Impact Of Child Maltreatment Research Articles

The Impact of Child Maltreatment on the Psychological Development of Primary School Learners

The Impact of Child Maltreatment on the Psychological Development of Primary School Learners

Child maltreatment during the COVID-19 pandemic: implications for child and adolescent mental health

As societies worldwide addressed the numerous challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, a troubling concern emerged—the possible rise of child maltreatment, which is a pernicious risk factor for child and adolescent mental health difficulties. This narrative review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how the many changes and challenges associated with the pandemic influenced worldwide occurrences of child maltreatment and, subsequently, the mental health of children and adolescents. First, we present the well-established evidence regarding the impact of child maltreatment on the mental health of children and adolescents both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Next, we examine the existing literature on the prevalence of child maltreatment during the pandemic, explanations for conflicting findings, and key mechanisms influencing the prevalence of maltreatment. Using a heuristic model of child maltreatment and its downstream influence on child mental health, we discuss risk and protective factors for maltreatment as well as mechanisms by which maltreatment operates to influence child and adolescent mental health. Finally, based on the accumulated evidence, we provide important recommendations for advancing research on child maltreatment, emphasizing the necessity for routine monitoring of maltreatment exposure at a population level, and discussing the implications for the field of child protection. This comprehensive review aims to contribute to the understanding of the challenges arising from the intersection of the COVID-19 pandemic and child maltreatment, with the goal of informing effective interventions in the domain of child welfare.

Impact of child maltreatment on bulimic behaviors among the tunisian general population

IntroductionChild maltreatment (CM) refers to all forms of physical or psychological violence, sexual abuse, and neglect of a person under the age of 18, resulting in actual or potential harm to their health, survival, development, or dignity. It is recognized as a predictor of psychological difficulties in adulthood, such as bulimic behavior.ObjectivesThe aim of our study was to assess the link between CM and bulimic behaviors in the Tunisian general population.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study among Facebook group members, using an online questionnaire, from February 17, 2023, to May 26, 2023. All respondents over the age of 18 were included in the study. CM was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), which provides information on five types of maltreatment: emotional abuse (EA), physical abuse (PA), sexual abuse (SA), emotional neglect (EN), and physical neglect (PN). The Bulimic Investigatory Test, Edinburgh (BITE) was used to screen and assess the intensity of bulimic behavior.ResultsA total of 528 responses were included in the study. The mean age of the sample was 33.3±11.95 years. Mean AE, AP, AS, NE, NP, and overall CTQ scores were 8.30; 6.58; 6.38; 10.14; 7.26, and 49.72, respectively. A history of severe AE, AP, AS, NE, or NP was reported by 13.1%, 10.8%, 8.5%, 11.6% and 8.3% of respondents, respectively. The mean BITE score was 10.76 ±6.85 and 6.6% of our population were at high risk of developing bulimic behavior.In the bivariate study, the BITE score was significantly correlated with all forms of MI. The strongest correlation was with AE (r=0.310; p<0.001).In the multivariate study, only AE was associated with bulimic behaviors.ConclusionsThis study highlighted a positive association between various forms of child neglect and abuse, and bulimic behaviors. It is therefore worth noting that interventions for these disorders may be more effective if they target not only the behavior itself but also underlying risk factors such as maltreatment.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

The impact of child maltreatment on mental health outcome improvements among children and youth accessing community mental health care

