Negative Childhood Experiences Research Articles

The mediating effect of resilience on the impact of negative childhood experiences on depression: Focusing on prospective early childhood teachers

The mediating effect of resilience on the impact of negative childhood experiences on depression: Focusing on prospective early childhood teachers

Career Metaphors and Significant Childhood Experiences in Social Entrepreneurs’ Career Choice

This article examines the role of childhood experiences and metaphors in social entrepreneurs’ (SEs) career choice processes through a psychoanalytic lens. Metaphors are a unique projective tool to explore SEs’ subconscious processes. A total of 104 in-depth semi-structured interviews and 24 in-depth life-story interviews with SEs were conducted based on psychoanalytic theories emphasising family dynamics, childhood experiences and mental processes. The SEs were asked about significant childhood experiences and for a metaphor that describes their occupation. The metaphors they chose were justice fighter, caregiver, creator, leader and martyr. Thematic analysis showed specific recurrent significant negative childhood experiences, especially loneliness, family crisis and abuse and feeling lost, among others. Analysis revealed strong correspondence between specific metaphors and childhood experiences. Interpreted through a psychoanalytic lens, these findings denote compensation processes that underlie career choices and offer a deeper understanding of how and why SEs choose, develop and narrate their careers. In conclusion, using such psychoanalytical tools is recommended in SEs’ career training.

The long-term effects of childhood circumstances on older individuals: A systematic review.

Childhood experiences are known to shape individuals' development and can influence various aspects of life later on. Understanding the long-term effects is crucial for informing interventions and policies aimed at promoting healthy aging. This review aimed to explore the long-term effects of childhood experiences on older individuals. This systematic review comprised three distinct phases. Firstly, a systematic review was conducted, exploring databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and the Web of Science. Out of the 2116 studies initially identified, 24 studies were selected based on the inclusion criteria. Secondly, these inclusion criteria were applied to ensure that the chosen studies specifically delved into the connection between childhood experiences and outcomes in older individuals. Finally, data extraction and synthesis techniques were employed to analyze findings, facilitating the drawing of conclusions concerning the enduring impacts of childhood experiences on the well-being of older individuals. The review's findings revealed how negative experiences in childhood continue to affect older individuals in various ways. These early-life events have far-reaching consequences, profoundly impacting their physical health, making them more susceptible to chronic diseases and weakening their immune system. Additionally, they affect mental health, leading to conditions like depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. Cognitive function is also affected, resulting in memory problems and cognitive decline. Furthermore, these experiences impact social relationships, affecting trust, emotional control, and social isolation in later life. This review highlighted the enduring influence of childhood circumstances on the health and well-being of older individuals. Policymakers and health care practitioners should consider these findings when developing strategies to support healthy aging and mitigate the long-term effects of adverse childhood experiences.

Effects of Subjective Social Status and Self-Esteem in the Association Between Childhood Abuse and Adulthood Anxiety.

Subjective social status influences anxiety, but at present, the mechanism is not fully understood. It has been reported that negative childhood experiences, such as abuse, can influence depressive symptoms through subjective social status and personality traits, such as self-esteem. A similar mechanism is presumed to underlie anxiety symptoms in adulthood. Therefore, we hypothesized that subjective social status and self-esteem are intermediate factors in the indirect effects of childhood abuse on state anxiety in adulthood, and analyzed the indirect effects via these factors using a path analysis. Child Abuse and Trauma Scale, Subjective Social Status, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y questionnaires were administered in a self-report format to 404 adult volunteers from January 2014 to August 2014. In addition, a path analysis was conducted to determine whether subjective social status and self-esteem are associated with the indirect effects of childhood abuse on anxiety symptoms in adulthood. Childhood abuse did not directly affect state anxiety in adulthood, but affected state anxiety via subjective social status and self-esteem. Subjective social status affected state anxiety via self-esteem. This model explained 25.2% of the variation in state anxiety in adult volunteers. The present study demonstrated that childhood abuse affects anxiety in adulthood through subjective social status and self-esteem. Therefore, interventions that enhance subjective social status and self-esteem for adults who experienced childhood abuse may help reduce their anxiety.

