Background. Mounting research has established child maltreatment as a significant risk factor for negative mental health outcomes in adulthood. However, the mechanisms through which childhood maltreatment exerts its detrimental effect on psychological functioning in adulthood are not well understood. Attachment theory and cognitive theory provide useful theoretical frameworks in explaining the etiology of adult psychopathology, but no prior research has tested the mediating mechanisms of insecure attachment pattern, intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and rumination within a unified model. / Objectives. There are three main objectives in the current study: (1) to explore the relationships among child maltreatment history and adult depressive and anxiety symptoms, as well as insecure attachment pattern, IU and rumination; (2) to test a etiological mediation model with distal child maltreatment predicting adult emotional outcomes via the mediating processes of insecure attachment pattern, IU and rumination; and (3) to investigate whether rumination would mediate the path between IU and adult emotional outcomes. / Method. A total of 322 adults receiving clinical psychological service in the Clinical Psychology Units of the Social Welfare Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, completed the questionnaires with measures on early childhood maltreatment, attachment pattern, IU, rumination, adult emotional outcomes and proximal life stress. Structural equation modeling was conducted for data analysis. / Results. The present study showed that child maltreatment was incredibly common among clinical population and it significantly affected adult emotional outcomes as well as the three mediators (insecure attachment pattern, IU and rumination) examined. A Developmental IU Rumination-Attachment Model with good model fit and strong explanatory power was established. Two sets of etiological paths: Rumination Paths (Simple Rumination Indirect Path and IU-mediated Rumination Path) and Attachment Paths (Simple Attachment Indirect Path and IU-mediated Attachment Path) were identified. The model revealed a novel finding that IU was a common vulnerability factor for both insecure attachment pattern and rumination. Rooted from IU, insecure attachment pattern exemplified stronger influence on adult emotional outcomes when comparing with ruminative response style. Ruminative response style mediated the development from IU to adult emotional outcomes. Proximal life stress cast the least influence on adult emotional outcomes when comparing with the mediating mechanism examined. / Discussion. The Developmental IU Rumination-Attachment Model suggests that in the process of developing adult emotional problems, most of the influences stemmed from pre-existing child maltreatment history and internal psychological processes involving insecure attachment pattern, IU and ruminative response style. External proximal negative life events contribute only a relatively small proportion of influence. The current model does not only enrich our understanding to the long-term sequelae of child maltreatment, but also helps to inform important treatment components for survivors of child maltreatment and to shed light on preventive measures for child maltreatment. Implications for future research would also be discussed. / 背景：大量文獻早已確立孩童期受虐經歷是成人身心健康發展的高危因素。然而，探討孩童期受虐經歷如何影響受虐者長大後的情緒健康的研究，到目前為止卻是不多。雖然依附理論及認知理論對成人心理問題的發展進程奠定了重要的理論基礎，然而至今仍沒有任何研究同時探討當中的三個重要中介變量：依附模式，無法忍受不確定性及反芻。 / 研究目的：本研究有三個主要目的：(1) 探討孩童期受虐經歷與成人抑鬱及焦慮情緒、依附模式、無法忍受不確定性及反芻之間的關係；(2) 測試一個層次性病原模型，闡述孩童期被虐經歷的遠端因素，如何通過一系列的中介變量（依附模式、無法忍受不確定性及反芻），發展至成人期的情緒問題；(3) 研究反芻能否被確立為無法忍受不確性與成人情緒問題的中介變量。 / 研究方法：研究以問卷調查方式（調查內容包括孩童期受虐經歷、依附模式、無法忍受不確定性、反芻、成人情緒健康及近端生活壓力），於322 位在香港特別行政區社會福利署臨床心理服務課接受服務的人士所組成的樣本，使用結構方程模型進行數據分析。 / 研究結果：結果顯示，孩童期受虐經歷在臨床群體中是非常普遍，而孩童期受虐經歷也顯著地影響成人期的抑鬱及焦慮情緒，以及三個被測試的中介變量。研究所得的「發展性無法忍受不確定性反芻依附模型」（Developmental IURumination-Attachment Model）達到良好的摸型擬合度及豐富的臨床意義。模型包含了兩組病原路徑，分別為反芻路徑（單一反芻間接路徑和無法忍受不確定性中介的反芻路徑）及依附路徑（單一依附間接路徑和無法忍受不確定性中介的依附路徑）。此模型揭示了一個斬新的發現：無法忍受不確定性乃是誘發反芻及不安全依附模式的脆弱性因素。在無法忍受不確定性的情況下，依附模式較反芻對成人期的情緒問題更具影響力。除此以外，反芻被確立為無法忍受不確定性與成人情緒問題的中介變量。相對模型中的三個中介變量，近端生活壓力對成人情緒問題所構成的影響力則最弱。 / 討論：研究所得的模型有效地揭示了成人期情緒問題的發展過程中，近端外在生活壓力只構成較弱的影響力。遠端孩童期的受虐經歷，至一系列較近期的內在心理現象（依附模式、無法忍受不確定性及反芻）才是最為重要的因素。研究結果不但加深了學術界對兒童期受虐經歷長遠影響的認識，亦為預防及治療成人情緒問題提供多個臨床應用策略。最後，文未也就未來的實證研究提出了建議。 / Lam, Shui Mun Tracy. / Thesis Ph.D. Chinese University of Hong Kong 2015. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 180-214). / Abstracts also in Chinese; appendixes in Chinese. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on 11, October, 2016). / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only.