BackgroundAlthough children with histories of maltreatment are more likely to engage with mental healthcare than non-maltreated children, few studies have examined the impact of maltreatment on children's mental health outcome improvement over time. ObjectiveThe current study addresses this gap in the present literature by exploring the ways that histories of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and exposure to domestic violence can influence children's improvement on mental health outcomes commonly associated with trauma. Participants and settingDe-identified routine care data from 58 community mental health agencies across Ontario, Canada, representing 16,517 children was obtained. This data represented assessments that occurred between February 2015 and December 2021. MethodsGeneral linear models were used to illustrate the effect of each trauma type on change scores computed between baseline and follow-up assessments of externalizing behaviours, risk of harm to others, depressive symptoms, risk of suicide and self-harm, and anxiety, while adjusting for baseline scores, inpatient status, time between assessments, and select demographic variables. ResultsWhen the effects of each trauma type was considered separately, children without histories of trauma consistently showed greater improvement than those with that trauma across all mental health outcomes (0.07–0.44, p < 0.01). When all trauma types were considered together, sexual abuse was associated with some of the most significant negative impacts on children's mental health improvements. ConclusionsOur findings highlight an urgent need for the implementation of standardized, evidence-based assessments that screen trauma histories of children accessing mental health supports and research examining the impact of trauma on children's treatment responsiveness.

Immediate impact of child maltreatment on mental, developmental, and physical health trajectories.

The immediate impact of child maltreatment on health and developmental trajectories over time is unknown. Longitudinal studies starting in the direct aftermath of exposure with repeated follow-up are needed. We assessed health and developmental outcomes in 6-month intervals over 2 years in 173 children, aged 3-5 years at study entry, including 86 children with exposure to emotional and physical abuse or neglect within 6 months and 87 nonmaltreated children. Assessments included clinician-administered, self- and parent-report measures of psychiatric and behavioral symptoms, development, and physical health. Linear mixed models and latent growth curve analyses were used to contrast trajectories between groups and to investigate the impact of maltreatment features on trajectories. Maltreated children exhibited greater numbers of psychiatric diagnoses (b = 1.998, p < .001), externalizing (b = 13.29, p < .001) and internalizing (b = 11.70, p < .001) symptoms, impairments in cognitive (b = -11.586, p < .001), verbal (b = -10.687, p < .001), and motor development (b = -7.904, p = .006), and greater numbers of medical symptoms (b = 1.021, p < .001) compared to nonmaltreated children across all time-points. Lifetime maltreatment severity and/or age at earliest maltreatment exposure predicted adverse outcomes over time. The profound, immediate, and stable impact of maltreatment on health and developmental trajectories supports a biological embedding model and provides foundation to scrutinize the precise underlying mechanisms. Such knowledge will enable the development of early risk markers and mechanism-driven interventions that mitigate adverse trajectories in maltreated children.

Childhood Maltreatment, Mental Well-Being, and Healthy Lifestyle in Patients With Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension.

IntroductionChronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a potentially life-threatening condition associated with high morbidity and mortality. However, advances in medical, surgical and interventional treatment have markedly improved the outcome of patients with CTEPH. Additional factors potentially influencing quality of life (QoL) and outcome in CTEPH are yet to be defined. Child maltreatment is a major risk factor for unfavorable behavioral, mental as well as physical health outcomes and has been associated with decreased QoL. To date, no study assessed the impact of childhood trauma in patients with CTEPH.MethodsPatients with CTEPH were invited to complete the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Data were compared to prevalence data from the German population. Mental well-being was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and quality of life was measured using the WHO Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL). Furthermore, lifestyle factors and physical health parameters were studied.Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate a possible impact of child maltreatment on markers of disease severity.ResultsOne-hundred and seven patients with CTEPH completed the CTQ. These patients reported higher rates of emotional abuse and physical abuse and emotional neglect compared to the German population while rates of physical neglect and sexual abuse did not differ between patients and German population with prevalence of 20.6% for emotional abuse, 20% for physical abuse, 22% for emotional neglect, 46% for physical neglect, and 6% for sexual abuse in patients with CTEPH. Higher CTQ scores were associated with anxiety symptoms as well as negatively associated with QoL. No direct impact of childhood trauma on CTEPH severity was found.ConclusionWe found a higher rate of child maltreatment in patients with CTEPH in comparison to the German population. Correlations suggest moderate associations between CTQ scores and mental health and QoL. Child maltreatment had no significant impact on disease severity. Further investigation on proper interventions to support affected patients is needed.

