History Of Childhood Abuse Research Articles

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.

Relationship between a history of child abuse and feelings of entrapment in Lebanese adults: the co-moderating effect of social support and religiosity

BackgroundThis study aims to investigate the moderating influence of social support and religiosity in the association between child abuse and entrapment during adulthood. This cross-sectional study recruited 352 Lebanese adults between November 2022 and January 2023. The survey included several sociodemographic items and validated instruments like the Child Abuse Self Report Scale, the Entrapment Scale Short Form, the Centrality of Religiosity Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support.ResultsThe moderation analysis indicates that there is a positive relationship between physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect with entrapment, and the intensity of this correlation may vary depending on various levels of social support and religiosity. Religiosity and social support may help mitigate the intensity of entrapment experienced, making it less severe when support or religiosity is high but not enough to lead to a negative relationship between child abuse and entrapment.ConclusionThis study is crucial as it recognizes the long-lasting impact of child abuse and its potential relationship with feelings of entrapment in adulthood, especially that it stresses long-term follow-up and support for survivors with regular assessments of coping strategies to help individuals navigate challenges and promote continued healing.

The role of loneliness and social isolation in mediating the relationship between childhood maltreatment and schizophrenia: A genetically informed approach.

Observational studies have found loneliness and social isolation to mediate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and schizophrenia. Limitations with observational studies (e.g., confounding and reverse causation), however, have meant the robustness of these relationships has thus far not been explored. To address this gap, the current study utilized genomic structural equation modeling (genomic SEM) and Mendelian randomization (MR) to perform a genetic mediation analysis between childhood maltreatment, loneliness/isolation, and schizophrenia, using summary statistics from three genome-wide association studies (sample sizes 105,318-487,647). While we observed a putative effect of both childhood maltreatment (inverse variance weighted OR = 3.44 per standard deviation increase, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.66-7.13], p < .001) and loneliness/isolation (OR = 2.98, 95% CI [1.37-6.46], p = .006) on schizophrenia, our hypothesis that loneliness/isolation would mediate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and schizophrenia was not supported (genomic SEM indirect effect = -0.05, SE = 0.05, p = .255; MR indirect effect = 0.10, SE = 0.11, p = .369). Furthermore, reverse mediation analysis indicated that the effect may be in the opposite direction (genomic SEM indirect effect = 0.11, SE = 0.02, p < .001; MR indirect effect = 0.01, SE = 0.00, p < .001), accounting for 20.3%-28.9% of the total effect. The current results suggest that intervening in loneliness/isolation in individuals with a history of childhood maltreatment is unlikely to reduce schizophrenia risk. On the contrary, targeting loneliness/isolation in individuals with a genetic predisposition toward schizophrenia may diminish childhood maltreatment risk. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

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 exposure is differentially associated with transdiagnostic perinatal depression symptoms

History of childhood maltreatment (CM) is common and robustly associated with prenatal and postpartum (perinatal) depression. Given perinatal depression symptom heterogeneity, a transdiagnostic approach to measurement could enhance understanding of patterns between CM and perinatal depression. MethodsIn two independently collected samples of women receiving care at perinatal psychiatry clinics (n = 523 and n = 134), we categorized longitudinal symptoms of perinatal depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep into transdiagnostic factors derived from the Research Domain Criteria and depression literatures. We split the perinatal period into four time points. We conducted a latent profile analysis of transdiagnostic factors in each period. We then used self-reported history of CM (total exposure and subtypes of abuse and neglect) to predict class membership. ResultsA three-class solution best fit our data. In relation to positive adaptive functioning, one class had relatively more positive symptoms (high adaptive), one class had average values (middle adaptive), and one class had fewer adaptive symptoms (low adaptive). More total CM and specific subtypes associated with threat/abuse increased an individual's likelihood of being in the Low Adaptive class in both samples (ORs: 0.90–0.97, p < .05). LimitationsGeneralizability of our results was curtailed by 1) limited racial/ethnic diversity and 2) missing data. ConclusionsOur results support taking a person-centered approach to characterize the relationship between perinatal depression and childhood maltreatment. Given evidence that increased exposure to childhood maltreatment is associated with worse overall symptoms, providers should consider incorporating preventative, transdiagnostic interventions for perinatal distress in individuals with a history of childhood maltreatment.

