Core Symptoms Between Adolescent Psychological Abuse-Neglect and Impulsiveness: A Network Analysis.

Background: Psychological abuse and neglect are considered fundamental to the development of impulsiveness. However, the interplay between psychological abuse-neglect symptoms and impulsiveness dimensions remains unclear, especially during adolescence, a critical developmental stage. This study uses network analysis to explore the link between adolescent psychological abuse-neglect and impulsivity, aiming to inform targeted early interventions and treatment strategies for impulsive behaviors.

Methods: Cluster sampling was used to gather demographic data from 6731 students across 17 middle schools. Clinical assessments utilized the Chinese Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) and Child Psychological Abuse and Neglect Scale (CPANS). Network analysis explored associations between the six CPANS components and three impulsiveness dimensions. Centrality indices and stability indicators were calculated.

Results: In the study population, 47.4% were female, and 68.4% were middle school students. Scolding (4.0 [1.0, 7.0]) scored highest in abuse, while Emotional Neglect (6.0 [2.0, 12.0]) scored highest in neglect. Among impulsive types, Non-planning Impulsiveness (47.5 [32.5, 60.0]) ranked highest. Emotional Neglect emerged as the central node in the network, with the greatest strength, closeness, and influence, while Non-planning Impulsiveness showed the highest correlation with centrality. All centrality indices had Correlation Stability (CS) coefficients of 0.75, with narrow 95% confidence intervals for edge weights.

Conclusions: This study underscores the central role of emotional neglect in the development of impulsive traits in adolescents. Network analysis revealed that emotional neglect serves as a critical link between abuse-neglect and impulsivity, with non-planning impulsivity acting as a key mediator. The results emphasize the need for comprehensive interventions, as well as addressing the impact of early traumatic experiences.

Clinical trial registration: The study was registered at https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=134138, registration number: ChiCTR2100052297, date of registration: 24 October 2021.