Childhood Trauma in Patients With PAH-Prevalence, Impact on QoL, and Mental Health-A Preliminary Report.

Background/ObjectiveChild maltreatment is associated with increased risk of psychological consequences, contributes to morbidity and has long lasting effects on mental health and quality of life. Child maltreatment has not been assessed in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We examined the prevalence of child maltreatment and determined their impact on disease severity in patients with PAH.MethodsA cross-sectional observational multicenter study at two PH centers in Germany was conducted. Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of PAH were given a self-administered questionnaire. Child maltreatment using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), quality of life (QoL), anxiety, depression, and lifestyle factors were assessed and enhanced by clinical parameters 6-min walk distance (6MWD), WHO functional class (WHO FC), and serum levels of N-terminal fragment of pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). Prevalence rates of child maltreatment were compared to the general population and impact of child maltreatment on disease severity was calculated by logistic regression analysis.ResultsTwo-hundred and seventeen patients, 71% female and a median age of 56 years were enrolled in this study. Patients with PAH had higher rates of emotional abuse and lower rates of physical neglect compared to the German population while rates of emotional neglect, physical abuse, and sexual abuse did not differ between patients and German population. Patients with any form of child maltreatment were more likely to be active smokers, had a worse QoL and more anxiety or depression. Moderate associations between child maltreatment, mental health, QoL, lifestyle factors and clinical parameters could be observed. Logistic regression analysis showed a significant impact of CTQ-total score on disease severity with an OR of 1.022 (95%-CI: 1.001–1.042, p = 0.035).ConclusionWe found a higher rate of child maltreatment in patients with PAH in comparison to the German population. Correlations suggest moderate associations between CTQ-scores and mental health as well as QoL. Child maltreatment had significant impact on disease severity. However, effects were moderate. We conclude that child maltreatment has effects on mental health and quality of life in patients with PAH and may have limited effect on disease severity.

Association Between Dating Violence and Behavioral and Health Outcomes Among Early Adolescents From Denmark: The Role of Exposure to Childhood Maltreatment.

To examine the unique contribution of child maltreatment victimization on the association between adolescent dating violence (ADV) and four negative behavioral and health-related factors. In total, 2,934 7th grade students (M = 13.5, SD = .5) filled out questionnaires at school. Binominal logistic regression was performed to assess the impact of child maltreatment on the relationship between ADV and behavioral and health-related factors. After child maltreatment was taken into account, associations between ADV and the negative behavioral and health-related factors became weaker. The findings from the present study suggest that focusing on one victimization type (such as ADV) when examining psychological outcomes, can be problematic as the causal relationship may be misrepresented when an adolescent's broader victimization profile and context is not considered.