Abuse and neglect occurring in childhood have been associated with a number of functional and physiological effects on the brain. This study extends previous research that investigated the quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) patterns in children with histories of relational trauma through the inclusion of additional participants and measures. As in previous studies, the relative power, absolute power, and coherence values in children with histories of abuse were compared to the Neuroguide database. Results did not show any significant differences in relative or absolute power in the theta range. Similarly, there were no significant coherence differences. Database comparisons were also made using low resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA) in order to determine which sub-cortical brain structures may be affected by abuse or trauma, though there were no significant differences in any frequency (0-30Hz). A review of the literature suggests that the prevalence of mu in normal adults and children ranges from 0 to 19%. The present study found a mu prevalence rate of 60.6% in the children who experienced abuse or neglect. Finally, comparisons were made between participants who demonstrate a mu pattern and those who do not to determine if this pattern is associated with certain behavioral and/or attention problems as assessed by the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Tests of Variables of Attention (TOVA), respectively. There were no significant differences between children with a mu pattern versus children who did not exhibit a mu pattern on the Social Problems, Thought Problems, or Attention subscale scores on the CBCL or on the Commission subscale score on the TOVA.

No description available.

Possible relationships between early mistreatment, adult attachment security (Interpersonal functioning), and apprehension and melancholy.

This study compared the social cognition and object relations of 39 physically abused children to a clinical group of 39 children with no recorded history of abuse.

Childhood trauma experiences (sexual abuse, physical abuse, witnessed violence, and early separation experiences) and family environment characteristics were assessed via questionnaire from a sample of depressed borderline (N=17) and depressed nonborderline (N=19) female inpatients. Significantly more borderline individuals than nonborderlines gave histories of sexual abuse (76%) and physical abuse (93%) and these traumatic experiences were more severe in nature as demonstrated by significantly greater composite scores. While the presence of witnessed violence did not differentiate the two groups, borderline individuals witnessed violence more frequently than nonborderline individuals if there was violence in the home. Early separation experiences were relatively common in both groups suggesting that these experiences may be associated with both BPD and depression. The BPD group was also distinctive on family environment measures, evidencing significantly less family cohesiveness and expressiveness and significantly more conflict and control. The two groups were similar on indices of current stressors, typically associated with onset of depression, providing more support for the role of childhood trauma in the etiology of BPD. / Master of Science

Child sexual abuse and its potential negative psychological effects exists the world over. In view of the unique history of South Africa, characterised by inequality and incumbent socio-economic ills, a history of CSA is likely to add to a tapestry of cultural, political, social and economic afflictions for a great number of affected adolescents. Additionally, HIV/AIDS estimates indicate that a growing number of children are infected and orphaned daily. The present research therefore investigated the prevalence of child sexual abuse and explored the relationship between a history of sexual abuse and psychological adjustment, in South African adolescents. The sample included 330 Grade 9 learners from two high schools in the rural, urban and peri-urban areas of KwaZulu-Natal. A self-report questionnaire was used to collect data related to experiences of abuse. To assess adjustment, the Reynolds Adolescent Adjustment Scale Inventory was also incorporated into the questionnaire. The current study showed a 57.6% prevalence rate of sexual abuse amongst the sample. There were no statistically significant differences between sexually abused adolescents and those without a history of abuse on the psychological adjustment scale. However, there was a significant association between gender, age at time of abuse, being abused by a step-parent, late disclosure, and interface with the police, in relation to psychological adjustment problems. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.

No description available.

The purpose of the study was to look at whether domestic violence is being viewed as a risk factor in homes where there is also physical child abuse. Historically a misconception has existed that child abuse occurs in a vacuum of sorts, isolated from other family problems.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Epidemiologic studies suggest that depression is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although several possible mediators of this association have been proposed, few studies have examined the role of moderators. Accordingly, I examined adverse childhood experiences (ACE) as a potential moderator of the depression-CVD association, given that individuals with a history of ACE show a greater inflammatory response to depression, and inflammation plays a role in the development of CVD. Data from Waves 1 and 2 of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) were analyzed. Participants were 29,282 adults (58% female, 42% non–white) aged 18–97 years, free of CVD diagnoses at baseline. Lifetime depressive disorder (LDD) was assessed by the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule–IV (AUDADIS–IV), and adverse childhood experiences (abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction), and CVD were assessed during separate interviews. The primary outcome was incident CVD (n = 1,255), defined as nonfatal arteriosclerosis, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, and/or stroke reported during the Wave 2 interviews. All analyses were adjusted for demographic and traditional CVD risk factors. Logistic regression models revealed that both LDD (OR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.28–1.62, p < .001) and any ACE (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.16–1.35, p < .001) were independent predictors of incident CVD. Interactions between LDD x any ACE (p = .024), LDD x neglect (p = .003), and LDD x household dysfunction (p < .001), but not LDD x abuse (p = 0.16), were detected. Analyses stratified by the ACE variables revealed that LDD was a predictor of incident CVD among adults with a history of (1) any ACE (OR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.32–1.73, p < .001), but not among those without a history (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 0.87–1.50, p = .332); (2) neglect (OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.36–1.87, p < .001) and among those without a history (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.07–1.62, p = .005); (3) household dysfunction (OR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.46–2.04, p < .001), but not among those without a history (OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 0.96–1.43, p = .11). Overall, the present findings suggest that depression may be a stronger risk factor for CVD among adults with a history of ACE, especially neglect and household dysfunction, than among adults who did not have these experiences.