Childhood emotional maltreatment and later psychological distress among college students: the mediating role of maladaptive schemas

The role of sleep quality and anxiety symptoms in the association between childhood trauma and self-harm attempt: A chain-mediated analysis in the UK Biobank

BACKGROUND

Childhood trauma is a risk factor for self-harm/suicidal behavior, but research on the potential association linking sleep quality and anxiety symptoms to childhood trauma and self-harm attempt is limited. The aim of this study was to describe the mediating role of sleep quality and anxiety symptoms between childhood trauma and self-harm attempt, and to provide a scientific basis for the prevention of self-harm behaviors.

METHODS

This study ultimately included 11,063 study participants who participated in the baseline survey of this large prospective cohort study of the UK Biobank. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze the chain mediating role of sleep quality and anxiety symptoms in childhood trauma and self-harm attempt while controlling for covariates.

RESULTS

A total of 19.58 % of study participants self-reported self-harm attempt. Sleep quality was negatively correlated with childhood trauma, anxiety symptoms, and self-harm attempt (p < 0.01). Childhood trauma, anxiety symptoms, and self-harm attempt were positively correlated (p < 0.01). In addition, after adjusting for confounders, anxiety symptoms were able to partially mediate the association between childhood trauma and self-harm attempt (effect value: 0.042, p < 0.01), and sleep quality and anxiety symptoms can chain mediate the association between childhood trauma and self-harm attempt (effect value:0.002, p < 0.01), with a total mediating effect of 65.67 % of the total effect. Subgroup analyses further showed that the mediating effects of sleep quality and anxiety symptoms on childhood trauma and self-harm attempt differed across age, gender, ethnicity, and smoking and drinking subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found a complex relationship between childhood trauma, sleep quality, anxiety symptoms, and self-harm attempt, with sleep quality and anxiety symptoms mediating the relationship between childhood trauma and self-harm attempt. Multiple avenues of intervention, such as the provision of professional psychological interventions and timely monitoring, should be used to improve the sleep quality and mental health of individuals with traumatic childhood experiences and to prevent the occurrence of emotionally harmful behaviors such as self-harm/suicide.

Validation of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire - Short Form (CTQ-SF) for a French-Speaking Sample

The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF) is a widely used and standardized questionnaire designed to assess five types of childhood abuse. Despite the fact that the CTQ-SF demonstrates good validity and reliability, its internal structure presents some limitations and its original 28-item five-factor model has been contested. The present study assesses the reliability and the factor structure of a French version of the CTQ-SF for an alternative 25-item model and a bifactorial model, using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Participants were French-speaking females from two independent samples (N = 1903, N = 690). They completed an online sociodemographic questionnaire and the online version of the CTQ-SF. The new model proposed in this article demonstrated excellent fit indices in two independent samples. Our results support the fit of a bifactorial 25-item model, suggesting the presence of a general factor of intrafamilial maltreatment, from which only sexual abuse would be separated. Furthermore, the results support the fit of a solution with seven factors. This research proposes alternative models that address the limitations pinpointed by previous international studies and demonstrate good fit indices. Moreover, these findings provide support for the validity of a French version of the CTQ-SF.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40653-024-00612-x.

Linkages between childhood emotional maltreatment and adulthood marital attitudes among rural first-generation college students in China: A latent profile analysis and multigroup comparisons

BACKGROUND

Although there is a wealth of evidence indicating the enduring consequences of childhood emotional maltreatment (CEM) on social and relational functioning across life stages, little known about how CEM affects marital attitudes in emerging adulthood, particularly among rural first-generation college students (rural FGCS) at the critical stage of developing romantic relationships.

OBJECTIVE

To explore whether differential patterns of CEM existed among rural FGCS in China during emerging adulthood. Furthermore, the study aims to examine the potential differences in the chain mediating role of CEM on the pathway to adulthood marital attitudes across different CEM profiles.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

Using a cluster sampling approach, a total of 3848 rural first-generation college freshmen (males = 39.2 %, mean age = 18.42 years) were recruited from three universities in China.

METHODS

Latent profile analysis was utilized to identify potential patterns of CEM using Mplus version 7.4. Structural equation modeling and multigroup comparisons were then performed to investigate the association between CEM and attitudes towards marriage in emerging adulthood, utilizing AMOS 24.0.

RESULTS

Three profiles of CEM was identified among rural FGCS: a low-CEM group (51.87 %), a moderate-CEM group (36.69 %), and a severe-CEM group (11.44 %). The association between CEM and adulthood marital attitudes was mediated by core self-evaluation and meaning in life. However, the mediation effects varied across the three CEM profiles. In the low-CEM group, core self-evaluation and meaning in life were observed to partially mediate the negative association between CEM and adulthood marital attitudes. On the other hand, in the moderate-CEM and severe-CEM groups, the relationship between CEM and adulthood marital attitudes was fully mediated by core self-evaluation.

CONCLUSIONS

The study's findings suggest that CEM is a significant predictor of marital attitudes among rural FGCS during emerging adulthood, with the severity of emotional neglect and abuse being the primary distinguishing factor between different CEM profiles. Core self-evaluation plays an important role in this relationship. Future clinical interventions could benefit from focusing on enhancing core self-evaluation and meaning in life, particularly for those with CEM experiences.

Childhood maltreatment and vulnerability to substance use disorders: The mediating role of psychological security

Background

Understanding the factors associated with the propensity for drug dependence might be helpful in providing the best strategies for substance use prevention among youth. The present study was conducted to examine the association between childhood maltreatment (CM) and susceptibility to substance use disorders (SUDs), taking into account the mediating role of psychological safety.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, multistage cluster sampling was employed to recruit 400 male students from the three universities of Tabriz in 2019. Research instruments included the valid and reliable scales of substance abuse, childhood trauma, and mental safety. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation, and structural equation modeling.

Results

The results showed positive significant relationships between vulnerability to SUDs, CM, and low levels of psychological safety. The evaluation of our hypothetical research model using fit indices showed that the model fits well the measurement model (CFI=0.97, GFI=0.95, RMSEA=0.058).

Conclusion

Our proposed theoretical model suggested psychological security as a mediator between CM and SUDs. CM explained addiction in college students through reducing psychological security. Investigating these interactive processes seems to be detrimental, considering that they may enhance our understanding of the ways to reduce the risk.

Early adolescent perceived friendship quality aids affective and neural responses to social inclusion and exclusion in young adults with and without adverse childhood experiences

Friendships increase mental wellbeing and resilient functioning in young people with childhood adversity (CA). However, the mechanisms of this relationship are unknown. We examined the relationship between perceived friendship quality at age 14 after the experience of CA and reduced affective and neural responses to social exclusion at age 24. Resilient functioning was quantified as psychosocial functioning relative to the degree of CA severity in 310 participants at age 24. From this cohort, 62 young people with and without CA underwent functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging to assess brain responses to social inclusion and exclusion. We observed that good friendship quality was significantly associated with better resilient functioning. Both friendship quality and resilient functioning were related to increased affective responses to social inclusion. We also found that friendship quality, but not resilient functioning, was associated with increased dorsomedial prefrontal cortex responses to peer exclusion. Our findings suggest that friendship quality in early adolescence may contribute to the evaluation of social inclusion by increasing affective sensitivity to positive social experiences and increased brain activity in regions involved in emotion regulation to negative social experiences. Future research is needed to clarify this relationship with resilient functioning in early adulthood.