The role of negative childhood experiences and internal stigma in the formation of motivation for the treatment of patients with mental disorders

Background: Motivation for treatment is an important component of patients' compliance to treatment of mental disorders, and its formation can be affected by different factors. The aim of the study: To analyze relationship between adverse childhood experiences, internal stigma and the intensity and structure of motivation to pharmaco-psychotherapy in patients with mental disorders. Materials and methods: The study involved 102 patients treated at the V.M. Bekhterev National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Neurology, the Kashchenko Hospital, and the City Psychiatric Hospital No. 6. The study used the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) questionnaire, the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) questionnaire, and the Treatment Motivation Assessment Questionnaire (TIMQ). Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 26.0 software package. Results: According to the results of multiple regression analysis, patients with higher education determined the improvement of patients' motivation for treatment, increasing the probability of its high intensity by 5.92 times. The presence of each additional type of adverse experience in childhood also 1.4-fold increase the odds of intensive motivation of patients. Among individual variants of negative experience, emotional abuse was associated with a tenfold decrease in odds, while observing violence against a mother or stepmother in childhood was conversely associated with a fifteenfold increase in the odds of forming an intense motivation for treatment. Conclusion: Integrative role of adverse childhood experiences is important, but, unlike the internal stigma of mental disorder, it can be equally associated with both less adaptive motivational patterns during treatment. to both more and less adaptive motivational patterns in patients in the process of their treatment.

Recovered memories in psychotherapy: a survey of practicing psychotherapists in Germany

ABSTRACT We report on a survey of 258 psychotherapists from Germany, focusing on their experiences with memory recovery in general, suggestive therapy procedures, evaluations of recovered memories, and memory recovery in training and guidelines. Most therapists (78%) reported instances of memory recovery encompassing negative and positive childhood experiences, but usually in a minority of patients. Also, most therapists (82%) reported to have held assumptions about unremembered trauma. Patients who held these beliefs were reported by 83% of the therapists. Both therapist and patient assumptions reportedly occurred in a minority of cases. Furthermore, 35% of participants had used therapeutic techniques at least once to recover presumed trauma memories. Only 10% reported assuming trauma in most patients and recovering purported memories in a majority of the attempts. A fifth believed memory recovery was a task of psychotherapy. This belief correlated with trauma assumptions, memory recovery attempts, and recovery frequency. Psychodynamic therapists more often reported to assume trauma behind symptoms and agreed more with problematic views on trauma and memory. No differences showed regarding suggestive behaviour in therapy. Most participants expressed interest in receiving support on dealing with memory recoveries. This interest should be taken up, ideally during therapist training.

Investigation of Adults' Negative Childhood Experiences in Terms of Some Variables

Araştırmada yetişkin bireylerin çocukluk çağı deneyimlerinin bazı değişkenler açısından incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Araştırmanın çalışma grubunu 309 yetişkin birey oluşturmuş olup araştırma verileri google forma dönüştürülen Genel Bilgi Formu ve Çocukluk Deneyimleri Ölçeği aracılığıyla elektronik olarak toplanmıştır. Araştırmada ölçeğin iç tutarlılık güvenirlik katsayısı değersizlik içeren anılar alt boyutu için .66, boyun eğdirici anılar alt boyutu için .82 ve tehdit edici anılar alt boyutu için .87, ölçeğin bütünü için ise .92 olarak bulunmuştur. Araştırmada yetişkinlerin olumsuz çocukluk yaşantılarının bireyin yaşına, cinsiyetine, medeni durumuna, çalışma durumuna göre anlamlı farklılık göstermediği; ruhsal tanı durumuna göre anlamlı farklılık gösterdiği; evli bireylerin çocukluk deneyimleri ile eş ilişkilerini değerlendirme düzeyi arasında anlamlı ilişki olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Araştırma bulguları literatür ışığında tartışılmış ve önerilerde bulunulmuştur.