Parvalbumin interneurons in human ventromedial prefrontal cortex: a comprehensive post-mortem study of myelination and perineuronal nets in neurotypical individuals and depressed suicides with and without a history of child abuse.

Cortical parvalbumin interneurons (PV+) are major regulators of excitatory/inhibitory information processing, and their maturation is associated with the opening of developmental critical periods (CP). Recent studies reveal that cortical PV+ axons are myelinated, and that myelination along with perineuronal net (PNN) maturation around PV+ cells is associated with the closures of CP. Although PV+ interneurons are susceptible to early-life stress, their relationship between their myelination and PNN coverage remains unexplored. This study compared the fine features of PV+ interneurons in well-characterized human post-mortem ventromedial prefrontal cortex samples (n = 31) from depressed suicides with or without a history of child abuse (CA) and matched controls. In healthy controls, 81% of all sampled PV+ interneurons displayed a myelinated axon, while a subset (66%) of these cells also displayed a PNN, proposing a relationship between both attributes. Intriguingly, a 3-fold increase in the proportion of unmyelinated PV+ interneurons with a PNN was observed in CA victims, along with greater PV-immunofluorescence intensity in myelinated PV+ cells with a PNN. This study, which is the first to provide normative data on myelination and PNNs around PV+ interneurons in human neocortex, sheds further light on the cellular and molecular consequences of early-life adversity on cortical PV+ interneurons.

Adverse childhood events and self-harming behaviours among individuals in Ontario forensic system: the mediating role of psychopathy

BackgroundAdverse childhood events (ACEs), psychopathy, and self-harming behaviours are prevalent among individuals in the forensic psychiatry system. While existing literature suggests that ACEs, self-harm, and psychopathy are interrelated, little is known about the interplay of psychopathic traits in this relationship. The present study aimed to determine the mediating role of psychopathy in the relationship between ACEs and self-harming behaviours in forensic patients.MethodsThis was a retrospective study of patients under the Ontario Review Board (ORB) between 2014 and 2015. In the analysis, we included patients with complete data on ACEs, self-harming behaviours, and a Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) score - a measure of psychopathic traits and their severity conducted during the reporting period. Mediation analysis was based on the Baron and Kenny approach, and sensitivity analysis was performed based on the types of ACEs.Results​​​The sample population (n = 593) was made up of adults, with a mean age of 41.21 (± 12.35) years and were predominantly males (92.37%). While there was a partial mediating effect of psychopathy on the relationship between ACEs and incidents of self-harming behaviours in the past year, the mediation was complete in the relationship between ACEs and a lifetime history of self-harming behaviours. Following sensitivity analysis based on the types of ACE, the mediating effects were more attributed to specific ACEs, especially having experienced child abuse or having an incarcerated household member before 18 years.ConclusionAmong forensic patients in Ontario, psychopathy mediates​ ​the relationship between experiencing ACEs and engaging in self-harming behaviours. Effective intervention to mitigate self-harming behaviours in this population should consider the potential role of psychopathy, especially among individuals who have experienced ACEs involving a history of child abuse and a family who was incarcerated.

Understanding the Relation between Short Birth Spacing and Child Maltreatment: Are Associations Due to Parental History of Childhood Abuse and Neglect?

AbstractExisting literature documents connections between short birth spacing (birth‐to‐conception interval of under 18 months) and the risk of child maltreatment, but explanations for this relation are understudied. We hypothesise that short birth spacing predicts child maltreatment, and it mediates the association between maternal history of childhood maltreatment and their child's risk of abuse and neglect. We use data for second and higher parity children from the Prospective Study of Infant Development (n = 335) and fit logistic regression models with relevant covariates to examine the association between maternal history of childhood maltreatment, her offspring's short birth spacing and her offspring's child maltreatment (CM) as measured by Child Protective Services (CPS) assessments. Findings demonstrate that children of mothers who reported experiencing any abuse or neglect during childhood have a higher likelihood of being born shortly spaced and a higher likelihood of CM. Additionally, short birth spacing is associated with increased likelihood of CM. No evidence for mediation from maternal history of maltreatment to CM operating through short birth spacing was detected. We conclude that maternal history of childhood maltreatment and short birth spacing are independent, additive factors for CM risk.

