Identifying latent profiles of child abuse and their gendered effect on adolescent mental health: a school-based study from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Abstract

This study aimed to identify patterns of child abuse and neglect and to examine the associations between these patterns and psychological distress during adolescence. A school-based survey was conducted with 693 high school students in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during 2016-2017. Latent class analysis was used to identify child abuse and neglect patterns based on the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire items' combination. Psychological distress was measured using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Multiple linear regression models were employed to examine the associations between child abuse and neglect patterns and psychological distress. Three classes of child abuse and neglect were identified for both sexes: (1) mild emotional violence and physical punishment, (2) emotional maltreatment, physical punishment, and neglect, and (3) poly-victimization. Being classified within the poly-victimization was significantly associated with higher psychological distress in both boys and girls. The class characterized by emotional maltreatment, physical punishment, and neglect was significantly associated with increased psychological distress among girls only. Health and educational services should assess child abuse and neglect when working with adolescents presenting psychological distress, as many may experience multiple forms of victimization. The high prevalence of childhood poly-victimization classes and their strong association with psychological distress highlight the urgent need for intersectoral strategies aiming at reducing child abuse and neglect.