Shame, fear of compassion, self-criticism, and self-reassurance mediate the effect of early life events on emotional disorders among male prisoners: A structural equation modeling analysis

BackgroundEarly negative experiences in childhood are potent predictors of criminal behavior in youth and adulthood. This study aimed to identify the mediation effects of Shame, Fear of Compassion, Self-criticism, and Self-reassurance on the effect of Early Life Events on Emotional Disorders. MethodThis cross-sectional study was conducted among 368 male prisoners (Mean age: 33.26 ± 8.41 years) with convenient sampling method, from Ilam, Iran. A set of self-reported instruments were used for data collection. The ultimate model was constructed using structural equation modeling after confirming the construct validity of the measures via confirmatory factor analysis. ResultsShame, fear of compassion, self-criticism, and self-reassurance significantly mediated the relationship between Early Life Events and emotional disorders. The mediating effect accounted for 77 % of the total effect in the mediating model. According to Pearson's correlation, a positive and significant relationship existed between early life events and self-criticism, shame, fear of compassion and emotional disorders (P < .001). In conclusion, the presented model has an appropriate and acceptable fit, as evidenced by the results of the chi-square test (χ2 = 48.067, p < .001) and other relevant fit indices. However, self-reassurance's mediating role was insignificant (P > .05). ConclusionsThe present results showed that shame, fear of compassion, and self-criticism are important mediators in the relationship between early life events and emotional disorders among male prisoners. So, it is necessary to develop related protocols to increase the mental health of prisoners.

Exposure to childhood maltreatment predicts adult physiological dysregulation, particularly inflammation.

Although a growing literature describes the effects of negative childhood experiences on biological outcomes, it is difficult to compare results across studies because of differences in measures of childhood experiences, biological markers, sample characteristics, and included covariates. To ensure comparability across its analyses, this study used a single national survey of adults in the United States-the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study-to examine comprehensively the association between adverse childhood experiences, operationalized as childhood maltreatment (CM), and biological markers of risk for poor health and to assess whether these associations differ by type of maltreatment, sex, or race. The sample included 1254, mostly White (78%), adults aged 34-86 years (mean age 57 years), 57% of whom were female. We present incidence rate ratios (IRR) from negative binomial and Poisson regressions to examine the relationships between exposure to CM (emotional, physical, and sexual abuse; emotional and physical neglect; and a CM-index reflecting frequency across all five types of maltreatment) and four biological risk summary scores (overall physiological dysregulation, cardiometabolic risk, inflammation, and hypothalamic pituitary axis/sympathetic nervous system (HPA/SNS) function). We also tested whether the effect of each type of CM varied by sex and by race. The CM-index was associated with higher overall physiological dysregulation and inflammation, but the associations were weaker and not statistically significant for cardiometabolic risk and HPA/SNS function. With the exception of a possible sex difference in the association between sexual abuse and overall physiological dysregulation, there was little evidence that the associations varied systematically by type of CM or by sex or race. We conclude that exposure to CM predicts adult biological risk, particularly inflammation. Inconsistency with previous research suggests that additional research is needed to confirm findings regarding sex and race differences.

Complex Post-Traumatic Stress in People with Different Types of Child-Mother Attachment

Violence affects mental development and health. Childhood traumas trigger a range of different symptoms, which may manifest as a complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). This empirical study focused on the correlation between CPTSD and the type of child-mother attachment. The experiment involved 82 people aged 32–60 y.o., 30 of which were diagnosed with CPTSD while 52 people served as control. Psychological profiling showed that the CPTSD group demonstrated ambivalent and disorganized types of child-mother attachment. However, the Fisher’s ratio test revealed no significant differences for the ambivalent type. Probably, in this case, the negative childhood experience was not traumatic enough to lead to CPTSD. The predominant disorganized type of child-mother attachment formed target points for providing psychological assistance to people with CPTS.

Emotion regulation weakens the associations between parental antipathy and neglect and self-harm

Using a representative sample of 7918 Portuguese adolescents (Mage = 15.5, SD = 1.7, 53.3% female gender) and three self-report measures of parental antipathy and neglect, self-harm and its functions, and emotion regulation, this cross-sectional study examined the moderating role of emotion regulation in the links between these negative childhood experiences and self-harm in adolescence. Maternal and paternal antipathy and neglect had the largest effects on self-harm for youth with low levels of emotion regulation. These results emphasize the relevance of promoting emotion regulation across multiple contexts (e.g., school, family, legal system) for the prevention of adolescent self-harm, even in situations with a history of childhood emotional abuse and/or neglect.

Risk factors for poor progression of addictive internet use across different COVID-19 periods in China.