The impact of child maltreatment on poly-victimization

증적으로 검증함을 목적으로 한다. 그리고 아동학대 효과를 보다 엄격하게 검증하기 위해 성향점수매칭(Propensity score matching) 분석 방법을 적용하고자 한다. 이를 위해 한국형사정책연구원에서 2014년 진행한 청소년 대상 범죄피해조사 에서 수집된 중, 고등학생 총 7,109명을 대상으로 수집한 횡단데이터를 활용하였다. 주요 분석 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 전체 연구대상자 중 아동학대를 경험한 청소년은 전체의 약 6.9%(n=490)로 나타났다. 둘째, 성향점수매칭을 통해 외생변인을 통제한 이후, 순수 아동학대 효과가 다중피해에 미치는 위험은 7.42배로 검증되었다. 세부유형의 경우, 또래에 의한 성추행과 목격 및 간접피해를 제외한 모든 폭력 피해, 재산 피해, 성피해 등 직접 피해의 위험은 최소 5.98배에서 최대 16.58배 높은 것으로 검증되었다. 이는 청소년의 아동학대 피해는 거의 모든 유형의 직접적인 범죄 피해에 유의미한 영향을 미치는 것을 의미한다. 이러한 결과를 바탕으로 청소년의 아동학대 및 다중피해 예방을 위한 정책적 제언을 실시하였다.This study aims to examine the effect of intra-familiar child maltreatment on poly-victimization which includes various types of extra-familiar violence, crime victimization, by applying for propensity score matching (hereafter PSM). Cross-sectional data of a sample of 7,109 adolescents aged 15-18 years were obtained from the Juvenile Victimization in Korea in 2014 conducted by Korean Institute of Criminology. Main results are as follows. First, participants who exposed to child maltreatment occupied 6.9% (n=490). Second, after controlling for selection effects using PSM, child maltreatment group had 7.42 times higher effect on total poly-victimization score than those who control group. Specifically, the risk of direct victimization including physical assault and bullying, sexual and property victimization was higher ranged 5.98-16.58 times in child maltreatment group. Results suggested child maltreatment is strong predictor on almost all types of direct juvenile victimization even after applying for PSM method. Based on results, political and practical implications suggested.

Responding to the accumulation of adverse childhood experiences in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic: implications for practice

AbstractIn early 2020, the world as we knew it began to change dramatically and rapidly with the COVID-19 outbreak. Social distancing restrictions and lockdown measures have been the most effective course of action and an inarguably imperative approach at this time. However, in trying to keep the global population safe, social distancing measures unwittingly placed children already experiencing maltreatment and disadvantage in harm’s way. This paper will consider the evidence base which attests to the importance of considering theaccumulationof adversity when seeking to understand risk and impact of child maltreatment and disadvantage. Given the unique and unprecedented circumstances which have accompanied the COVID-19 outbreak, and the dearth of research pertaining to the impact of pandemics on child welfare, the paper draws on an emerging body of literature about the effect of natural disasters, conflict and significant global events on child maltreatment. The paper synthesises the research to date in order to call attention to the cumulative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children already experiencing abuse and neglect. The paper concludes with an outline of the implications for practice in the helping professions.

A prospective, longitudinal cohort study: The impact of child maltreatment on delinquency among South Korean youth in middle and high school.

Cultural groups vary in how they understand child maltreatment and children's misbehavior and these cultural variations may impact the relationship between maltreatment and delinquency. This study investigated the impact of maltreatment on delinquency among South Korean youth. Using Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey data, this study followed two cohorts of middle (n = 2,275) and high (n = 2,272) school youth for their first self-reported delinquency over 4 years. Discrete-time hazard model was used for the analyses. Approximately 19% of middle and 11% of high school youth engaged in delinquency for 4 years. Maltreatment is associated with delinquency only for high school youth (HR = 1.42). In both cohorts, male youth with high levels of aggression were more likely to engage in delinquency. Additional risk factors included high levels of depression (HR = 1.36) and negative attitudes toward school rules (HR = 0.68), father's education less than high school (HR = 0.63), low levels of self-control (HR = 0.63). Findings also identified culturally unique factors that place Korean youth at heightened risk of delinquency: mother's education more than high school (HR = 1.49) and higher family income (HR = 1.93). Preventive interventions need to identify culturally specific risk factors for youth at increased risk of delinquency and thus these preventive interventions should be culturally tailored.

The impact of child maltreatment on non-suicidal self-injury: data from a representative sample of the general population

