Childhood Emotional Abuse and Risk for Hopelessness and Depressive Symptoms During Adolescence

Abstract

ABSTRACT Previous research has indicated that childhood maltreatment is an important risk factor for the development of depressive disorders. However, few longitudinal studies have investigated the associations of emotional abuse with depressive symptoms. The present study investigated the association of emotional abuse with subsequent depressive symptoms and hopelessness among adolescent primary care patients. Measures of emotional maltreatment, hopelessness, and depressive symptoms were administered to a multisite sample of 92 adolescent primary-care patients. Hopelessness and depressive symptoms were assessed 3 months later. Reports of childhood emotional abuse were associated with elevated levels of hopelessness and depressive symptoms. Hopelessness significantly mediated the association of emotional abuse with depressive symptoms.