Atypical Brain Aging and Its Association With Working Memory Performance in Major Depressive Disorder

BackgroundPatients with major depressive disorder (MDD) can present with altered brain structure and deficits in cognitive function similar to those seen in aging. However, the interaction between age-related brain changes and brain development in MDD remains understudied. In a cohort of adolescents and adults with and without MDD, we assessed brain aging differences and associations through a newly developed tool that quantifies normative neurodevelopmental trajectories. MethodsA total of 304 participants with MDD and 236 control participants without depression were recruited and scanned from 3 studies under the Canadian Biomarker Integration Network for Depression. Volumetric data were used to generate brain centile scores, which were examined for 1) differences between participants with MDD and control participants; 2) differences between individuals with versus without severe childhood maltreatment; and 3) correlations with depressive symptom severity, neurocognitive assessment domains, and escitalopram treatment response. ResultsBrain centiles were significantly lower in the MDD group than in the control group. Brain centile was also significantly correlated with working memory in the control group but not the MDD group. No significant associations were observed between depression severity or antidepressant treatment response and brain centiles. Likewise, childhood maltreatment history did not significantly affect brain centiles. ConclusionsConsistent with previous work on machine learning models that predict brain age, brain centile scores differed in people diagnosed with MDD, and MDD was associated with differential relationships between centile scores and working memory. The results support the notion of atypical development and aging in MDD, with implications for neurocognitive deficits associated with aging-related cognitive function.

Associations between child maltreatment and hospital admissions for alcohol and other substance use-related disorders up to 40 years of age: Results from the Childhood Adversity and Lifetime Morbidity study.

Evidence on the associations between child maltreatment (CM), alcohol use disorders (AUDs) and other substance use disorders (SUDs) comes largely from retrospective studies. These rely on self-reported data, which may be impacted by recall bias. Using prospective CM reports to statutory agencies, we measured associations between CM notifications and inpatient admissions for AUDs and SUDs up to 40 years of age. Observational study linking administrative health data from Queensland, Australia to prospective birth cohort data comprising both agency-reported and substantiated notifications of CM. Outcomes were inpatient admissions for AUDs and SUDs based on ICD-10-Australian modification (AM)-coded primary diagnoses. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analyses were undertaken. Ten per cent (n = 609) of the cohort had a history of agency-reported or substantiated CM notifications before age 15. These individuals had higher adjusted odds of being admitted for AUDs and SUDs. For AUDs, the adjusted odds of inpatient admission were 2.86 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.73-4.74] greater where there was any previous agency-reported CM and 3.38 (95% CI = 1.94-5.89) greater where there was any previous substantiated CM. For SUDs, the adjusted odds of inpatient admission were 3.34 (95% CI = 2.42-4.61) greater where there was any previous agency-reported CM and 2.98 (95% CI = 2.04-4.36) greater where there was any previous substantiated CM. People with a history of child maltreatment appear to have significantly higher odds of inpatient admissions for alcohol use disorders and other substance use disorders up to 40 years of age compared to people with no history of child maltreatment.

The relationship between maternal-infant bonding and postpartum depression/anxiety: moderating effect of childhood psychological abuse and validation of the Mother-to-Infant Bonding scale (MIBS-8) in Arabic

BackgroundThe emotional bond that a mother senses to her infant is essential to their social, emotional, and cognitive development. Understanding the level of mother-infant bonding plays an imperative role in the excellence of care. However, in Lebanon, there is a paucity of information about mother-infant bonding in the postpartum period. Given that Lebanese pregnant women constitute an important part of the population to look at, the objectives of the study were to (1) validate the Arabic version of the mother–infant bonding scale and (2) the relation between mother-infant bond and postpartum depression/anxiety; (3) the moderating effect of child abuse in the association between mother-infant bond and postpartum depression/anxiety.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2022 until June 2023, enrolling 438 women 4–6 weeks after delivery (mean age: 31.23 ± 5.24 years). To examine the factor structure of the mother-infant bond scale, we used an Exploratory-Confirmatory (EFA-CFA) strategy. To check if the model was adequate, several fit indices were calculated: the normed model chi-square (χ2/df), the Steiger-Lind root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), the Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) and the comparative fit index (CFI).ResultsEFA was conducted on the first subsample. Three items were removed. The five items remaining loaded on one factor, which explained 73.03% of the common variance (ω = .91 / α = .90). After adding a correlation between residuals for items 2–7 and 5–8, fit indices of the CFA results were acceptable: χ2/df = 6.97/3 = 2.32, RMSEA = .068 (90% CI .001, .135), SRMR = .017, CFI = .996, TLI = .988. The interaction maternal-infant bonding by child psychological abuse was significantly associated with depression and anxiety respectively. At low, moderate and high levels of child psychological abuse, higher maternal-infant bonding scores (greater difficulty in bonding) were significantly associated with higher depression and higher anxiety respectively.ConclusionThis study provides, for the first time, a specific Arabic scale to assess mother-infant bonding reliably and validly. Furthermore, our study has suggested the existence of factors that have additive effects in potentiating the risk for depression and anxiety among Lebanese postpartum women, namely a history of psychological child abuse. Therefore, laborious awareness programs and healthcare services need to be implemented in order to prevent maternal mental health disorders from being unrecognized and left untreated.