BackgroundChild maltreatment is an identified risk factor for Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI). The aim of the current study was to investigate effects of different types of maltreatment, and mediating effects of depression and anxiety on NSSI in the general population.MethodsA representative sample of the German population, comprising N = 2498 participants (mean age = 48.4 years (SD = 18.2), 53.3% female) participated in this study. Child maltreatment was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ),NSSI was assessed with a question on lifetime engagement in NSSI, depressive symptoms were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) and anxiety symptoms by the General Anxiety Disorder questionnaire (GAD-2).ResultsLifetime prevalence of NSSI in this sample was 3.3, and 30.8% reported at least one type of child maltreatment. Participants in the NSSI group reported significantly more experiences of child maltreatment. Emotional abuse was endorsed by 72% of all participants with NSSI. A path analytic model demonstrated an unmediated direct effect of emotional neglect, a partially mediated effect of emotional abuse, and a fully mediated effect of sexual abuse and physical neglect by depression and anxiety on NSSI.ConclusionsEspecially emotional neglect and abuse seem to play a role in the etiology of NSSI above and beyond depression and anxiety, while sexual and physical abuse seem to have a rather indirect effect.

60.4 Impact of Child Maltreatment on Clinical Presentation and Treatment of Disruptive Behavior

The goals of this session are to examine the ways that maltreatment frames and feeds aggressive and disruptive conditions and to understand the implications for treatment.

60.1 Impact of Child Maltreatment on Assessment and Treatment of Psychosis

This talk aims to improve attendees’ understanding of the complex interplay between childhood maltreatment and psychotic symptoms so that affected youth are diagnosed more accurately and treated effectively using disorder-specific treatments.

A review of the long‐term impact of child maltreatment on posttraumatic stress disorder and its comorbidities: An emotion dysregulation perspective.

This review examines posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to child maltreatment in adults, PTSD comorbidities, and complex PTSD, with a focus on emotion dysregulation. Adults maltreated as children report high rates of PTSD. Although all forms of child maltreatment are associated with increased PTSD risk, effects are stronger for child sexual and emotional abuse, abuse in the context of other adverse childhood experiences, and cumulative abuse. PTSD comorbidities that involve emotion dysregulation are examined, including substance use disorders, eating disorders, and borderline personality disorder. Emotion dysregulation appears to be a coalescent factor in the nexus of child maltreatment, PTSD, and other comorbidities. Treatment recommendations are made for adults with child maltreatment–related PTSD and comorbidities.

The impact of child maltreatment on the risk of deliberate self-harm among adolescents: A population-wide cohort study using linked administrative records

Adolescents exposed to maltreatment have an elevated risk of deliberate self-harm (DSH). The aim of this study was to investigate longitudinally the effects of the number, timing, and type of maltreatment allegations on adolescent risk of having a DSH-related hospital admission, using linked data in Western Australia. A total of 351,372 children born between 1986 and 2000 were followed from birth up to the year 2010. Cox regression models were utilized, while controlling for a range of psychosocial covariates. Compared to children without allegations of maltreatment, children with unsubstantiated allegations only (aHR=1.04, 95%CI: 1.00–1.08, p<.01) and children with a substantiated allegation (aHR=1.10, 95%CI: 1.06–1.15, p<.001) all had significantly increased risk of DSH in adolescence. Among children with a substantiated allegation of maltreatment, the greater the number of allegations, the longer the exposure to maltreatment, and the more types of maltreatment experienced by a child, the higher the child's risk of DSH. However, this dose–response pattern was not found among children with unsubstantiated allegations only. This study calls for the early identification of children who are vulnerable to maltreatment, the better identification of the duration and severity of maltreatment experiences, and the provision of continued care and support, to reduce the child's DSH risk in adolescence.

The Sibling Relationship in the Context of Child Maltreatment: What Do We Know? What Are the Directions for the Future?

Siblings share a common and unique bond. It is one of the most enduring relationships during an individual’s life span. Thus, the impact of child maltreatment on sibling relationships is an important area of research to explore. The current article carries out a scoping review targeted at determining the existing knowledge and then identifying research priorities within the field of sibling relationship in the context of child maltreatment. The method elaborates on the various stages that were taken to perform the scoping review, and later, the article provides three results for the readers: The first result is a detailed mapping of the existing literature in the area of sibling relationship in the context of maltreatment. The second result is a thorough thematic analysis that was carried out on this literature that focused on several relevant domains: sibling exposure to intimate partner violence, sibling relationship and experiences in the context of child maltreatment, risk assessment for siblings following maltreatment, and sibling relationships and out-of-home placement. The third result is a set of conclusions targeted mainly at recommending future directions to researchers.

