinian–Israeli Families

ABSTRACTIn this study, I investigated the correlations between retrospectively reported experiences of child abuse in the family‐of‐origin and exposure to community violence as adults on parental monitoring among Palestinian–Israeli parents. A sample of 760 parents (453 mothers, 59.6%) participated in the study. A self‐administered questionnaire was used. Results showed that both experiencing child abuse and community violence victimization were associated with high levels of parental stress, and experiencing child abuse was also associated with low levels of parental monitoring. Indirect effects of parental stress were found between both types of violence exposure and parental monitoring. Among mothers, there were additional indirect effects between violence exposure and parental monitoring. These findings suggest that exposure to multiple contexts of violence correlated with parental behaviours, and parenting programmes should focus on reducing parental stress and improving parental monitoring, considering the gender differences. Overall, this study highlights the importance of addressing the outcomes of trauma on parenting monitoring, which can have significant implications for public health.

Mediating role of right superior corona microstructural changes in linking attentional control and trait anxiety among youth with childhood maltreatment.

This study explores the neural correlates between attentional control and trait anxiety among youth with a history of childhood maltreatment. Using diffusion tensor imaging, we investigated the microstructural integrity of brain white matter, particularly focusing on the right superior corona radiata (SCA-R). A total of 173 university students with experiences of childhood maltreatment underwent behavioral assessments using the Attentional Control Scale and trait anxiety measurements via the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Our analysis found significant correlations between fractional anisotropy values in the SCA-R and trait anxiety levels, controlled for age and sex. Notably, SCA-R fractional anisotropy values partially mediated the relationship between attentional control and trait anxiety, suggesting a potential pathway through which attentional control could mitigate trait anxiety. These insights highlight attentional control as a potential mitigating factor against trait anxiety, particularly noting the partial mediation role of the SCA-R. Importantly, this study is descriptive and correlative, highlighting associations rather than causal relationships among the variables studied. These findings enhance our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying anxiety in individuals with a history of childhood maltreatment.

Couple relationship functioning and social adjustment during the transition to parenthood among fathers with a history of maltreatment.

Study of fathers has gained significant traction over recent decades. However, the experience for men over the transition to parenthood remains focused on high-socioeconomic and socially advantaged fathers. Researchers have yet to thoroughly investigate how fathers may uniquely experience this transition period with a history of childhood maltreatment, given that childhood abuse is known to impact several components of development and relationship functioning into adulthood. The current study endeavored to fill this gap by evaluating the associations between fathers' childhood experiences of physical and emotional abuse and their relationship functioning over the transition to parenthood in terms of both the couple relationship and social adjustment in relationships with others. Using data from 399 fathers who participated in a randomized control trial during pregnancy, the results from stepwise regressions indicate fathers with a history of emotional abuse experience particular declines in their external relationships (reductions in social support and increases in social stress) from prenatal (Wave 1) to postpartum (Wave 2) reports. However, no significant association emerged between fathers' history of maltreatment and their relationship functioning with their partners. These results underscore the importance of investigating the impact of different types of abuse on men in fatherhood. Moreover, we emphasize the need to study further fathers' social adjustment over the transition to parenthood beyond the couple relationship and broad social support to address the needs of men with a history of maltreatment in their new role as fathers.

Occipital connectivity networks mediate the neural effects of childhood maltreatment on depressive symptoms in major depressive disorder

