{"title":"Interpersonal Mechanisms Between Child Maltreatment Timing and Young Adult Internalizing and Externalizing Symptomatology","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.jaac.2023.12.008","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><p>Children who experience maltreatment are prone to exhibit interpersonal deficits and lack secure attachment, which can lead to internalizing and externalizing symptomatology<span>. This study investigated timing and chronicity of maltreatment and its impacts on psychopathology outcomes in young adulthood. Two interpersonal mediators were examined: problems with peers and childhood attachment security.</span></p></div><div><h3>Method</h3><p>Children with and without maltreatment exposure were recruited to take part in a 1-week research summer camp (N = 697; mean [SD] age = 11.29 [0.97] years; 71.3% Black or African American; 50.5% male). Participants were recontacted in young adulthood to complete a second wave of assessments (n = 427; mean [SD] age = 19.67 [1.16] years; 78.0% Black or African American; 48.9% male). Structural equation modeling was used to estimate indirect effects from child maltreatment timing to young adult internalizing and externalizing symptomatology via childhood attachment security and peer problems.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Findings highlighted the detrimental impact of chronic maltreatment, which was associated with higher levels of peer problems (β = .24, <em>p</em> < .001) and less secure attachment (β = −.13, <em>p</em> < .01) in childhood. Also, lower attachment quality in childhood mediated the association between chronic maltreatment and self-reported internalizing (<em>a × b</em> = 0.02, <em>p</em> < .05) and externalizing symptomatology (<em>a × b</em> = 0.02, <em>p</em><span> < .05). Additionally, childhood peer problems mediated the association between chronic maltreatment and caregiver-reported internalizing problems (</span><em>a × b</em> = 0.04, <em>p</em> < .05).</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Chronic maltreatment is particularly harmful for interpersonal outcomes of children. Mediation findings differed by who reported on psychopathology, showing the importance of considering multireporter measures of psychopathology.</p></div><div><h3>Plain language summary</h3><p>Child maltreatment is an interpersonal stressor that may impact developmental outcomes throughout a youth’s life. In this study of 697 children who participated in a 1-week research summer camp and were contacted in young adulthood, the authors found that chronic maltreatment significantly increased the risk of difficulties in forming secure attachments as well as having problems with peers during childhood. In turn, these challenges were linked to emotional and behavioral symptomology in young adulthood. These findings emphasize the need to support children facing chronic maltreatment to improve their long-term mental health.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":17186,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":9.2000,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0890856723022700","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"PEDIATRICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective
Children who experience maltreatment are prone to exhibit interpersonal deficits and lack secure attachment, which can lead to internalizing and externalizing symptomatology. This study investigated timing and chronicity of maltreatment and its impacts on psychopathology outcomes in young adulthood. Two interpersonal mediators were examined: problems with peers and childhood attachment security.
Method
Children with and without maltreatment exposure were recruited to take part in a 1-week research summer camp (N = 697; mean [SD] age = 11.29 [0.97] years; 71.3% Black or African American; 50.5% male). Participants were recontacted in young adulthood to complete a second wave of assessments (n = 427; mean [SD] age = 19.67 [1.16] years; 78.0% Black or African American; 48.9% male). Structural equation modeling was used to estimate indirect effects from child maltreatment timing to young adult internalizing and externalizing symptomatology via childhood attachment security and peer problems.
Results
Findings highlighted the detrimental impact of chronic maltreatment, which was associated with higher levels of peer problems (β = .24, p < .001) and less secure attachment (β = −.13, p < .01) in childhood. Also, lower attachment quality in childhood mediated the association between chronic maltreatment and self-reported internalizing (a × b = 0.02, p < .05) and externalizing symptomatology (a × b = 0.02, p < .05). Additionally, childhood peer problems mediated the association between chronic maltreatment and caregiver-reported internalizing problems (a × b = 0.04, p < .05).
Conclusion
Chronic maltreatment is particularly harmful for interpersonal outcomes of children. Mediation findings differed by who reported on psychopathology, showing the importance of considering multireporter measures of psychopathology.
Plain language summary
Child maltreatment is an interpersonal stressor that may impact developmental outcomes throughout a youth’s life. In this study of 697 children who participated in a 1-week research summer camp and were contacted in young adulthood, the authors found that chronic maltreatment significantly increased the risk of difficulties in forming secure attachments as well as having problems with peers during childhood. In turn, these challenges were linked to emotional and behavioral symptomology in young adulthood. These findings emphasize the need to support children facing chronic maltreatment to improve their long-term mental health.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP) is dedicated to advancing the field of child and adolescent psychiatry through the publication of original research and papers of theoretical, scientific, and clinical significance. Our primary focus is on the mental health of children, adolescents, and families.
We welcome unpublished manuscripts that explore various perspectives, ranging from genetic, epidemiological, neurobiological, and psychopathological research, to cognitive, behavioral, psychodynamic, and other psychotherapeutic investigations. We also encourage submissions that delve into parent-child, interpersonal, and family research, as well as clinical and empirical studies conducted in inpatient, outpatient, consultation-liaison, and school-based settings.
In addition to publishing research, we aim to promote the well-being of children and families by featuring scholarly papers on topics such as health policy, legislation, advocacy, culture, society, and service provision in relation to mental health.
At JAACAP, we strive to foster collaboration and dialogue among researchers, clinicians, and policy-makers in order to enhance our understanding and approach to child and adolescent mental health.