The Relations Among Childhood Maltreatment and Later Intimate Partner Violence Victimization With and Without a Weapon in a Sample of Pregnant Black Individuals.

Black pregnant and postpartum individuals are at risk for intimate partner violence (IPV), and those with a history of childhood maltreatment and IPV are even more likely to be re-victimized during pregnancy. However, it is unknown if specific types of child maltreatment predict later IPV with and without a weapon better than others. The current study sought to (i) document the prevalence of childhood maltreatment and IPV and (ii) examine the relations among types of childhood maltreatment and later IPV with and without a weapon within a sample of Black individuals seeking prenatal care at a large public hospital in the southeastern United States. Participants (n = 186; mean age = 27.2 years, SD = 5.3) completed measures assessing childhood maltreatment and IPV with and without a weapon. Approximately 68.5% of participants (n = 124) endorsed experiencing childhood maltreatment, while 42.6% (n = 78) endorsed experiencing IPV. The bivariate relations among five childhood maltreatment types (i.e., sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, physical and emotional neglect) and IPV with and without a weapon were assessed. All childhood maltreatment subtype scores-except childhood physical neglect-were significantly higher among participants who reported a history of IPV with or without a weapon compared to participants who denied a history of IPV with or without a weapon. Logistic regression models revealed childhood sexual abuse emerged as the only significant predictor of experiencing IPV with a weapon (B = 0.10, p = .003) and IPV without a weapon (B = 0.11, p = .001). For every point increase in childhood sexual abuse subtype score, the odds of experiencing IPV with and without a weapon increased by 10% (OR = 1.10, 95%CI [1.04, 1.18]) and 12% (OR = 1.12, [1.05, 1.20]), respectively. Findings suggest that screening for childhood sexual abuse may provide a critical opportunity for maternity care providers to identify individuals at increased risk for IPV victimization with and without a weapon.

Pathway from Childhood Maltreatment to Perceived Parental Competence and Intimate Partner Violence Among Expecting Fathers: The Role of PTSD Symptoms

ABSTRACT Men who have a history of childhood maltreatment may be at risk of experiencing significant challenges during the transition to parenthood, which might be explained by the presence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Using a nonclinical community sample of 230 expecting fathers, the aims of the current study were as follows (1) to investigate, during the prenatal period, associations between childhood maltreatment and perceived parental competence as well as between childhood maltreatment and intimate partner violence, and (2) to evaluate whether PTSD symptoms contributed to explaining these associations. A structural equation model showed that the severity of childhood maltreatment predicted more severe PTSD symptoms, which in turn predicted higher levels of intimate partner violence as well as a lower perceived parental competence. No direct associations between childhood maltreatment and both perceived parental competence and intimate partner violence were observed. Implications for interventions and future research are discussed.

Prevalence and patterns of post-traumatic stress disorder in victims of intimate partner violence

