Maternal Emotional Abuse Research Articles

Maternal Childhood Maltreatment and Adolescent Internalizing Problems: The Mediating Role of Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Offspring Childhood Maltreatment.

Research has demonstrated the predictive effect of maternal childhood maltreatment on adolescent internalizing problems. However, few studies have explored the mediating mechanisms of how mothers' experiences of childhood maltreatment are transmitted to their offspring's internalizing problems over time. The present multi-informant study investigated the potential mediating effects of maternal depressive symptoms and offspring's childhood maltreatment experiences on the relation between maternal childhood maltreatment and adolescent internalizing problems. A total of 823 Chinese youth (43.4% girls; Mage = 10.26 years, SD = 0.94) and their mothers participated in a two-wave longitudinal study with one-year intervals. Mothers reported their experiences of childhood maltreatment and depressive symptoms, while youth reported their childhood maltreatment experiences and internalizing problems. Findings of path analysis indicated that maternal emotional abuse at T1 could significantly predict adolescent internalizing problems at T2, after controlling for a baseline of adolescent internalizing problems. Maternal emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect at T1 can influence adolescent internalizing problems at T2 through maternal depressive symptoms at T1 to adolescent internalizing problems at T1. Maternal emotional abuse at T1 displayed statistically significant indirect effects on adolescent internalizing problems at T2 successively through the pathway from adolescent emotional abuse at T1 to adolescent internalizing problems at T1. The findings supported the cycle of maltreatment hypothesis. The present study highlights the intergenerational link between maternal childhood maltreatment and adolescent internalizing problems, as well as reveals the mediating mechanisms in this relation.

The relationship between parental emotional abuse and interpersonal competence and digital game addiction: A path analysis.

Digital game addiction is a negative effect of the technological developments that have taken place and has been reported in literature as a serious mental health problem for children and adolescents in the developmental period. This study investigates the relationship between perceived emotional abuse from parents and interpersonal competence and game addiction by using a model. The study group comprised 360 adolescents, with 197 (54.7%) being female and 163 (45.8%) male. The adolescents' ages varied between 13 and 18 and their average age was 15.55. The data were collected using Psychological Maltreatment Questionnaire, Interpersonal Competence Scale, and Game Addiction Scale. The relationship between variables was tested using structural equation modeling. The emotional abuse perceived from the mother significantly influences interpersonal competence and game addiction. Emotional abuse perceived from the father significantly influences game addiction. Interpersonal competence negatively influences game addiction at a significant level. Interpersonal competence mediates the relationship between maternal emotional abuse and digital game addiction. Maternal emotional abuse has been effective in decreasing interpersonal competence levels in adolescents. Parental emotional abuse is effective in game addiction in adolescents. Low level of interpersonal competence among adolescents affects game addiction. Emotional abuse perceived from the mother affects digital game addiction through interpersonal competence. Accordingly, educators, researchers, and clinicians dealing with digital game addiction in adolescents should consider the effect of perceived parental emotional abuse and interpersonal competence.

Associations of Maternal Adverse Childhood Experiences with Behavioral Problems in Preschool Children.

Investigations have found maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) cause an intergenerational danger to their children's health. However, no study has investigated the effects of maternal ACEs on behavioral problems of preschool children in China and gender differences on these effects. This paper aims to investigate the role of maternal ACEs on behavioral problems of preschool children in China and explore gender differences as related to these behavioral problems. Stratified cluster sampling method was used to select 7318 preschool children from 12 districts in Hefei city, China. A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect information on maternal exposure to ACEs and Conners' Parent Rating Scales. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between maternal ACEs and children's behavioral problems. The prevalence of behavioral problems in preschool children was 16.0%, while it was higher among girls (18.4%) than boys (13.92%) (χ2 = 27.979, p < 0.001). The rate of behavioral problems in children in the group of mothers with ACEs was higher than those without ACEs (all p < 0.05). Maternal ACEs were associated with increased risk of the behavior problems in preschool children (adjusted OR 2.91, 95% CI 2.45-3.45), and no gender difference (in girls 3.01, 2.38-3.81, in boys 2.79, 2.17-3.58, respectively) was found. Maternal ACEs were associated with increased risk of each type of the behavioral problems of preschool children, except that maternal emotional neglect was not associated with psycho-physical problems, impulse-activities, and anxiety. The only gender differences found were higher conduct problems related to maternal emotional abuse and ACEs and higher anxiety related to maternal physical abuse and community violence in girls compared with boys. Mothers exposured to ACEs are more likely to have children with behavioral health problems in preschool period. Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms by which maternal ACEs influence children's behavioral problems.

CHILD ABUSE AND ADULT MENTAL HEALTH: DOES GENDER MATTER?