College students' adverse childhood experiences and their anticipated risky behaviors: Early maladaptive schemas and emotion regulation difficulties as potential mediators

Objective: This study explicates the relationship between college student's adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and their anticipated engagement in five types of risky behaviors. Two transdiagnostic mechanisms were tested cross-sectionally: disconnection/rejection early maladaptive schemas (cognitive) and difficulties in emotional regulation (emotional). Participants: 521 college student participants were majority female (66.8%), White (57.2%), freshman (54.9%), and heterosexual (72.2%). Methods: Participants completed an online, self-report, survey. Pearson bivariate correlations and parallel mediation analyses were conducted. Results: Sixty percent of students endorsed at least one ACE. Among the total sample, disconnection/rejection schemas partially mediated the relationship between ACEs and anticipated engagement in irresponsible academic/work behaviors, drug use, aggressive/illegal activities, and heavy drinking. Difficulties in emotion regulation partially mediated anticipated risky sexual activities and irresponsible academic/work behaviors. Sex differences were noted. Conclusions: Preventing irresponsible academic activity and other risky behaviors is critically important to college students, parents, and administrators. Intervention efforts should address cognitive and emotional mechanisms.

Childhood trauma, psychache, and depression among university students: a moderated mediation model

Background

Childhood trauma is a potential threat to depression and can have a lifelong impact on the mental health of university students. Our study aimed to construct a moderated mediation model to explore the relationship between childhood trauma, psychache, ambivalence over emotional expression, physical activity, and depression in university students.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in three universities in China, recruiting 476 university students using self-report questionnaires. The moderated mediation model was examined using the SPSS PROCESS model 21.

Results

Ambivalence over emotional expression (F=12.843), childhood trauma (F=117.639), and psychache (F=581.594) all had a significant positive effect on depression (p<0.001), explaining 2.9%, 21.7%, and 56.8% of the variance, respectively. On the chain of influence between childhood trauma and depression, the mediating effect of psychache, the moderating effect of ambivalence over emotional expression, and the moderating effect of physical activity are all significant the overall indirect effect value of the three is 0.287, accounting for 61.59% of the total effect.

Conclusion

This study investigated the relationship between childhood trauma, ambivalence over emotional expression, psychache, physical activity, and depression in university students. Future interventions should focus on developing good emotional expression among university students, increasing opportunities for physical activity, and reducing psychache to reduce depression.

Longitudinal associations between childhood victimization and neuroticism from middle childhood to early adolescence

BACKGROUND

Previous cross-sectional and unidirectional longitudinal studies have identified positive associations between childhood victimization and neuroticism in children. However, these studies have not simultaneously examined multiple common sources of childhood victimization (family abuse, teacher abuse, and peer victimization) in relation to neuroticism nor have they distinguished between- and within-person effects. Moreover, the moderating role of child sex in their associations has yet to be fully evaluated.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the within-person longitudinal associations between three common sources of childhood victimization and neuroticism in Chinese children and whether these effects differed between boys and girls.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

The sample included 4315 children (55.1 % boys) with an average age of 9.93 (SD = 0.73) years from a large city in China.

METHODS

Participants completed self-report measures on five occasions across two years, employing six-month intervals. Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Models (RI-CLPMs) were used to distinguish between-person and within-person effects.

RESULTS

Results included: (a) Family abuse (excluding sexual abuse) and peer victimization directly predicted subsequent increases in neuroticism at the within-person level and vice versa, whereas teacher abuse and neuroticism did not reveal significant longitudinal relations at the within-person level; (b) The effect of family abuse on neuroticism at the within-person level was stronger in boys, while the effect of peer victimization on neuroticism at the within-person level was stronger in girls.

CONCLUSIONS

Prevention and intervention strategies targeting high neuroticism and childhood victimization should consider the roles of both family and peer systems.

The relationship between childhood maltreatment subtypes and adolescent internalizing problems: The mediating role of maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies

BACKGROUND

While childhood maltreatment is understood to be a significant risk factor for adolescent internalizing problems (depression and anxiety), underlying mechanisms linking each type of maltreatment to internalizing problems in adolescents remain unclear. Moreover, the current state of knowledge regarding the associations between maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies and each type of maltreatment, as well as their impact on adolescent internalizing problems, is limited. Additionally, it remains unclear whether these maladaptive strategies mediate this relationship.

OBJECTIVE

This study sought to investigate the effects of childhood maltreatment types on adolescent internalizing problems and to explore whether the overall and specific types of maladaptive strategies mediate these associations.

METHODS

Using a cross-sectional design, adolescents (N = 7071, Mage = 14.05 years, SDage = 1.54) completed online questionnaires assessing childhood maltreatment, maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies (including rumination, catastrophizing, self-blame, and other-blame), anxiety, and depression. The hypothesized mediating effects were tested using the Lavaan package in R software (4.1.2).

RESULTS

Different maltreatment types had varying effects on adolescent internalizing problems. Emotional neglect, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse significantly affected anxiety and depression, whereas physical neglect and physical abuse did not. Other than physical neglect and physical abuse, overall maladaptive strategies mediated the relationship between the other three types of maltreatment (emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and sexual abuse) and internalizing problems (anxiety and depression). For specific maladaptive strategies, rumination mediated the effects of physical abuse, emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and sexual abuse on internalizing problems (anxiety and depression). In contrast, catastrophizing mediated the relationship between physical neglect, emotional abuse, emotional neglect, sexual abuse and internalizing problems (anxiety and depression).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the effects of maltreatment types on internalizing problems are different and that maladaptive strategies, particularly rumination and catastrophizing, are important mechanisms through which childhood maltreatment affects internalizing problems. This is a reminder that mental health workers need to consider the different effects of maltreatment types when intervening and recognize the importance of prioritizing interventions for rumination and catastrophizing.

The Association Between Child Maltreatment and Loneliness Across the Lifespan: A Systematic Review and Multilevel Meta-Analysis

While there is evidence that child maltreatment is positively associated with loneliness, the strength of this association is not yet clear. It is also unclear whether the magnitude and statistical significance of this association varies across groups of individuals. Therefore, this meta-analysis examines whether there are differences in loneliness between individuals with and without maltreatment histories, and which factors may influence the association between child maltreatment and loneliness. A three-level meta-analysis was conducted on 52 studies reporting 116 effect sizes (N = 1,705,493; Mage = 30.93; 49.6% females). Results showed a medium overall effect (g = 0.45, p < .001, 95% CI [0.36, 0.53]), indicating that individuals with maltreatment histories, on average, feel lonelier than individuals without maltreatment histories. Moderator analyses showed that effect sizes were larger for emotional abuse and emotional neglect as compared to other types of child maltreatment and decreased when participants were older at the time of loneliness assessment. These findings suggest that individuals with maltreatment histories, especially those who have been emotionally abused and/or emotionally neglected, are vulnerable to experiencing loneliness across the lifespan. The results also suggest that feelings of loneliness warrant attention in prevention and intervention programs for individuals with maltreatment histories.

The impact of childhood trauma on emotional distress and the moderating role of sense of coherence among college students in China

Childhood trauma is strongly linked to emotional distress. However, few studies have explored the impact of sense of coherence (SOC) on the relationship between childhood trauma and emotional distress in college students. This study aimed to explore its impact on the relationship between childhood trauma and emotional distress. Analyzing data from 2307 Chinese college students, we found that SOC moderated the association between childhood trauma and anxiety/depression levels. Females showed higher SOC and lower anxiety/depression despite experiencing more childhood trauma. Multiple linear regression revealed that anxiety was negatively associated with SOC(P < 0.001) and grade(P = 0.027), and positively with childhood trauma(P < 0.001) and male gender(P = 0.004). Similarly, the depression exhibited similar associations. SOC moderated negatively the relationship between CTQ and anxiety, as well as between CTQ and depression. Childhood trauma is associated with increased emotional distress risk among college students, but a strong SOC can reduce this risk.