IntroductionIt’s a well-known fact that violence, particularly repetitive violence or violence lasting several years, as is often the case with intimate partner violence (IPV), has a severe psycho-traumatic impact. Although not all women are affected to the same degree or in the same way, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the most common mental health consequence of IPV.ObjectivesTo assess the psycho-traumatic impact of IPV on female victims. To study the factors associated with PTSD among these women.MethodsWe conducted a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional observational study, carried out over a 10-month period from March 2021 to December 2021, among female victims of IPV consulting psychiatric emergencies at UHC Hédi Chaker, Sfax, Tunisia for medical expertise at the request of the court. We studied the PTSD in these women using the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist Scale (PCLS).ResultsThe total number of participants was 120 with an average age of 37.27 years. The majority had secondary education or less (62.5%), were professionally active (53.3%), and were financially dependent on their partners (26.7%). As for the women’s clinical characteristics, 19.2% were under psychiatric care, 15% had attempted suicide and 10% had a history of childhood abuse. Regarding the couple’s profile, marriage was arranged in 58.3% of cases, and the average duration of marriage was 12.34 years, exceeding 10 years in 44.2% of cases.The impact reported by our women was 100% psychological and 96.7% familial. As a result, 75.8% had sought help from family and friends, and 55.8% had decided to separate from their partners.According to the PCLS scale, 78.3% of female victims showed PTSD with a positive score &gt; 44. It was associated with a higher number of suicide attempts (p=0.04), a marriage duration exceeding 10 years (p=0.02), help-seeking (p=0.001), and divorce (p=0.014).ConclusionsPTSD is a particularly serious psychiatric condition. However, its impact remains insufficiently understood and taken into account in medical, psychological, social, and legal care. Knowing the psycho-traumatic consequences of violence is absolutely essential to better protect, support, and care for victims.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Women’s emotional dependence on men and its relationship to intimate partner violence

IntroductionA woman’s emotional dependence on a man refers to a marked need for care, protection, and support, even in situations where the woman is able to function autonomously. This dependence fosters a fusional bond that makes it difficult for the woman to leave the relationship, however unhealthy it may be. This puts the victim at greater risk of suffering and tolerating violence, in particular intimate partner violence (IPV).ObjectivesTo study the emotional dependence of women who are victims of IPV, and to determine the factors associated with this dependence.MethodsWe conducted a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional observational study, carried out over a 10-month period from March 2021 to December 2021, among female victims of IPV consulting psychiatric emergencies at UHC Hedi Chaker, Sfax, Tunisia for medical expertise at the request of the court.Emotional dependence was assessed using the Emotional Dependence Questionnaire (EDQ) which contains 20 items. Responses are given on a seven-point Likert-type scale which is recoded so that a high score reflects a high level of emotional dependence in relationships.ResultsThe total number of participants was 120 with an average age of 37.27 years. The majority had secondary education or less (62.5%), were professionally active (53.3%), and were financially dependent on their partners (26.7%). As for the women’s clinical characteristics, 19.2% were under psychiatric care, 15% had attempted suicide and 10% had a history of childhood abuse. Tobacco was the only psychoactive substance consumed by 12.5% of the women. The average length of marriage was 12.34 years, exceeding 10 years in 44.2% of cases. Marital conflicts had existed since the very beginning of the relationship in 91.7% of cases.The mean total score of the EDQ was 79.38, indicating a slight emotional dependence of these women on their spouses. It was correlated with childhood violence (p=0.028), smoking (p=0.049), early conflict (p&lt;10-3), and personal psychiatric history (p=0.02).ConclusionsA link, probably bidirectional, may occur between emotional dependence and IPV, particularly a link with maintaining the relationship in an IPV context. However, the slight emotional dependence of our victims may explain why they seek help from the police and report the violence.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Childhood maltreatment and somatic symptoms: Examining the role of specific types of childhood maltreatment and alexithymia.

Given the strong association between a history of childhood maltreatment and somatic symptoms, identification of therapeutically modifiable intervention targets is warranted. Alexithymia, or difficulty identifying and describing emotions, may be playing an important role. The present study examined contributions of alexithymia and childhood maltreatment as related to somatic symptoms. Participants (N = 447) completed measures of childhood maltreatment, alexithymia, and somatic symptoms. Two three-step hierarchical linear regressions were conducted to examine the unique contribution of alexithymia after accounting for demographic characteristics and childhood maltreatment. The first regression utilized total scores, and the second explored five domains of childhood maltreatment, a trauma validity index, and three domains of alexithymia. In the first linear regression, childhood maltreatment and alexithymia were significantly associated with higher somatic symptoms. In the second linear regression, childhood maltreatment and alexithymia both significantly added to the model; however, only emotional abuse was significantly associated with somatic symptoms. In line with previous research, childhood maltreatment and alexithymia are associated with somatic symptoms. Given specific domains of alexithymia were nonsignificant in this relationship, it appears no single aspect of alexithymia is of greater importance. Future research should examine these associations longitudinally, as improving alexithymia may help improve outcomes in individuals with childhood maltreatment history experiencing somatic symptoms. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

IJCM_341A: Prevalence Of Depression And Anxiety Among High School Adolescents Of Urban Area, Belagavi - A Cross Sectional Study