BackgroundChildhood maltreatment (CM) is a well-established risk factor for major depressive disorder (MDD). The neural mechanisms linking childhood maltreatment experiences to changes in brain functional networks and the onset of depression are not fully understood. MethodsIn this study, we enrolled 66 patients with MDD and 31 healthy controls who underwent resting-state fMRI scans and neuropsychological assessments. We employed multivariate linear regression to examine the neural associations of CM and depression, specifically focusing on the bilateral occipital functional connectivity (OFC) networks relevant to MDD. Subsequently, a two-step mediation analysis was conducted to assess whether the OFC network mediated the relationship between CM experiences and the severity of depression. ResultsOur study showed that patients with MDD exhibited reduced OFC strength, particularly in the occipito-temporal, parietal, and premotor regions. These reductions were negatively correlated with CM scores and the severity of depression. Notably, the overlapping regions in the bilateral OFC networks, affected by both CM experiences and depressive severity, were primarily observed in the bilateral cuneus, left angular and calcarine, as well as the right middle frontal cortex and superior parietal cortex. Furthermore, the altered strengths of the OFC networks were identified as positive mediators of the impact of CM history on depression symptoms in patients with MDD. ConclusionWe have demonstrated that early exposure to CM may increase vulnerability to depression by influencing the brain's network. These findings provide new insights into understanding the pathological mechanism underlying depressive symptoms induced by CM.

Relations Between Attachment to Mother and Father, Childhood Maltreatment, and Body Shame in Inpatient Adolescents

ABSTRACT Body shame during adolescence can lead to numerous detrimental outcomes that may not only persist but also worsen in adulthood. Therefore, understanding predictors of body shame, including relational factors, is crucial. The aim of the study was to examine the relationships between attachment security to both mother and father, experiences of childhood maltreatment, and body shame in youth. Seventy-seven inpatient adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 completed the Body Shame subscale of the Experience of Shame Scale, the Security Scale, and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire to respectively assess body shame, attachment security to parents, and experiences of abuse and neglect. Body shame was negatively associated with attachment security to father (but not to mother) and positively correlated with experiences of emotional abuse and emotional neglect. Among the studied factors, attachment security to father emerged as the strongest predictor of body shame in adolescents.

Onto the Next Generation: Exploring the Impact of Mother’s Experiences of Child Abuse and Commercial Sex Industry Involvement on Child Custody Outcomes

ABSTRACT Women and girls remain substantially overrepresented in the commercial sex industry. While a number of outcomes have been linked to childhood abuse and involvement with the commercial sex industry, there exists a gap in understanding the unique impact of child abuse on child custody outcomes among adult women involved in the commercial sex industry. Drawing from data collected from 107 case files of adult women with a history of commercial sex industry involvement, the aim of the current study was to understand the link between child abuse history, commercial sex industry involvement, and child custody outcomes. Results indicated that among women who reported a history of child sex trafficking, 91.7% reported having endured child abuse. Further, 82.4% of women reported that their children were not under their custody. Dysfunctional family dynamics, substance abuse, and economic and structural barriers endured by these women are explored further, and intergenerational continuity of such traumagenic precarities is considered as a prolonged implication of such issues. Through a trauma-informed perspective, implications for prevention and intervention are discussed.

Increased plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and its associations with metabolic risk in healthy young adults with early life stress

ObjectivesWe aimed to characterize the interplay between early life stress (ELS), metabolic syndrome (MetS), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), a major inhibitor of the fibrinolytic system implicated in cardiometabolic diseases. We also examined the understudied intersection of ELS, physical activity and PAI-1. MethodsHealthy young adults ages 18–40 (N=200; 68% female) were recruited from the community. Participants with ELS (N=118) experienced childhood maltreatment, and the majority (n=92) also experienced childhood parental loss. Control participants (N=82) had no history of childhood maltreatment or parental loss. Participants had no current cardiometabolic or thrombotic conditions. Fasting plasma samples were assessed for markers of metabolic risk and total PAI-1 using the Bio-Plex Pro Human Diabetes Panel (Bio-Rad Laboratories). A composite metabolic risk z-score (MetS risk) was computed from the mean standardized z-scores of waist-to-height ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL and HLD cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, and hemoglobin A1c. ResultsWe found that a history of ELS was linked to both higher PAI-1 levels and a higher MetS risk score. ELS was associated with a higher MetS Z-score in adulthood via increased circulating PAI-1 levels (Average Causal Mediation Effect [ACME]= 0.07, p = 0.036). ELS was also linked to increased PAI-1 levels via greater MetS z-scores (ACME = 0.02, p < 0.001). There was a significant interaction effect of ELS and exercise on PAI-1 levels (p = 0.03), such that engaging in higher levels of daily exercise was linked to lower PAI-1 levels in individuals with ELS. ConclusionHealthy young adults with ELS have elevated PAI-1 levels and metabolic risk scores. Among individuals with ELS, exercise is linked to lower PAI-1 levels, suggesting a potential direction for early intervention.