Cognitive, Neurobiological and Psychopathological Alterations Associated with Child Maltreatment: A Review of Systematic Reviews

The impact of childhood maltreatment has been studied in the last decades in several countries. This study aims to provide a review of systematic reviews about the relationship between neurobiological and cognitive impairments, psychiatric disorders and child maltreatment. PsycInfo, Pubmed and Scielo databases were searched to include reviews published from 2004 to 2014. Fifteen reviews about the impact of child maltreatment were analysed. Four of them deal with the neurobiological effects, two with the cognitive damages, and nine of them with the development of psychiatric disorders throughout the victim’s lifetime. The association between childhood maltreatment and the development of psychiatric disorders is the one that has received the most attention in the last few decades. The impact of maltreatment in cognition, above all in childhood, has been the least studied area; few studies, presenting conflicting results, were found.

The impact of child maltreatment on school performance in Saudi Arabia

Introduction: Child maltreatment was proven to negatively impact the academic performance of children and adolescents; reduced academic achievements, problems completing homework assignments and was marginally associated with being frequently absent from school. Objectives: To identify the impact of child maltreatment on school performance among adolescents in National Guard schools. Materials and methods: The study was conducted at National Guard schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Students aged 12– 19 years were invited to participate. A total of 674 participants completed the survey instrument, which included demographics, exposure to different types of abuse and overall level of academic performance. Results: Participant mean age was 15.6±1.6 years, of which 53% were male. Ninety five per cent lived with both parents, 2% with a single parent and 3% with step parents. Four per cent lived with alcoholic parents or guardians, and 7% had lived with a family member who had been arrested or imprisoned. Poor performance (failure in exam) was more likely among the students who: lived with alcoholics versus non alcoholics (33% vs. 11%, P <0.01), lived with a family member that had been imprisoned versus non-imprisoned (26% vs. 11%, P <0.01), were psychologically abused versus not abused (21% vs. 10%, P <0.01), were physicallyabused versus not abused (19% vs. 9%, P <0.01). Predisposing factors to poor performance in school included living with alcoholic parents or guardians [odd ratio (OR)=2.8, confidence interval (CI)=1.1 to 6.7], psychological abuse (OR=1.7, CI=1.0 to 3.0) and physical abuse (OR=1.7, CI=1.0 to 2.8). Conclusions: Increase the awareness of the impact of child maltreatment on school performance among families, schools and the community. Recommend to the Ministry of Education to consider counselling of students with poor performance due to adverse child experiences and maltreatment.

Approaches to evaluation in Australian child and family welfare organizations

Child and family welfare organizations around the world aspire to achieve missions that will improve outcomes for vulnerable children and families and ultimately reduce the prevalence and impact of child maltreatment. In Australia, this work is currently being influenced by an increasingly turbulent political and economic climate; one that is requiring organizations to engage with evaluation in new and advanced ways so that they are not left behind in the increasingly complex and competitive environment that they now operate in. Despite the apparent awareness and understanding of the essential place of evaluation in quality and effective service delivery, it is also understood that evaluation of the human services work that child and family welfare organizations undertake is extremely challenging due to its intricate, ever-changing and often innovative nature. Embedding evaluation within such organizations therefore requires a tailored and planned decision-making and implementation process. This paper will briefly describe the recent socio-political history and environment that Australian child and family welfare organizations operate in and how this has impacted on engagement with evaluation. With consideration to this, it will describe the evaluation approaches available to organizations and the factors that may influence selection of a specific approach. It will then explore the benefits and challenges of these evaluation approaches, and consider the implications for child and family welfare agencies more broadly.