Numerous studies have demonstrated that child abuse is associated with poor adult mental health, but few have investigated the extent to which the frequency of different types of abuse increase mental health conditions, especially at the nexus of gender. The present study examines whether parental abuse frequency and abuse perpetrator have distinct effects for men and women on three mental health outcomes—depressive symptoms, generalized anxiety, and global self-reported mental health. Data came from three waves of the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS), comprising a baseline sample of 3,032 adults aged 25-74. Estimating a series of mixed effects models revealed that maternal abuse and frequent abuse during childhood were associated with poorer adult mental health during our 20-year observation period, net of childhood and adult risk factors. Specifically, maternal emotional abuse raised the risk of depression, anxiety, and lower self-rated mental health, and was more strongly associated with depression and anxiety for women than men. Compared to adults who did not experience parental abuse during childhood, adults who experienced frequent emotional and physical abuse by either parent were more likely to experience depression and anxiety and report lower ratings of mental health in adulthood. Frequent child abuse was more strongly associated with anxiety for women than men. These results demonstrate that gender differences in adult mental health have early-life antecedents. Future research investigating the long-term mental health consequences of child abuse should consider the type and magnitude of abuse as well as the perpetrator.

CHILD ABUSE AND ADULT MENTAL HEALTH: DOES GENDER MATTER?

Numerous studies have demonstrated that child abuse is associated with poor adult mental health, but few have investigated the extent to which the frequency of different types of abuse increase mental health conditions, especially at the nexus of gender. The present study examines whether parental abuse frequency and abuse perpetrator have distinct effects for men and women on three mental health outcomes—depressive symptoms, generalized anxiety, and global self-reported mental health. Data came from three waves of the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS), comprising a baseline sample of 3,032 adults aged 25-74. Estimating a series of mixed effects models revealed that maternal abuse and frequent abuse during childhood were associated with poorer adult mental health during our 20-year observation period, net of childhood and adult risk factors. Specifically, maternal emotional abuse raised the risk of depression, anxiety, and lower self-rated mental health, and was more strongly associated with depression and anxiety for women than men. Compared to adults who did not experience parental abuse during childhood, adults who experienced frequent emotional and physical abuse by either parent were more likely to experience depression and anxiety and report lower ratings of mental health in adulthood. Frequent child abuse was more strongly associated with anxiety for women than men. These results demonstrate that gender differences in adult mental health have early-life antecedents. Future research investigating the long-term mental health consequences of child abuse should consider the type and magnitude of abuse as well as the perpetrator.

Maternal childhood emotional abuse predicts Chinese infant behavior problems: Examining mediating and moderating processes.

The current study examined the mediating effect of maternal negative expressiveness as well as the moderating effects of infant inhibitory control (IC) in the association between maternal childhood emotional abuse (CEA) and infant behavior problems. Drawing from 207 families from mainland China, 2-wave data were reported in this study when the infants were 6 months (T1) and 14 (T2) months. Mothers (Mean age = 32.85 years, SD = 4.04) reported their CEA on the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF) at T1, and their negative expressiveness on the Self-Expressiveness in the Family Questionnaire (SEFQ) at T2. The Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment (ITSEA) and a reverse categorization task were used to measure infant behavior problems and IC at T2, respectively. The results showed that T1 maternal CEA, rather than physical and sexual abuse, uniquely predicted T2 negative expressiveness. Maternal negative expressiveness significantly mediated the positive relations of maternal CEA and infant externalizing, internalizing and dysregulation problems. In addition, the moderated mediation model showed that the association between maternal negative expressiveness and infant dysregulation problems was moderated by infant IC. Specifically, the mediating pathway from maternal CEA to dysregulation problems through maternal negative expressiveness was significant, only for infants with poor IC. The results were robust even after controlling for family socio-economic status (SES), maternal childhood physical and sexual abuse. The importance of mediating and moderating processes in understanding the effect of maternal emotional abuse during childhood on infant behavior problems is discussed.

Maternal abuse history and reduced fetal heart rate variability: Abuse-related sleep disturbance is a mediator.

The consequences of childhood maltreatment are profound and long lasting. Not only does the victim of abuse suffer as a child, but there is mounting evidence that a history of maltreatment places the next generation at risk for significant psychopathology. Research identifies postnatal factors as affecting this intergenerational transmission of trauma. However, emerging evidence suggests that part of this risk may be transmitted before birth, passed on via abuse-related alterations in the in utero environment that are as yet largely unidentified. To date, no study has directly assessed the influence of pregnant women's abuse history on fetal neurobehavioral development, nor considered trauma-associated poor sleep quality as a mediator reflecting established physiological dysregulation. Using data from 262 pregnant adolescents (ages 14-19), a population at elevated risk for childhood maltreatment, the current study examined maternal emotional abuse history and sleep quality in relation to third-trimester fetal resting heart rate variability, an index of parasympathetic nervous system functioning. The results indicate that maternal emotional abuse history is indirectly associated with lower fetal heart rate variability via abuse-related sleep disturbances. These data demonstrate an association between maternal abuse histories and fetal development, showing that at least part of the intergenerational transmission of risk occurs during pregnancy.