Addictive behaviors are serious factors for mental health and usually increase during public crises. We identified the vulnerable characteristics for bad prognosis of addictive internet use across different periods of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Self-reported questionnaires were delivered in three waves through jdh.com during the outbreak (n = 17,960), remission (n = 15,666), and dynamic zero (n = 12,158) periods of COVID-19 pandemic in China. Internet addiction degree was assessed using the Internet Addiction Test. The different progression groups were divided using a latent class growth modelamong 1679 longitudinal participants. Risk factors for bad progression were identified by two-step logistic regression. A total of 40.16% of participants reported an increase in the addictive degree of internet use compared with prepandemic. Across different COVID-19 periods, the overall trend of addictive internet use was downward among general Chinese study participants (Mslope = -1.56). Childhood traumatic experiences, deterioration of physical health, depression, and anxiety during remission and dynamic periods were the main risk factors for the bad progression of pandemic-induced addictive internet use. Addictive internet use was remitted following relaxed control policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Negative childhood experiences and bad mental status during the recovery period were harmful to coping with pandemic-related addictive internet use. Our findings profiled the general trend of addictive internet use and the vulnerable characteristics of its bad progression across different periods of the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in China. Our findings provide valuable insights for preventing the long-term adverse effects of negative public events on Internet addiction.

Childhood experience of being forced to eat: focussing on its association with vegetable consumption among young adults

PurposeThis study aimed to explore the association of childhood experience of being forced to eat – where a particular person forced a child to eat a specific food item against one's will – on food consumption, especially vegetables later in young adulthood.Design/methodology/approachAn online questionnaire survey was conducted from 19 to 24 February 2020 with 1,277 young Korean adults in their 20s. A total of 1,226 eligible responses were obtained, wherein 410 (33.4%) responses with forced-eating experiences in childhood were collected. To answer the survey questionnaire, the respondents were asked to recall one of the most memorable forced-eating episodes.FindingsThe results showed that forced-eating occurred mostly among lower grades or pre-schoolers, at home or in schools/childcare facilities, and by parents or homeroom teachers. Vegetables were the most common target food for forced-eating. The Forced-Eating-Experienced group with vegetables as the target food tended to have significantly lower preference for and acceptance of vegetables. Furthermore, among this group, those who had displayed unpleasant post-ingestion physical symptoms after forced-eating or refused to eat the target vegetables at all despite forced-eating, showed significantly lower acceptance of vegetables. Additionally, they were also less likely to eat the target vegetable at present, but more likely to agree that their current dietary habits were affected by their childhood experiences of forced-eating.Originality/valueThe study attempted to fill the knowledge gap on the association of negative childhood experiences of forced-eating with food consumption, especially vegetables, later in young adulthood.

Psychological and cognitive factors involved in decision-making process of haemophilia carriers in reproductive choices.

Haemophilia carriers (HCs) face a multitude of psychological challenges, mainly linked to the possibility of having an affected child. Important reproductive decisions such as opting for pre-implantation genetic testing, or choosing prenatal diagnosis and then whether to continue or interrupt pregnancy in case of affected male fetus, have to be taken into consideration. Notwithstanding, the role of psychological characteristics on such decision-making process needs further investigation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether HCs' beliefs and emotions about haemophilia and cognitive factors such as decision-making style, risk perception, coping strategies in response to stress, and need for cognitive closure might modulate HCs' reproductive decisions. Participants were interviewed about their beliefs and emotions on haemophilia and filled an on-line standardized questionnaire on cognitive variables. Sixty HCs participated in this study. Results show that HCs with high distress for haemophilia given by negative childhood experiences for one or more family member illness and by high concern for their children's health, and with psychological traits characterized by logical (versus emotional) reasoning, active coping style and high need for certainty, tend to choose diagnostic prenatal tests over routine pregnancy analysis. This study highlighted the influence of negative early-life experience with haemophilia and of several cognitive factors in HCs choice of prenatal test.

The trauma experiences of children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: Developmental outcomes utilizing a threat/deprivation child adversity framework.

Individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) experience heightened rates of childhood trauma and adversity. Research has examined the negative impact adverse childhood experiences have on developmental outcomes. This study aims to take the field a step further by examining the details of traumatic events, including duration, perpetrator, whether the event significantly impacted the child, and trauma subtype. Subtype is examined using threat/deprivation dimensions and their relation to child behavior and the caregiver-child relationship. A sample of 84 children aged 4-12 with FASD, all in out-of-home placements, and their families took part in an emotion coaching intervention study. At baseline, caregivers completed questionnaires assessing child trauma, child emotion regulation and behavior, caregiver emotion socialization, and caregiver-child relationships. We used analysis of covariance to examine the differing impacts of threat, deprivation, and a combination of the two on behavioral outcomes, while controlling for age. We also used Pearson's r correlations, controlling for age, to examine whether the duration of threat or deprivation exposure was related to child outcomes. Descriptive statistics showed that 87.5% of individuals experienced three or more subtypes of trauma. The average duration of all subtypes was 1.62 years, with a mean onset of 3.94 years. Biological parents were the most common perpetrator. There were significantly worse behavioral and caregiver-child relationship outcomes for children experiencing a combination of threat and deprivation trauma. A r correlations, controlling for age, demonstrated longer duration of deprivation was associated with greater cognitive difficulties. We found unique patterns of behavior in children with FASD when analyzing the impact of traumatic experiences through a threat/deprivation framework. The combination of both threat and deprivation experiences leads to worse outcomes overall. Additionally, vital details surrounding the traumatic experiences point to crucial areas for intervention, including caregiver-child relationships.

Characterization of different types of anxiety disorders in relation to structural integration of personality and adverse and protective childhood experiences in psychotherapy outpatients – a cross-sectional study

BackgroundCurrent research has emphasized the role of structural integration of personality and childhood experiences for the understanding of anxiety disorders. In this study, we examined the relationship between anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety disorder vs. panic disorder vs. phobic disorders), the level of structural integration of personality, and negative and protective childhood experiences at the beginning of outpatient psychodynamic psychotherapy treatment. Differences were characterized in comparison to patients with no anxiety disorders.MethodsThe sample included a total of 1646 outpatient psychodynamic psychotherapy treatments, of which 695 treatments included the diagnosis of at least one anxiety disorder. Levels of structural integration of personality were assessed according to the Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnosis (OPD-2) system. Self-reported negative and protective childhood experiences were examined by using the Questionnaire for the Assessment of Adverse and Protective Childhood Experiences (APC). Associations were tested using single factor ANOVAs.ResultsPatients with anxiety disorders showed lower levels of structural integration of personality and reported more adverse childhood experiences than patients with no anxiety disorders. Regarding the subscales of structural integration of personality, phobic disorders were associated with impaired external communication, whereas for generalized anxiety disorder, an (uncorrected) association with impaired self-regulation was found. Also, generalized anxiety disorder was associated with sexual abuse and other traumatization (accidents etc.) during childhood, while panic disorder and phobic disorders were associated with emotional neglect, abuse, and fewer protective childhood experiences.ConclusionsOur findings emphasize the need of considering structural integration of personality and childhood experiences in order to understand and treat various types of anxiety disorders.

Risk Factors in Depression and Anxiety Disorders from the Framework of Developmental Psychopathology

Depression and anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent psychiatric disorders that negatively affect individuals’ life in many ways. Understanding how these highly comorbid emotional disorders develop and persist might guide prevention, intervention, and treatment studies. Some common vulnerability factors underlie depression and anxiety disorders. Developmental psychopathology deals with these vulnerabilities and risk factors from a lifetime perspective. The aim of this review is to present the risk factors associated with depression and anxiety from the perspective of developmental psychopathology. For this purpose, we discussed genetic and biological factors, temperament, negative childhood experiences, family and peer relationships, and some cognitive and emotional factors as risk factors. Also, we discussed how these risk factors lead to depression and anxiety disorders. This review emphasizes that some common transdiagnostic risk factors underlie emotional disorders and highlights the importance of a developmental psychopathology perspective to understand the developmental pathways of depression and anxiety disorders.

Investigation of Ostracism (Social Exclusion) and Forgiveness Levels of Adolescents with Positive and Negative Life Experiences

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between positive and negative childhood experiences, forgiveness and social exclusion experiences of individuals in adolescence. The research was carried out using the relational survey technique, one of the quantitative research methods. The participants of the study consisted of middle school and high school students (n=669), 354 girls and 315 boys, aged between 11 and 17, in the fall semester of the 2021-2022 academic year. The data collection tools employed within the study are: Personal Information Form, Adolescent Ostracism (Social exclusion) Scale to measure the social exclusion levels of the participants, Childhood Happiness/Peace Memories Scale to measure their positive experience levels, Childhood Experiences Scale to measure their negative experience levels, and Forgiveness Scale for Adolescents to measure their tendency to forgive. For the analysis of the data, SPSS 26.00 package program was utilized and descriptive analysis, correlation, and multiple regression analysis were conducted. As a result of the data analysis, it was observed that exclusion dimension within the social exclusion scale has a higher mean score than the disregarding dimension, exclusion dimension features higher significance, the social exclusion experiences of the adolescents differ significantly in favor of the female adolescents in the neglected dimension.