Background: Adolescence, which lasts from the ages of 10-19, is the stage of life between childhood and adulthood. Health issues like alcohol and drug use, poor nutrition, and physical inactivity are widespread among adolescents. Notably, mental health stands out as one of the most prevalent and significant concerns in this age group. Schools are beneficial in recognizing the mental health care needs of adolescents, given that a substantial amount of their time is spent at school. Hence the study was conducted in school to investigate prevalence of depression and anxiety among adolescent students. Objective: To assess the prevalence of depression and anxiety among high school adolescents and to know the determinants associated with it. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out among high school adolescent students of schools in urban area of Belagavi. After getting approval from IEC, the data was collected from 100 students using pre-designed, pretested questionnaire. And Depression and Anxiety were assessed using the Becks Depression Inventory (BDI) scale and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) respectively. Results: Depression prevalence was 45% among students, categorized as mild (23%), borderline (9%), moderate (8%), and severe (5%) based on Becks Depression Inventory. Mean BDI score was 11.31±8.40. Surprisingly, 97% had anxiety with 76% mild, 17% moderate,4% severe anxiety as per Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, with mean HAM-A score of 10.72±8.18. Most affected students were 16 years old, Class-2 socioeconomic status, Hindus, from nuclear families, residing in pucca houses, consuming mixed diet, facing learning difficulties and lacking relationship affairs. A statistically significant association existed between depression and house type, as well as history of child abuse (p&lt;0.05). Conclusion: Almost half of high school students experience varying mental health issues. Supported counseling centers in schools, implementing periodic screening, and integrating mental health education into routine activities are crucial recommendations for reducing adolescent mental health problems.

Objective and subjective sleep patterns and biomarkers of stress among women with a history of sexual abuse in childhood.

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs) and sleep disturbance into adulthood. The latter is thought to emerge from dysregulation in biobehavioral systems, including nighttime hyperarousal; however, studies investigating specific mechanisms to explain these long-term sleep problems are limited. The present study examined presleep arousal, fear of sleep, and the cortisol awakening response (CAR) as putative mediators between PTSS and sleep disturbance in women with a history of CSA. N = 64 cis-gendered women with a self-reported history of CSA completed a baseline diagnostic interview, self-reported mental health and sleep measures, 7 days of actigraphy monitoring with concurrent sleep diary, and 2 days of saliva sampling. PTSSs were not significantly associated with actigraphy-estimated sleep variables but were positively associated with self-reported sleep onset latency (SOL) and negatively associated with self-reported sleep quality. Similarly, PTSSs were not significantly associated with CAR but were associated with higher presleep arousal and fear of sleep ratings. Mediational models identified greater presleep cognitive arousal to partially explain the PTSS-SOL relationship. Specific features of CSA (i.e., age at time of abuse, location of abuse, relationship to the perpetrator) did not moderate this association. Findings suggest that targeting maladaptive cognitions (e.g., worries, rumination) that occur during the presleep period may be a potential intervention target in mitigating sleep disturbance and PTSSs in this population. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Childhood abuse and craving in methamphetamine-dependent individuals: the mediating role of alexithymia.

Individuals with a history of childhood abuse (CA,including neglect and abuse by caregivers before the age of 18years) have more severe substance dependence problems than those without a history of childhood abuse. However, whether a history of CA exacerbates craving and the mechanism of this effect remain largely unknown. The aim of this study was to explore the role of alexithymia in the effects of CA on craving in a large sample of methamphetamine-dependent individuals based on latent vulnerability theory. A total of 324 methamphetamine-dependent individuals who met DSM-5 criteria for substance use disorder were recruited. CA, alexithymia, and craving data were collected from the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20, and the Obsessive Compulsive Drug Use Scale, respectively. t tests and ANCOVA were conducted to compare variables between the CA and non-CA groups, while partial correlation and mediation analyses were conducted to examine the potential mediating role of alexithymia in the relationship between CA and craving. Abused methamphetamine-dependent individuals reported higher levels of craving and higher levels of alexithymia than those of non-abused methamphetamine-dependent individuals. Alexithymia partially mediated the link between CA and craving, especially the effect of CA on craving frequency was fully mediated by alexithymia. Our findings reveal that a history of childhood abuse has a lasting effect on craving in stimulant-dependent individuals, and alexithymia contributes to some extent to the severity of substance abuse problems in abused methamphetamine-dependent individuals.