P.1.a.024 - Association of maternal emotional abuse with decreased serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) methylation

People with a mental disorder have a higher risk of suicidal behavior. Little research has examined the role of childhood trauma in suicide behavior, and even fewer studies have assessed the specific relevance of subtypes of childhood trauma and suicidal behavior in first-episode psychosis (FEP). The aims of the present study were: 1) to compare suicide behavior between FEP and HC; 2) to study the relationship between the five types of ChT and suicide risk in FEP controlling for confounding sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial variables. 95 patients diagnosed with FEP and 92 healthy control (HC) were recruited as a part of the PROFEP study. ChT was evaluated using The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ) and suicide behavior through The Suicide Risk Scale of Plutchik (SRSP). Our results showed that patients with FEP presented more suicide behavior (ideation, attempt, and suicide risk) than HC. Emotional abuse was the most relevant type of ChT in suicide ideation and suicide risk. After controlling for other relevant variables, perceived stress seemed to play an important role in suicide ideations, suicide attempt, and suicide risk. The results highlight the importance of assessing and considering in the clinical practice ChT and the perceived stress.

ROLE OF MATERNAL CHILDHOOD TRAUMA ON PARENTING AMONG DEPRESSED MOTHERS OF PSYCHIATRICALLY ILL CHILDREN

Independently, maternal depression and maternal history of childhood abuse confer risk for impaired parenting. These associations may be compounded when depressed mothers with histories of childhood abuse are faced with the challenge of parenting offspring who themselves struggle with mental health problems. This study examined the relationships among maternal history of childhood abuse, maternal depression, and parenting style in the context of parenting a psychiatrically ill child, with an emphasis on examining maternal emotional abuse and neglect. We hypothesized that maternal childhood emotional abuse would be associated with maladaptive parenting strategies (lower levels of maternal acceptance and higher levels of psychological control), independent of maternal depression severity and other psychosocial risk factors. Ninety-five mother-child dyads (children ages 7-18) were recruited from child mental health centers where children were receiving treatment for at least one internalizing disorder. Participating mothers met DSM-IV criteria for major depressive disorder. Mothers reported on their own childhood abuse histories and children reported on their mothers' parenting. Regression analyses demonstrated that maternal childhood emotional abuse was associated with child reports of lower maternal acceptance and greater psychological control, controlling for maternal depression severity, and other psychosocial risk factors. When treating psychiatrically ill children, it is important for a child's clinician to consider mothers' childhood abuse histories in addition to their history of depression. These mothers appear to have additional barriers to effective parenting.

Correlation of domestic violence during pregnancy with plasma amino‐acid neurotransmitter, cortisol levels and catechol‐o‐methyltransferase Val(158)Met polymorphism in neonates

To explore the correlation between domestic violence during pregnancy and glutamate (Glu), r-aminobutyric acid (GABA), plasma cortisol levels and catechol-o-methyltransferase (COMT) gene polymorphism (rs4818) in neonates. Using the Abuse Assessment Survey, 64 abused pregnant women (DV) and 117 non-abused pregnant women (non-DV) were screened for two study groups. Blood in neonatal umbilical vein was collected immediately after delivery. Plasma Glu, GABA, cortisol levels and rs4818 polymorphism in the genotypes and alleles of the two neonatal groups were compared. In the DV group, 49 women (76.6%) experienced emotional abuse, 29 women (45.3%) experienced sexual abuse, 28 (43.8%) women experienced emotional abuse plus sexual abuse, and two women (3.1%) experienced emotional abuse plus physical abuse. We found that plasma Glu, GABA and cortisol levels were higher in DV neonates than in non-DV neonates. Furthermore, we observed a significantly positive correlation between maternal emotional abuse, sexual abuse and plasma levels of Glu, GABA and cortisol in neonates. By genetic analysis we found a significant difference in rs4818SNP genotype and allele between the two neonatal groups. The ratios of CC genotype and C allele were higher in DV neonates than in non-DV neonates, and the ratios of GG genotype and G allele were lower in DV neonates than in non-DV neonates. One-way ANOVA test showed that GABA level was lower in CC carriers than CG carriers. Domestic violence during pregnancy might be associated with increased plasma levels of glutamate, GABA, cortisol and COMT gene polymorphism in neonates.

Self-Awareness, Affect Regulation, and Relatedness

This study examined abuse and trauma exposure as it predicted identity problems, affect dysregulation, and relational disturbance in 620 individuals from the general population. Multivariate analyses indicated that maternal (but not paternal) emotional abuse was uniquely associated with elevations on all 7 scales of the Inventory of Altered Self-Capacities (IASC): Interpersonal Conflicts, Idealization-Disillusionment, Abandonment Concerns, Identity Impairment, Susceptibility to Influence, Affect Dysregulation, and Tension Reduction Activities. Low paternal (but not low maternal) emotional support was associated with Interpersonal Conflicts, Abandonment Concerns, and Tension Reduction Behaviors. Paternal emotional support did not significantly decrease the negative effects of maternal emotional abuse. Sexual abuse was predictive of all IASC scales except for Interpersonal Conflicts and Identity Impairment. Noninterpersonal traumas and adult traumas were typically unrelated to IASC scales. Childhood emotional and sexual maltreatment--perhaps especially maternal emotional abuse--may be critical factors in the development of disturbed self-capacities.