Maternal childhood emotional abuse increases cardiovascular responses to children's emotional facial expressions.

Parents with a history of childhood maltreatment may be more likely to respond inadequately to their child's emotional cues, such as crying or screaming, due to previous exposure to prolonged stress. While studies have investigated parents' physiological reactions to their children's vocal expressions of emotions, less attention has been given to their responses when perceiving children's facial expressions of emotions. The present study aimed to determine if viewing facial expressions of emotions in children induces cardiovascular changes in mothers (hypo- or hyper-arousal) and whether these differ as a function of childhood maltreatment. A total of 104 mothers took part in this study. Their experiences of childhood maltreatment were measured using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Participants' electrocardiogram signals were recorded during a task in which they viewed a landscape video (baseline) and images of children's faces expressing different intensities of emotion. Heart rate variability (HRV) was extracted from the recordings as an indicator of parasympathetic reactivity. Participants presented two profiles: one group of mothers had a decreased HRV when presented with images of children's facial expressions of emotions, while the other group's HRV increased. However, HRV change was not significantly different between the two groups. The interaction between HRV groups and the severity of maltreatment experienced was marginal. Results suggested that experiences of childhood emotional abuse were more common in mothers whose HRV increased during the task. Therefore, more severe childhood experiences of emotional abuse could be associated with mothers' cardiovascular hyperreactivity. Maladaptive cardiovascular responses could have a ripple effect, influencing how mothers react to their children's facial expressions of emotions. That reaction could affect the quality of their interaction with their child. Providing interventions that help parents regulate their physiological and behavioral responses to stress might be helpful, especially if they have experienced childhood maltreatment.

Childhood maltreatment and alcohol and tobacco use trajectories in rural Chinese adolescents

BackgroundThere is a high prevalence of childhood maltreatment among Chinese children and adolescents, but little is known about its impact on alcohol and tobacco use trajectories and how positive school and neighborhood environments moderate the associations. The objective of this study was to assess the association between multiple forms of childhood maltreatment and longitudinal alcohol and tobacco use trajectories, and to assess the possibility that perceived connections to school and neighborhood moderate these associations.MethodsThis longitudinal cohort study included 2594 adolescents (9 to 13 years) from a low-income rural area in China. Childhood exposure to abuse and neglect was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Participants reported past-month alcohol and tobacco use at three time points over 1 year.ResultsGrowth curve models revealed that childhood sexual abuse was associated with a higher risk of past-month drinking (OR = 1.53, 95% CI 1.19–2.03, p < 0.001) and smoking (OR = 1.82, 95% CI 1.30–2.55, p < 0.001). Neglect was associated with a higher risk of past-month drinking (OR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.06–1.90, p < 0.05) and smoking (OR = 2.02, 95% CI 1.34–3.02, p < 0.001). None of the maltreatment forms predicted a faster increase in either drinking or smoking. These associations were found independent of personal, family, and contextual characteristics. School and neighborhood connection moderated the association between physical abuse and past-month drinking, such that physical abuse was associated with a greater risk of drinking only for youth who perceived low school or neighborhood connections.ConclusionsFindings demonstrate the importance of early experiences of childhood maltreatment for adolescent alcohol and tobacco use. Enhancing school and neighborhood connectedness for physically abused youth may help protect them from alcohol use.