Gene-Environment Interactions in Irrational Beliefs: The Roles of Childhood Adversity and Multiple Candidate Genes

Cognitive behavioral therapy is based on the view that maladaptive thinking is the causal mechanism of mental disorders. While this view is supported by extensive evidence, very limited work has addressed the factors that contribute to the development of maladaptive thinking. The present study aimed to uncover interactions between childhood maltreatment and multiple genetic differences in irrational beliefs. Childhood maltreatment and irrational beliefs were assessed using multiple self-report instruments in a sample of healthy volunteers (N = 452). Eighteen single-nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped in six candidate genes related to neurotransmitter function (COMT; SLC6A4; OXTR), neurotrophic factors (BDNF), and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (NR3C1; CRHR1). Gene-environment interactions (G×E) were first explored in models that employed one measure of childhood maltreatment and one measure of irrational beliefs. These effects were then followed up in models in which either the childhood maltreatment measure, the irrational belief measure, or both were substituted by parallel measures. Consistent results across models indicated that childhood maltreatment was positively associated with irrational beliefs, and these relations were significantly influenced by COMT rs165774 and OXTR rs53576. These results remain preliminary until independent replication, but they represent the best available evidence to date on G×E in a fundamental mechanism of psychopathology.

The Association Between Witnessing Interparental Violence and Adolescents' Anger Expression Styles

The purpose of this research was to determine the association between witnessing interparental violence and anger expression styles in adolescents. Previous studies have generally focused on the attitudes to violence of individuals witnessing it. However, the present research specifically investigated the association between witnessing interparental violence and anger. The research was performed as a descriptive and correlational study. The research sample consisted of 1,000 adolescents aged 15 to 19 contacted via social media platforms using the convenience sample method. An online data collection form containing questions was prepared to determine adolescents' sociodemographic characteristics and contained questions from the Witnessing Interparental Violence Scale and Trait Anger Expression Inventory. Statistical analysis was performed on SPSS 21.0 software. In all, 446 (44.6%) adolescents had witnessed interparental violence. Trait, externalized, and internalized anger scores were higher among adolescents who had witnessed interparental violence compared to those who had not. This research shows that witnessing interparental violence has significant effects on the individual's trait anger and anger expression styles. We recommend that the effects of exposure to violence and witnessing interparental violence be compared and that witnessing violence in different cultural environments be evaluated in future studies.

Childhood emotional abuse and depression among Chinese adolescent sample: A mediating and moderating dual role model of rumination and resilience

BACKGROUND

Childhood emotional abuse (CEA) has been identified as a distal risk factor for later depression in adolescents. However, the underlying psychological mechanisms between CEA and adolescent depression are still poorly understood.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to explore the roles of rumination and resilience played in the association between CEA and depression among Chinese adolescents.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

The sample included 919 students (52.56 % boys) with an average age of 13.47 years from a central province in China.

METHODS

Participants completed multiple measurements of CEA, rumination, resilience, and depression. Multivariate path analysis was applied to examine the relations among these variables.

RESULTS

Results showed (a) CEA was significantly positively related to adolescent depression; (b) Rumination partially mediated the relationship between CEA and depression and moderated the relationship between resilience and depression; (c) Resilience partially mediated the relationship between CEA and depression and moderated the relationship between rumination and depression.

CONCLUSIONS

The results revealed that both rumination and resilience played not only mediating but also moderating roles in the relationship between CEA and depression among Chinese adolescent sample, suggesting that the indirect effects of CEA on depression via resilience and rumination are dependent on each other. Hence, these findings deepened the understanding of the psychological mechanisms between CEA and depression and had several practical implications.

Child maltreatment among deaf and hard-of-hearing adolescent students: associations with depression and anxiety

Objective

Child abuse and neglect have several short- and long-term consequences for the victim. Though Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing children are at higher risk of being maltreated as compared to hearing children, little research in Saudi Arabia has focused on this population. To determine the prevalence of child maltreatment and to examine its association with depression and anxiety among a sample of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students in Saudi Arabia, recruited from secondary schools in southern Saudi Arabia.

Methods

The sample included 186 Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students aged 14-17 years (M = 15.7 years; SD = 3.41 years). Data were collected using the Child Abuse Self-Report Scale, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale for Children, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire. Bivariate and Linear regression analyses were conducted using SPSS 20.

Results

About 47.3% of the students were exposed severe to very severe child maltreatment. The severity of maltreatment varied based on parents' educational and income level, number of children in the family, the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing student's gender, and parents' hearing status. Linear regression analysis indicated that child maltreatment was a significant predictor of depression and anxiety in this sample.

Conclusion

Considering the socio-demographic factors influencing the prevalence of maltreatment in the present study, it seems important to work with parents of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing children to improve their skills in rearing a child with special needs. Addressing the social stigma and social barriers experienced by DHH individuals through familial, institutional, and community interventions may be a first step toward long-term prevention of maltreatment among DHH children.

Maternal autistic traits and anxiety in children with typical development in Chinese families: a moderated mediation model of mothers' negative emotional expressions and child gender

Background

Prior studies have focused on the effects of maternal autistic traits on children with autism, but little attention has been paid to the effects of maternal autistic traits on typically developing children, while the mechanisms of the effects are not clear.

Objective

Given that, a moderated mediation model was conducted to examine the association between maternal autistic traits and typically developing children's anxiety and the underlying mechanisms.

Methods and results

Participants were 648 mother-child dyads in which these children had no autistic siblings. Mothers reported their autistic traits and negative emotional expressions in the family and children's anxiety. The results indicated that children's anxiety was predicted by maternal autistic traits. Mediating analysis revealed that mothers' negative emotional expressions partially mediated the association between their autistic traits and children's anxiety. The findings also indicated that child gender moderated the relationship between maternal emotional expressions and children's anxiety. Specifically, anxiety in girls was more strongly predicted by negative emotional expressions from their mothers than in boys.

Conclusion

These results have important theoretical and practical implications for reducing the adverse effect of maternal autistic traits on children's anxiety, especially for girls. The present study also reveals that maternal negative emotional expression is an important mechanism. Causal conclusions cannot be drawn based on cross-sectional research design, so it is necessary to conduct longitudinal studies in the future.

The Relationship Between Childhood Abuse and Unintended Pregnancy Among Married Women of Reproductive Age in Bangladesh

Childhood abuse has been associated with adverse medical, psychological, behavioral, and socioeconomic outcomes in adulthood. Despite this, limited research explores the connection between childhood abuse and unintended pregnancy during adulthood. Notably, existing studies have predominantly focused on high-income countries, leaving a significant gap regarding low- and middle-income nations. This study aims to investigate the impact of childhood physical, sexual, and psychological abuse on the prevalence of unintended pregnancies and explore the interaction effects of childhood abuse on unintended pregnancy occurrences. The cross-sectional survey study was conducted between October 2015 and January 2016 in the Chandpur District of Bangladesh. Data were collected from 426 married women aged 15-49 years who had at least one child of six months or younger. The assessment of child abuse pertains to the mother's own experiences of childhood abuse and not abuse inflicted on her child. The prevalence of childhood physical, psychological, and sexual abuse was 37%, 26%, and 15%, respectively. About 25.1% of their most recent pregnancies were unintended. Notably, women with a history of childhood sexual abuse were twice as likely to experience unintended pregnancy compared to those without such a history. Furthermore, a dose-response connection was observed between the combined exposure of all categories of childhood abuse and a higher risk of unintended pregnancy. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions, such as comprehensive sex education, accessible mental health support, and improved child protection frameworks, to address the potential repercussions of maternal childhood abuse and reduce the incidence of unintended pregnancies.

From Maltreatment to Psychiatric Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence: The Relevance of Emotional Maltreatment

Different forms of maltreatment are thought to incur a cumulative and non-specific toll on mental health. However, few large-scale studies draw on psychiatric diagnoses manifesting in early childhood and adolescence to identify sequelae of differential maltreatment exposures, and emotional maltreatment, in particular. Fine-grained multi-source dimensional maltreatment assessments and validated age-appropriate clinical interviews were conducted in a sample of N = 778 3 to 16-year-olds. We aimed to (a) substantiate known patterns of clinical outcomes following maltreatment and (b) analyse relative effects of emotional maltreatment, abuse (physical and sexual), and neglect (physical, supervisory, and moral-legal/educational) using structural equation modeling. Besides confirming known relationships between maltreatment exposures and psychiatric disorders, emotional maltreatment exerted particularly strong effects on internalizing disorders in older youth and externalizing disorders in younger children, accounting for variance over and above abuse and neglect exposures. Our data highlight the toxicity of pathogenic relational experiences from early childhood onwards, urging researchers and practitioners alike to prioritize future work on emotional maltreatment.

Linking trauma to mental health in the statewide Texas Youth Depression and Suicide Research Network (TX-YDSRN)

Rates of youth depression and suicide are rising worldwide and represent public health crises. The present study examined the relationship between trauma history and symptoms of depression, suicidal ideation, and anxiety among suicidal and depressed youth. A diverse group of 1000 8-20-year-olds enrolled in the statewide Texas Youth Depression and Suicide Research Network (TX-YDSRN) reported their trauma history (Traumatic Events Screening Inventory for Children) and symptoms of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire for adolescents; PHQ-A), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale; GAD-7), and suicidality (Concise Health Risk Tracking scale; CHRT-SR). Nearly half of the sample reported exposure to multiple categories of traumatic experiences. Number of trauma exposure categories significantly predicted PHQ-A and GAD-7 scores. Exposure to interpersonal trauma and to sexual trauma were significantly associated with PHQ-A, GAD-7, and CHRT-SR scores. The number of trauma exposure categories was associated with increased levels of anxiety and depression; however, only exposure to interpersonal or sexual trauma was associated with more suicidality. Clinicians should assess trauma exposure in patients seeking psychiatric care, especially for interpersonal and sexual trauma, which may be predictive of increased risk for suicidality in depressed youth. Future work should disentangle the effects of specific trauma types from multiple trauma exposure.

Childhood psychological maltreatment and adolescent depressive symptoms: Exploring the role of social anxiety and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies

BACKGROUND

Despite emerging evidence for the effect of childhood psychological maltreatment on adolescent depressive symptoms, the underlying processes for this effect are largely under-investigated. This study examined a conceptual framework for the effect of childhood psychological maltreatment on adolescent depressive symptoms through social anxiety disorder (SAD) and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies.

METHODS

The participants were 1649 Chinese middle school students (751 girls and 898 boys) with a mean age of 16.29 ± 1.04 years old. A moderation-mediation model hypothesized that childhood psychological maltreatment predicts adolescent depressive symptoms, with SAD as a mediator and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies as a moderator.

RESULTS

Childhood psychological maltreatment significantly positively predicted adolescent depressive symptoms, while SAD mediated the relation. Maladaptive emotion regulation strategies moderated the pathways from psychological maltreatment to depressive symptoms (but not from psychological maltreatment to SAD) and from SAD to adolescent depressive symptoms.

LIMITATIONS

Subjective measures, and the cross-sectional design are the main limitations.

CONCLUSIONS

SAD plays a mediating role in the relation between childhood psychological maltreatment and depressive symptoms. Maladaptive emotion regulation strategies exacerbate the relation between childhood psychological maltreatment and depressive symptoms, as well as the relation between SAD and depressive symptoms. These results highlight the importance of addressing social anxiety in reducing adolescent depressive symptoms by improving their cognitive emotion regulation strategies.

Outcomes of early social experiences on glucocorticoid and endocannabinoid systems in the prefrontal cortex of male and female adolescent rats

Social and emotional experiences differently shape individual's neurodevelopment inducing substantial changes in neurobiological substrates and behavior, particularly when they occur early in life. In this scenario, the present study was aimed at (i) investigating the impact of early social environments on emotional reactivity of adolescent male and female rats and (ii) uncovering the underlying molecular features, focusing on the cortical endocannabinoid (eCB) and glucocorticoid systems. To this aim, we applied a protocol of environmental manipulation based on early postnatal socially enriched or impoverished conditions. Social enrichment was realized through communal nesting (CN). Conversely, an early social isolation (ESI) protocol was applied (post-natal days 14-21) to mimic an adverse early social environment. The two forms of social manipulation resulted in specific behavioral and molecular outcomes in both male and female rat offspring. Despite the combination of CN and ESI did not affect emotional reactivity in both sexes, the molecular results reveal that the preventive exposure to CN differently altered mRNA and protein expression of the main components of the glucocorticoid and eCB systems in male and female rats. In particular, adolescent females exposed to the combination of CN and ESI showed increased corticosterone levels, unaltered genomic glucocorticoid receptor, reduced cannabinoid receptor type-1 and fatty acid amide hydrolase protein levels, suggesting that the CN condition evokes different reorganization of these systems in males and females.

Looking into troubled waters: Childhood emotional maltreatment modulates neural responses to prolonged gazing into one's own, but not others', eyes

One of the most prevalent nonverbal, social phenomena known to automatically elicit self- and other-referential processes is eye contact. By its negative effects on the perception of social safety and views about the self and others, childhood emotional maltreatment (CEM) may fundamentally affect these processes. To investigate whether the socioaffective consequences of CEM may become visible in response to (prolonged) eye gaze, 79 adult participants (mean [M]age = 49.87, standard deviation [SD]age = 4.62) viewed videos with direct and averted gaze of an unfamiliar other and themselves while we recorded self-reported mood, eye movements using eye-tracking, and markers of neural activity using fMRI. Participants who reported higher levels of CEM exhibited increased activity in ventromedial prefrontal cortex to one's own, but not to others', direct gaze. Furthermore, in contrast to those who reported fewer of such experiences, they did not report a better mood in response to a direct gaze of self and others, despite equivalent amounts of time spent looking into their own and other peoples' eyes. The fact that CEM is associated with enhanced neural activation in a brain area that is crucially involved in self-referential processing (i.e., vmPFC) in response to one's own direct gaze is in line with the chronic negative impact of CEM on a person's self-views. Interventions that directly focus on targeting maladaptive self-views elicited during eye gaze to self may be clinically useful.

The Rating of Emotional Abuse in Childhood (REACH) Questionnaire: A new self-report measure assessing history of childhood emotional abuse

BACKGROUND

A history of childhood emotional abuse (CEA) is prevalent among adults with affective disorders; therefore, a comprehensive measure of it is vital. The Rating of Emotional Abuse in Childhood Questionnaire (REACH) was developed to assess history of CEA in relation to parental behaviours of threat, ignoring, humiliation/denigration, scapegoating, antipathy, and overcontrol/conditionality in a single measure. This paper investigated the psychometric properties of REACH in a community sample and proposes values for classifying individuals as high-risk for CEA.

METHOD

A convenience sample of N = 483 adults (Female, 78.3%) was recruited to complete questionnaires that included the REACH alongside measures of mental health, insecure attachment, emotion regulation, and childhood abuse. A subset of participants (n = 198) completed the REACH 7 days later.

RESULTS

Factor analysis indicated a 2-factor model provided a good fit. Factors were named 'threatening' and 'devaluing'. A total scale score of CEA was also recommended. The threatening, devaluing, and total scales demonstrated strong psychometric properties with high internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity, while cutoff values for identifying a high-risk CEA group demonstrated good discriminant utility.

CONCLUSIONS

The results support REACH as a valid measure and suggest a history of CEA should be measured in relation to threatening and devaluing CEA as they represent unique dimensions of CEA even though they often co-occur.

Examining the relationship between maternal childhood abuse history and mother-infant bonding: The mediating roles of postpartum depression and maternal self-efficacy

BACKGROUND

The detrimental effects of childhood abuse on long-term outcomes are well-known, however few studies have examined these effects in the context of postpartum psychopathology, maternal self-efficacy, and mother-infant bonding quality.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the relationship between a maternal childhood abuse experience (i.e., physical, psychological, and sexual) and mother-infant bonding disturbances, and whether this relationship was mediated by postnatal depression symptomatology and maternal self-efficacy.

METHOD

A sample of 191 postpartum women (Mage = 32.88, SD = 4.20) recruited online from the general population completed self-report measures of the constructs of interest.

RESULTS

Postnatal depression symptomatology and maternal self-efficacy were found to fully mediate the relationship between psychological child abuse experience and mother-infant bonding disturbances (β = 0.06, SE = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.12). Postnatal depression symptomatology (but not maternal self-efficacy) was an independent mediator between psychological child abuse experience and mother-infant bonding (β = 0.07, SE = 0.03, 95 % CI: 0.01, 0.13). After inclusion of other abuse types as covariates in the analyses, the findings for maternal child physical abuse attenuated to non-significance. Child sexual abuse was not associated with the mediating or outcome variables, highlighting the issue of disclosure despite the anonymous online environment.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the negative impact of psychological childhood abuse experience on the quality of the mother-infant bond during the postpartum period and potential pathways that underlie this relationship. This study also draws attention to the need to recognize comorbidity of abuse types in research.

Childhood emotional abuse and adult mental health at the intersection of social relationship and education

BACKGROUND

Previous research has established that childhood emotional abuse has long-term, negative consequences for adult mental health. Yet, less is known about the ways that social relationship and education intersect to shape the link between childhood emotional abuse and mental health in adulthood.

AIM

The current study aims to examine whether perceived quality of social relationships moderates the association between childhood emotional abuse and adult mental health. Moreover, it assesses how the moderating effect of perceived quality of social relationship differs across levels of education.

METHOD

The current study analyzes data from the 2012 Korean General Social Survey, a nationally representative sampling of Korean adults. It uses OLS regression models.

RESULTS

Childhood emotional abuse is positively associated with depression and psychological distress in adulthood. However, perceived quality of social relationships mitigates the positive association of childhood emotional abuse with depression and psychological distress. Further, this buffering effect of perceived quality of social relationships operates only for individuals with less than or equal to a high school education, but not for individuals with college education or more.

CONCLUSION

The results lend support to the resource substitution thesis, suggesting that positive perceptions of social relationship act as a protective factor against childhood emotional abuse for individuals with lower levels of education.

Development and Validation of the Adaptive Schema Questionnaire

Background

Schemas help with the organization and interpretation of information. Adaptive schemas indicate positive predisposing thinking patterns in an individual. This study aimed to develop a psychometrically robust tool to assess adaptive schema in a nonclinical sample.

Method

This research comprises two independent studies. Study I was multiphased. In Phase I (n = 70), 36 open-ended items were generated following the Young schema therapy model and qualitatively analyzed. This facilitated the generation of 144 items in Phase II (n = 152) which were evaluated for content validity and subjected to rigorous item analysis. Exploratory factor analysis was performed in Phase III (n = 751). Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted in Study II (n = 244).

Results

Exploratory factor analysis resulted in a six-factor solution comprising 25 items. These factors correspond to the six adaptive themes, namely, adequate, secured, self-reliant/autonomous, resistant, successful, and self-assured. The newly developed Adaptive Schema Questionnaire demonstrated adequate reliability (α = 0.86). Significant correlations between the obtained factors and Early Maladaptive Schemas, depression, big five personality factors, and positive and negative effects established the concurrent validity. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated acceptable goodness of fit for the obtained model.

Conclusion

The developed Adaptive Schema Questionnaire is a reliable and valid instrument with promising utility in psychotherapy and research context.

The effect of childhood trauma and resilience on psychopathology in adulthood: Does bullying moderate the associations?

BACKGROUND

Exposure to traumatic events in childhood, including bullying, can negatively affect physical and mental health in adulthood. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of bullying in different sociodemographic groups of the Slovak Republic and to assess the moderating effect of bullying on the associations between childhood trauma, resilience, and the later occurrence of psychopathology.

METHODS

For the analyses, a representative sample of the population of the Slovak Republic was used (N = 1018, mean age 46.24 years, 48.7% of men). Multivariate linear regression models were used to investigate the predictive ability of childhood trauma (The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, CTQ) and resilience (The Brief Resilience Scale, BRS) to explain psychopathology (The Brief Symptom Inventory, BSI-53). Bullying (The Adverse Childhood Experiences - International Questionnaire, ACE-IQ) was used as a moderator.

RESULTS

In total, 13.5% of respondents have experienced bullying. The most common form of bullying was making fun of someone because of how their body or face looked (46.7%) and excluding someone from activities or ignoring them (36.5%). Higher scores in all types of psychopathology and the Global Severity Index (GSI) were significantly associated with higher scores of emotional and sexual abuse, and some of them with physical neglect. The protective effect of resilience was moderated by bullying in several types of psychopathology, specifically in somatization, obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, psychoticism, and the GSI.

CONCLUSION

Understanding the links between childhood trauma, bullying, and later psychopathology can help professionals target policies, resources, and interventions to support children and families at risk. Every child should feel accepted and safe at home and school.

Anger and psychological symptoms relationship: mediator role of maladaptive schemas

Trait anger is the strong predictor of various psychological symptoms like anxiety, depression, and hostility. Explaining how and why this relationship occurs is crucial to come up with more effective prevention and intervention strategies in the field. To this end, the current study aimed to reveal the mediating effect of early maladaptive schemas, which is the basic concept of schema therapy, on the relations of trait anger and psychological symptoms. Data was collected from 301 university students by using the measurement tools of Brief Symptom Inventory, Trait Anger Scale and Young Schema Scale. Findings revealed that trait anger positively predicted psychological symptoms. Secondly, a set of predictive models were prepared to detect the mediating effect of early maladaptive schemas. According to the analysis in the last stage, early maladaptive schemas fully mediated the relationship between trait anger and psychological symptoms.

The Role of Oxytocin in Early-Life-Stress-Related Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Early-life stress during critical periods of brain development can have long-term effects on physical and mental health. Oxytocin is a critical social regulator and anti-inflammatory hormone that modulates stress-related functions and social behaviors and alleviates diseases. Oxytocin-related neural systems show high plasticity in early postpartum and adolescent periods. Early-life stress can influence the oxytocin system long term by altering the expression and signaling of oxytocin receptors. Deficits in social behavior, emotional control, and stress responses may result, thus increasing the risk of anxiety, depression, and other stress-related neuropsychiatric diseases. Oxytocin is regarded as an important target for the treatment of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we describe the history of oxytocin and its role in neural circuits and related behaviors. We then review abnormalities in the oxytocin system in early-life stress and the functions of oxytocin in treating stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders.

Sleep problems mediate the influence of childhood emotional maltreatment on adolescent non-suicidal self-injury: The moderating effect of rumination

BACKGROUND

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a highly serious public health problem among adolescents in China, and childhood emotional maltreatment has been found to be a risk factor for NSSI.

OBJECTIVE

Little is known about the longitudinal association between childhood emotional maltreatment and NSSI as well as its underlying mediating and moderating mechanisms. Thus, we hypothesized whether sleep problems mediated the association between childhood emotional maltreatment and NSSI, and whether this indirect effect was moderated by rumination.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

A total of 1987 Chinese adolescents (56.1 % males; ages 10 to 14, M = 12.32, SD = 0.53) completed self-report questionnaires regarding childhood emotional maltreatment, sleep problems, rumination non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in three waves.

METHODS

Structural equation model was used to test a moderated mediation model, with gender, age and socioeconomic status and baseline measures as covariates.

RESULTS

Childhood emotional maltreatment was significantly associated with NSSI, and this association was mediated by sleep problems. Moderated mediation analyses revealed that rumination intensified the relation between childhood emotional maltreatment and sleep problems as well as the relation between sleep problems and NSSI.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings of this study demonstrate a relationship among childhood emotional maltreatment, sleep problems, rumination and NSSI. Interventions that target sleep problems and rumination may be beneficial for reducing NSSI for at-risk adolescents.

Mediators of the Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Symptoms of Anxiety, Depression, and Suicidality among Adults

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are consistently found to be negatively associated with physical, psychological, and psychosocial well-being throughout the lifespan. While previous research has established risk factors and noxious outcomes arising post-ACEs, less attention has been given to factors such as resilience, perceived social support, and subjective well-being that may help explain the relationship between ACEs and psychopathology. Hence, the objectives of this study are to examine: (1) the relationships among ACEs and symptoms of anxiety, depression, and suicidality in adulthood, and (2) whether resilience, social support, and subjective well-being mediate the relationship between ACEs and psychopathological symptoms. Cross-sectional data on ACEs, psychological factors, potential mediating variables, and sociodemographic factors were collected from a community sample of adults aged 18-81 (N = 296) via an on-line survey. Endorsing ACEs was significantly and positively correlated with symptoms of anxiety, depression, and suicidality. Results of parallel mediation analyses showed that social support, negative affect, and life satisfaction statistically mediated the relationships between ACEs and psychopathological outcomes in adulthood. These results highlight the importance of identifying potential mediators of the ACEs-psychopathological symptoms relationship to aid in the development of screening and intervention practices that could bolster developmental outcomes following traumatic childhood experiences.

Childhood emotional but not physical or sexual maltreatment predicts prosocial behavior in late adolescence: A daily diary study

BACKGROUND

Childhood maltreatment (CM), including physical, emotional, and sexual maltreatment, is detrimental to adolescents' psychological and behavioral outcomes. However, most studies on the relationship between CM and prosocial behavior focused on the overall experience of CM. Since different forms of CM exert various influences on adolescents, it is essential to find out which form of CM has the strongest link with prosocial behavior and the underlying mechanism behind it to fully understand this relationship and design a specific intervention for promoting prosocial behavior.

OBJECTIVE

Guided by internal working model theory and hopelessness theory, this study aimed to investigate the connections of multiple forms of CM with prosocial behavior, and explore the mediating mechanism of gratitude from the perspective of the broaden-and-build theory through a 14-day daily diary study.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 240 Chinese late adolescents (217 females; M_age = 19.02, SD_age = 1.83) from a college volunteered for this study and completed questionnaires regarding CM, gratitude, and prosocial behavior.

METHODS

A multilevel regression analysis was conducted to investigate which form of CM was correlated to prosocial behavior, and a multilevel mediation analysis was applied to examine the underlying mechanism (i.e., gratitude) behind this relationship.

RESULTS

The results of the multilevel regression analysis showed that it was childhood emotional maltreatment, but not physical or sexual maltreatment that negatively predicted prosocial behavior. The results of the multilevel mediation analysis indicated that gratitude mediated the relationship between childhood emotional maltreatment and prosocial behavior.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings from the present study highlight the predictive effect of childhood emotional maltreatment on late adolescents' prosocial behavior and the mediating role of gratitude in this link.

Child abuse and wellbeing: Examining the roles of self-compassion and fear of self

INTRODUCTION

Childhood abuse is linked to poorer well-being, yet some survivors show no prolonged effect, suggesting multifinality. Men and women also differ in the experience and sequelae of abuse supporting gender-specific analyses. To assist in circumventing poor outcomes associated with child abuse, this study examined fear of self (FoS) and self-compassion (SC) as risk and protective factors between child abuse and well-being.

METHOD

Australian women (N = 1302, M_age = 47.28 [13.63]) completed an online assessment of childhood abuse, psychological distress, perceived quality of life, SC, FoS. Moderated-moderation examined the different abuses as predictors of psychological distress and quality of life (QoL) and FoS and SC as primary and secondary moderators, respectively.

RESULTS

Physical abuse did not predict psychological distress or QoL. FoS and SC were independent predictors of distress and QoL. Similarly, childhood sexual abuse was not found to predict distress or QoL. FoS and SC were independent predictors of distress and QoL. There was also an interaction between childhood sexual abuse and SC in predicting QoL. A moderated-moderation was found for the relationship between child sexual abuse and distress. Psychological abuse predicted distress and QoL, and FoS and SC both moderated this relationship. Moreover, a moderated-moderation was observed for the relationship between psychological abuse and QoL.

CONCLUSIONS

Greater FoS is associated with poorer outcomes for child abuse survivors; SC may mitigate this impact. Psychological abuse was the strongest predictor of well-being. Interventions that increase SC and raise awareness of psychological abuse and its impacts are needed.

Effects of Childhood Maltreatment on Self-Compassion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

This systematic review aims to estimate the extent to which childhood maltreatment influences self-compassion in later life.

METHOD

Four English databases (Web of Science, PsycINFO, PubMed, and PsycARTICLES) and three Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and Weipu) were systematically searched. We extracted data related to the associations between child maltreatment and self-compassion and pooled them using random effect models.

FINDINGS

A total of 20 eligible studies were included involving 6,877 participants in the analyses. Overall child maltreatment was negatively related to self-compassion (r = -.28, p < .001); emotional abuse and neglect were negatively related to self-compassion (r = -.28, p < .01; r = -.31, p < .01, respectively) at a moderate level; and physical abuse, sexual abuse, and physical neglect were negatively related to self-compassion (r = -.12, p < .01; r = -.10, p < .01; and r = -.22, p < .001, respectively) at a small level.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that overall and subtypes of maltreatment are associated with decreased self-compassion, and child intervention programs focused on self-compassion should be designed to protect the well-being of individuals with a history of childhood maltreatment.

Early-life stress biases responding to negative feedback and increases amygdala volume and vulnerability to later-life stress

Early-life stress (ELS) or adversity, particularly in the form of childhood neglect and abuse, is associated with poor mental and physical health outcomes in adulthood. However, whether these relationships are mediated by the consequences of ELS itself or by other exposures that frequently co-occur with ELS is unclear. To address this question, we carried out a longitudinal study in rats to isolate the effects of ELS on regional brain volumes and behavioral phenotypes relevant to anxiety and depression. We used the repeated maternal separation (RMS) model of chronic ELS, and conducted behavioral measurements throughout adulthood, including of probabilistic reversal learning (PRL), responding on a progressive ratio task, sucrose preference, novelty preference, novelty reactivity, and putative anxiety-like behavior on the elevated plus maze. Our behavioral assessment was combined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for quantitation of regional brain volumes at three time points: immediately following RMS, young adulthood without further stress, and late adulthood with further stress. We found that RMS caused long-lasting, sexually dimorphic biased responding to negative feedback on the PRL task. RMS also slowed response time on the PRL task, but without this directly impacting task performance. RMS animals were also uniquely sensitive to a second stressor, which disproportionately impaired their performance and slowed their responding on the PRL task. MRI at the time of the adult stress revealed a larger amygdala volume in RMS animals compared with controls. These behavioral and neurobiological effects persisted well into adulthood despite a lack of effects on conventional tests of 'depression-like' and 'anxiety-like' behavior, and a lack of any evidence of anhedonia. Our findings indicate that ELS has long-lasting cognitive and neurobehavioral effects that interact with stress in adulthood and may have relevance for understanding the etiology of anxiety and depression in humans.

Sexual risk behavior among individuals seeking outpatient mental health services: Associations with childhood emotional neglect and identity dysfunction

This study was developed to examine sexual risk behavior among patients seeking community-based mental health services, including associations with psychological distress, identity dysfunction, and childhood emotional neglect. A mediation model was examined regarding identity dysfunction mediating the link between emotional neglect and sexual risk behavior. A total of 245 outpatients completed questionnaires regarding perceived risky sexual behavior, psychological distress, identity dysfunction, and emotional neglect. Sexual risk behavior was found to be a prevalent issue among individuals seeking outpatient mental health services, with 13% reporting engagement in unsafe sexual practices at least some of the time. Mediation analysis revealed that childhood emotional neglect was indirectly linked with sexual risk behavior through the mediating effect of identity dysfunction. Thus, findings suggest a pathway to sexual risk behaviors through perceived childhood emotional neglect and identity dysfunction. Clinical attention to identity-related vulnerability among this population may be warranted in aiming to mitigate risk-taking associated with sexual practices.

Mediating effect of fear and externality of happiness in the association between psychological maltreatment and psychological well-being

This study aims to explore whether psychological maltreatment predicts young adults' psychological well-being through fear of happiness and externality of happiness. The current study included 490 young adults from a public university in an urban city in Turkey. Participants were 36% male, and they ranged in age from 18 to 39 years (M= 21.77, SD = 2.40). Findings from the study revealed that psychological maltreatment had a significant predictive effect on psychological well-being, fear of happiness, and externality of happiness. Further, fear of happiness and externality of happiness mediated the impact of psychological maltreatment on psychological well-being. These findings indicate that fear and externality of happiness are important sources that can help to explain the association between childhood psychological maltreatment and psychological well-being among young adults. Therefore, there is a need to design a more comprehensive prevention and intervention approach for improving people's psychological well-being in the context of psychological maltreatment.

Maternal childhood adversity and prenatal depression: the protective role of father support

Depression during pregnancy is common, and previous research suggests childhood adversity may increase the risk for prenatal depression. Support during pregnancy can buffer these risks, and paternal support is associated with improved maternal well-being during pregnancy. There is evidence to suggest that increased support from fathers may be particularly helpful in combatting depressive symptoms for mothers with adverse childhood experiences. The study aims to explore the role of biological father support as a protective factor against the risks associated with childhood adversity for maternal prenatal depression. Sample included 133 pregnant women recruited from two university-affiliated OB-GYN clinics serving diverse and low-income patients. Participants completed measures on childhood adversity, prenatal depressive symptoms, and father support. Results showed a significant moderating effect of father support on the relation between maternal ACEs and prenatal depressive symptoms, suggesting that higher levels of father support are protective against prenatal depressive symptoms, specifically in mothers with low-to-moderate ACEs. These results highlight the positive impact of paternal support for maternal well-being during pregnancy. Although mothers with low-to-moderate ACEs experience a buffering effect of father support, mothers with high levels of childhood adversity remain at elevated risk for prenatal depressive symptoms even with high father support. As such, screening mothers for ACEs in addition to father support may help identify those at higher risk of prenatal depression.

Invasive Exploitation and the Multiplicative Hypothesis: Polyvictimization and Adolescent Depression Symptoms in Nepal

Adverse effects of childhood maltreatment experience and adolescent depression symptoms are theorized to be more profound for adolescents who have suffered multiple maltreatments (polyvictimization). New theoretical insights into the study of polyvictimization suggest that it must be studied using a multiplicative logic, particularly when maltreatment is characterized by invasive exploitation. This study, for the first time, examined the concept of invasive exploitation in the context of polyvictimization and its association with adolescent depression symptoms. The study used a random, three stage probability proportional to size (PPS) cluster sample of 565 mother-adolescent dyads in Kathmandu, Nepal, and also examined the protective effects of maternal empathy. We hypothesized that (a) singly, the empirical categories of maltreatment (neglect, physical abuse, and child sexual abuse) would associate positively with adolescent depressive symptoms and (b) main effects held constant, the interaction effects of a child sexual abuse X neglect and a child sexual abuse X physical abuse would be positive. Regression with clustering corrections found that neglect (B = 3.17, p < .01) and sexual abuse (B = 3.48, p < .05) positively associated with adolescent depression symptoms. Results support the multiplicative invasive exploitation polyvictimization hypothesis (child sexual abuse X neglect interaction; B = 6.14, p < .05). The positive neglect X sexual abuse interaction is consistent with the theory that sexual abuse is distinct as invasive exploitation, and demonstrates that the multiplicative hypothesis can be fruitfully applied to the study of polyvictimization. Interventions targeting polyvictims with experience of invasive exploitation and studies aiming to provide deeper insights into sexual abuse as invasive exploitation are needed.

Mitigating the impact of adolescence isolation on the development of social anxiety: A potential role for oxytocin

Exposure to isolation can lead to the development of social anxiety disorder (SAD), which affects 13% of Americans. There are sex differences in the prevalence of anxiety disorders, as women experience higher rates of SAD relative to men. Importantly, isolation experienced during adolescence increases the likelihood of developing SAD in adulthood. Unfortunately, the current treatments for SAD are only effective in 50–65% of patients. As such, it is critical to identify therapeutic targets for the treatment and prevention of SAD, particularly in women. Here, we discuss the links between childhood isolation and adulthood SAD. Next, we examine the preclinical models used to study the impact of isolation on social anxiety-like behaviors in rodents. Increasing evidence from both clinical and pre-clinical studies suggests oxytocin signaling is a potential target to modify social anxiety-like behaviors. We present the evidence that sex hormones influence the oxytocin system. Finally, we highlight future directions for both clinical and pre-clinical studies to further evaluate the efficacy of oxytocin as a treatment for isolation-induced SAD.

The relationship of childhood trauma experiences with cognitive distortions and sense of coherence in nursing students

PURPOSE

This study aimed to determine the relationship of childhood trauma experiences with cognitive distortions and sense of coherence in nursing students.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional study was conducted with 359 nursing students. Data were collected using the Sociodemographic Information Form, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Cognitive Distortions Scale (CDS), and Sense of Coherence (SOC).

FINDINGS

A positive correlation between CTQ and CDS and a negative correlation between CTQ and SOC were determined (p < 0.05). It was concluded that the CTQ sexual abuse variable had a significant (p = 0.008) effect on the SOC meaningfulness subscale.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

It is thought that it is essential to strengthen nursing students in terms of childhood traumatic experiences, and the sense of coherence will contribute positively to this situation.

Interrelationships between childhood maltreatment, depressive symptoms, functional impairment, and quality of life in patients with major depressive disorder: A network analysis approach

BACKGROUND

Childhood maltreatment continues to pose a great challenge to psychiatry. Although there is growing evidence demonstrating that childhood maltreatment is an important risk factor for depressive disorders, it remains to be elucidated which specific symptoms occur after exposure to different kinds of childhood maltreatment, and whether certain pathways may account for these associations.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTINGS

A total of 203 adult patients (18-53 years old) with MDD, diagnosed by Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria, were recruited from the outpatient clinic of Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University.

METHODS

Childhood maltreatment, depressive symptoms, functional impairment, and quality of life were evaluated by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire - Short Form (CTQ-SF), 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17), Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), and Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire-Short Form (Q-LES-Q-SF). Undirected network analysis was used to explore the most relevant connections between them. Bayesian network analysis was used to estimate a directed acyclic graph (DAG) while investigating the most likely direction of the putative causal association.

RESULTS

In network analysis, the strongest edges were a positive correlation between emotional abuse and suicidal behavior as well as a negative association between emotional neglect and age of onset. In DAG analysis, emotional abuse emerged as the most pivotal network node, triggering both suicidal behaviors and depression symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Emotional abuse appears to be an extremely harmful form of childhood maltreatment in the clinical presentation of depression. This study has promise in informing the clinical intervention of depression.

Early life adverse experiences and loneliness among young adults: The mediating role of social processes

Loneliness has been described as endemic among young people. Such feelings of social isolation 'even in a crowd' are likely linked to adverse early life experiences that serve to diminish perceptions of social support and intensify negative social interactions. It was suggested in the present series of survey studies that childhood abuse, which compromises a child's sense of safety in relationships, may affect social processes that contribute to loneliness in young adulthood. Study 1 assessed different adverse childhood and adult experiences in relation to loneliness among young adults (N = 171). Linear regression analyses indicated that childhood abuse was uniquely associated with greater loneliness, and this relationship was partially mediated by the perceived availability of social support. Study 2 (N = 289) assessed different forms of childhood abuse and demonstrated that early life emotional abuse was a unique predictor of loneliness, and this relationship was fully mediated by lower perceived support or value in social connections (social connectedness) and more frequent unsupportive interactions with friends. Study 3 evaluated the implications of the age of occurrence of abuse (N = 566). Both emotional and sexual abuse predicted young adult loneliness regardless of age; abuse that was recalled to have occurred at very early ages (0-5 years) was not predictive of loneliness over and above consideration of events that happened in older childhood. These relationships were at least partially mediated by perceived social support, social connectedness, and in the case of emotional abuse, unsupportive interactions with friends. Our results add to mounting evidence pointing to the prevalence of loneliness among young adults and the links to adverse early life experiences that may serve to shape appraisals of safety, value, and personal worth in social relationships.

Childhood maltreatment and self-hatred as distinguishing characteristics of psychiatric patients with self-harm: A comparison with clinical and healthy controls

INTRODUCTION

Deliberate self-harm (DSH) is common in clinical populations. Childhood maltreatment (CM) and attitudes both towards oneself and towards DSH may be of importance for the development of DSH. This study aimed to test whether patients with DSH report more CM, more negative attitudes towards oneself and more positive attitudes towards DSH than a clinical and a healthy comparison group, and whether the effects of CM are mediated by negative attitudes towards oneself.

METHOD

Females with DSH and psychiatric disorders (n = 34), females without DSH but with psychiatric disorders (n = 31) and healthy female individuals (n = 29) were compared regarding DSH, CM, attitudes towards the self and attitudes towards self-harm.

RESULTS

Females with DSH reported more emotional abuse and more self-hatred as compared to both comparison groups. The effect of emotional abuse was mediated by self-hatred. The DSH-group had significantly more positive attitudes towards DSH than the healthy comparison group.

CONCLUSION

Self-hatred and CM in the form of emotional abuse may be distinguishing characteristics of female patients with DSH in psychiatric settings. The present results are compatible with the hypothesis that emotional abuse leads to DSH via self-hatred, but the cross-sectional nature of the study precludes any causal conclusions. The clinical utility of the results is discussed.

Why Is Maternal Control Harmful? The Relation between Maternal Control, Insecure Attachment and Antisocial Personality Disorder Features in Chinese College Students: A Sequential Mediation Model

BACKGROUND

Previous work has indicated that a negative parenting style is associated with antisocial personality disorder features in Chinese college students, yet few studies have explored the unique role of negative mothering in children's antisocial personality disorder.

METHODS

The current study mainly examined the sequential mediation effect of parental antipathy and neglect (PAN) and mother negative loving (a form of insecure attachment) in the association between mother control and adulthood antisocial personality disorder features (ASPD features) in the framework of attachment theory and cognitive-behavioral theory. A community sample of 1547 Chinese college students filled in the Parental Bonding Instrument, the Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse Questionnaire, the Adult Attachment Questionnaire and the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4+.

RESULTS

A sequential mediation model analysis showed that maternal control significantly predicted PAN, mother negative loving, as well as ASPD features.

CONCLUSIONS

Mother control and mother negative loving appear to advance on the development and exacerbation of ASPD features in college students.

Child Maltreatment and Subjective Well-being in Chinese Emerging Adults: A Process Model Involving Self-esteem and Self-compassion

Child maltreatment is negatively associated with subjective well-being in emerging adulthood, but the understanding of the mechanisms of this relationship is incomplete. Guided by the stress process model incorporated with a life-course perspective, the present study examined the protective roles of self-related resources (self-esteem and self-compassion) in this association, while considering various maltreatment types (physical abuse, physical neglect, emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and sexual abuse). The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, Self-compassion Scale, and Satisfaction with Life Scale were used to measure the key variables through an online survey of 358 Chinese college students (226 females, mean age = 19.18) Direct effect of one type of maltreatment on life satisfaction and the three indirect effects through (a) self-esteem; (b) self-compassion; and (c) self-esteem and self-compassion in sequence were examined while controlling for age, gender, and the other four maltreatment types. The results showed that psychological maltreatment was negatively associated with life satisfaction through self-esteem and through the pathway from self-esteem to self-compassion. Indirect effects of the other three types of maltreatment were not significant. This suggests that self-processes are more vulnerable to psychological maltreatment than to other maltreatment types. The type of maltreatment experienced in childhood is worth considering when investigating the extending effect of child maltreatment on individual developmental outcomes. Our findings broaden the understanding of the mechanisms of the stress process model integrated with a life-course perspective. Self-related resources appear to play substantial roles in the long-term association between early stressors of psychological maltreatment in childhood and subjective well-being in emerging adulthood. Highlighting the need to work on improved self-related resources, including self-compassion and self-esteem, might help practitioners to provide treatment for survivors of adverse childhood experiences..