The Mediating Role Of Self-Compassion And Self-Esteem In The Relationship Between Negative Early Childhood Experiences And Alexithymia

Bu çalışmanın temel amacı; lise öğrencilerinin olumsuz çocukluk deneyimleri ve aleksitimi düzeyleri arasındaki ilişkide benlik saygısı ve öz-şefkatin aracı rolünün Yapısal Eşitlik Modeli ile incelenmesidir. Ayrıca erken çocukluk dönemi olumsuz yaşantıları, aleksitimi, benlik saygısı ve öz-şefkat kavramları demografik değişkenler açısından da incelenmiştir. Araştırma ilişkisel tarama modelinde yapılandırılmıştır. Araştırmanın evrenini İstanbul ilinde örgün eğitim görmekte olan lise öğrencileri; örneklemi ise, farklı sosyo-kültürel ve ekonomik grupların toplandığı düşünülen Üsküdar, Beşiktaş, Kadıköy, Ümraniye ve Sancaktepe ilçeleri ve bu ilçelerdeki okullara devam eden lise öğrencileri oluşturmaktadır. Örneklem tabakalı örnekleme yöntemi ile belirlenmiştir ve örneklem grubu, 495’i (%55,6) kadın; 395’i (%44,4) erkek olmak üzere toplam 890 lise öğrencisinden oluşmaktadır. Araştırmada; “Çocukluk Deneyimleri Ölçeği”, “Coopersmith Benlik Saygısı Envanteri”, “Öz-Şefkat Ölçeği Kısa Formu”, “Toronto Aleksitimi Ölçeği” ve “Demografik Bilgi Formu” kullanılarak veri toplanmıştır. Verilerin istatistiksel çözümlemeleri SPSS ve SPSS AMOS programlarında yapılmış, manidarlıklar minimum p&amp;lt;0,05 düzeyinde sınanmıştır. Çalışmada Gruplar t-Testi ve Tek Yönlü Varyans Analizi (ANOVA) kullanılmıştır. Tek yönlü varyans analizi (ANOVA) sonrasında gruplar arasında anlamlı bir farklılık bulunması durumunda, farkların hangi gruplar arasında gerçekleştiğini belirlemek üzere post- hoc tamamlayıcı analiz teknikleri (Scheffe ve Tamhane) kullanılmıştır. Değişkenler arasında istatiksel açıdan anlamlı bir ilişkinin olup olmadığını incelemek üzere; Pearson Momentler Çarpımı Korelasyonu ve Yapısal Eşitlik Modeli kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın sonucunda, değişkenler arası kurulan modelde olumsuz çocukluk deneyimleri ile aleksitimi arasında benlik saygısı ve öz-şefkatin tam aracılık rolüne sahip olduğu tespit edilmiştir.

Prevalence, Correlates, and Sequelae of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) among Indigenous Canadians: Intersections of Ethnicity, Gender, and Socioeconomic Status.

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a severe and concerning public-health problem globally, but some children are at higher risk of experiencing it. The harms caused by colonization and particularly the inter-generational legacy of residential schools would presumably increase the vulnerability of Indigenous children in former British colonies. Among 282 Indigenous participants in Canada recruited from Prime Panels, CSA was reported by 35% of boys, 50% of girls, and 57% of trans and gender non-conforming participants. These rates are substantially higher than global meta-analytic estimates (7.6% of boys and 18.0% of girls). There was evidence of intersectionality based on socioeconomic status. CSA was associated with a variety of other indicators of negative childhood experiences and significantly predicted numerous negative outcomes in adulthood, including mental-health issues (e.g., PTSD), unemployment, and criminal legal-system involvement. Sexual abuse of Indigenous Canadian children is a public-health crisis, and layers of marginalization (e.g., gender, social class) exacerbate this risk. Trauma-informed services to address the harms of colonization are severely needed, in line with recommendations from Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission.