Characteristics of child physical and sexual abuse as predictors of psychopathology
- PMID: 30308347
- PMCID: PMC6289670
- DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.09.019
Characteristics of child physical and sexual abuse as predictors of psychopathology
Abstract
Childhood physical and sexual abuse victims are at increased risk for developing depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adulthood. Prior findings suggest abuse onset, duration, and severity moderate relationships between victimization and psychopathology. However, because these abuse characteristics are highly intercorrelated, their unique, individual effects on mental health outcomes remain unclear. To address this gap, the present study examined relationships between physical and sexual abuse characteristics and mental health outcomes and whether these relationships differed by sex. A diverse community sample of late adolescents and emerging adults (N = 1270; mean age = 19.68; 51% female) self-reported the onset, duration, and severity of physical and sexual abuse, as well as their depressive, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms. Results of a multivariate regression model (simultaneously evaluating all physical and sexual abuse characteristics) indicated that physical abuse onset in middle childhood and sexual abuse onset in middle childhood or adolescence were associated with all forms of psychopathology; and physical abuse onset at any time was uniquely linked with PTSD. Duration and severity of physical or sexual abuse did not predict psychopathology after accounting for time of onset. Multigroup analyses indicated that adolescence-onset and duration of sexual abuse respectively predicted anxiety and PTSD in females but not males, whereas sexual abuse severity predicted fewer PTSD symptoms in males but not females. Overall, results suggested that abuse occurring after age 5 may have the most deleterious impact on mental health.
Keywords: Abuse characteristics; Physical abuse; Psychopathology; Sexual abuse.
Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Similar articles
-
Childhood physical and sexual abuse and subsequent depressive and anxiety disorders for two American Indian tribes.Psychol Med. 2005 Mar;35(3):329-40. doi: 10.1017/s0033291704003599. Psychol Med. 2005. PMID: 15841869
-
The relation of abuse to physical and psychological health in adults with developmental disabilities.Disabil Health J. 2019 Apr;12(2):227-234. doi: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2018.09.007. Epub 2019 Jan 10. Disabil Health J. 2019. PMID: 30655190
-
[Characteristics associated with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder among childhood sexual abuse women].Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique. 2019 Sep;67(5):285-294. doi: 10.1016/j.respe.2019.05.012. Epub 2019 Jul 25. Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique. 2019. PMID: 31353238 French.
-
Does childhood sexual abuse set in motion a cycle of violence against women?: what we know and what we need to learn.J Interpers Violence. 2005 Apr;20(4):455-62. doi: 10.1177/0886260504267756. J Interpers Violence. 2005. PMID: 15722501 Review.
-
Sexual abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder in childhood, adolescence and young adulthood: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2024 Jun;33(6):1653-1673. doi: 10.1007/s00787-022-02015-5. Epub 2022 Jun 18. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2024. PMID: 35716220 Review.
Cited by
-
Childhood Maltreatment and Body Mass Index in Older Adults With Chronic Illness.CJC Pediatr Congenit Heart Dis. 2024 Apr 3;3(3):87-97. doi: 10.1016/j.cjcpc.2024.03.002. eCollection 2024 Jun. CJC Pediatr Congenit Heart Dis. 2024. PMID: 39070955 Free PMC article.
-
Complex Intersections Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Negative Life Events Impact the Phenome of Major Depression.Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2024 May 29;17:2161-2178. doi: 10.2147/PRBM.S458257. eCollection 2024. Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2024. PMID: 38826678 Free PMC article.
-
[Anxiety and depression in adolescents].Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz. 2024 Apr;67(4):374-382. doi: 10.1007/s00103-024-03849-x. Epub 2024 Mar 8. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz. 2024. PMID: 38456934 Free PMC article. Review. German.
-
Fathers' mental Ill-health and child maltreatment: A systematic review of the literature.Child Youth Serv Rev. 2024 Feb;157:107317. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107317. Child Youth Serv Rev. 2024. PMID: 38333718 Free PMC article.
-
Do adverse experiences predict unemployment and need of psychiatric help after treatment for drug use disorders?Nordisk Alkohol Nark. 2023 Oct;40(5):520-535. doi: 10.1177/14550725231170950. Epub 2023 May 24. Nordisk Alkohol Nark. 2023. PMID: 37969902 Free PMC article.
References
-
- Alexander PC (1993). The differential effects of abuse characteristics and attachment in the prediction of long-term effects of sexual abuse. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 8(3), 346–362. https://doi.org/10.1177/088626093008003004 - DOI
-
- Anda RF, Croft JB, Felitti VJ, Nordenberg D, Giles WH, Williamson DF, & Giovino GA (1999). Adverse childhood experiences and smoking during adolescence and adulthood. Journal of the American Medical Association, 282(17), 1652–1658. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.282.17.1652 - DOI - PubMed
-
- Andrews B, Valentine ER, & Valentine JD (1995). Depression and eating disorders following abuse in childhood in two generations of women. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 34(1), 37–52. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8260.1995.tb01435.x - DOI - PubMed
-
- Bagley C, Wood M, & Young L (1994). Victim to abuser: Mental health and behavioral sequels of child sexual abuse in a community survey of young adult males. Child Abuse and Neglect, 18(8), 683–697. https://doi.org/10.1016/0145-2134(94)90018-3 - DOI - PubMed
-
- Banyard VL, & Williams LM (1996). Characteristics of child sexual abuse as correlates of women’s adjustment: A prospective study. Journal of Marriage and Family, 58(4), 853–865. https://doi.org/10.2307/353975 - DOI
Publication types
MeSH terms
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical
Miscellaneous