Major Depressive Disorder is a highly prevalent and recurrent psychological disorder, affecting approximately 12% of Canadians across their lifetime and 5% each year. Studies have shown that a history of childhood maltreatment increases risk for depression by conferring a vulnerability to the effects of stressful life events (i.e., stress sensitization). The goal of the current investigation was to examine whether the relation between childhood maltreatment and stress sensitization in depression is influenced by age group and depression history. This study also sought to investigate whether specific characteristics of the maltreatment experience differentially relate to stress sensitization. Two hundred and seven clinically depressed adolescents (i.e., 12 – 17 years; n = 59) and adults (i.e., 18 – 64 years; n = 148) participated in this study. Childhood accounts of maltreatment were assessed using the Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse Scale, and stressful life events experienced 3 months prior to depression onset were assessed using the Life Events and Difficulties Schedule. Results revealed that individuals with a history of severe maltreatment reported lower severity levels of stressful life events prior to depression onset than did those without such a history, but only among adolescents. Further, this relation was specific to independent stressors (i.e., those totally or nearly totally independent of the behaviour of the individual) and not dependent stressors (i.e., those at least partly due to the individual’s behaviour), and was specific to emotional abuse. Results also suggested that it is the experience of severe maltreatment, rather than particular aspects of it, that sensitizes individuals to the effects of stress. In summary, this study provides support for the relation of childhood maltreatment to stress sensitization in adolescents. Maltreated adolescents may be especially vulnerable to the depressogenic effects of stress, perhaps because their maltreatment experience is more proximal to depression onset. In contrast, other relevant processes (e.g., cognitive schema and neurobiological consolidation, chronic stress) may drive stress sensitization in adulthood; however, further research is required to investigate such mechanisms. Limitations and clinical implications are discussed. / Thesis (Master, Psychology) -- Queen's University, 2011-08-31 19:15:16.313

The purpose of the study was to examine whether athletic participation as a child and/or adolescent acts as a protective factor for youth who endure childhood maltreatment. After screening for childhood maltreatment, our 269 participants were separated into either an athlete group or a non-athlete group and compared using two one-way multivariate analyses of covariance (MANCOVA). Emotional neglect served as the covariate due to non-athletes' significantly higher emotional neglect scores than athletes. The first MANCOVA compared athletes and non-athletes on positive outcomes, which included measures of post-traumatic growth, three adaptive coping strategies, and self-compassion. In the second MANCOVA, we assessed for differences between athletes and non-athletes on negative outcomes, which included measures of traumatic, depressive, and anxious symptomology and a maladaptive coping strategy. Neither MANCOVA reached significance, rejecting our hypothesis that athletes would be more resilient than non-athletes to the negative impact of childhood maltreatment. Discussion considers possible reasons for the lack of significance, such as the recency of athletic participation or the specific type of maltreatment experienced, as well as limitations and directions for future research.

The purpose of the current study was to understand the lived experiences and perspectives of high-functioning survivors of moderate or severe childhood maltreatment (CM) as related to the role of athletic participation in the development of their resilience. We emailed and screened Division I student-athletes from universities across the U. S. who did not meet criteria for a traumatic stress disorder. Using a constructivist grounded theory approach and constant comparison methodology, we obtained and analyzed interview data from 13 participants. The pathways through which participation in childhood athletics supported their coping include receiving social support from coaches and teammates, being present and engaged in their athletic participation, feeling relatively safe in their athletic environment, and spending time away from the main perpetrators of the CM. After applying concepts from existing literature to our data, we developed hypotheses to explain the processes by which participation in youth sport fosters resilience. For example, sport participation may provide opportunities for corrective emotional experiences that help young athletes heal. In addition, based on self-determination theory, maltreated elite athletes may benefit from sport participation because it meets their three basic needs (i.e., autonomy, mastery, and relatedness). We conclude this study with suggested implications for researchers and clinicians, as well as recommendations related to the training and education of coaches in terms of CM.

Although childhood maltreatment has been established as a risk factor for the development of problematic gambling, there are significant omissions in the literature regarding the investigation of mediating mechanisms underlying this etiological relationship. The purpose of the current study was to examine altered self-capacities (i.e., relationship difficulties, identity disturbances, and affect dysregulation) and gambling motives as mediating mechanisms underlying the link between childhood maltreatment and gambling, in a sample of emerging adults recruited from the community. It was hypothesized that childhood maltreatment would lead to impairments in the aforementioned self-capacities, which would subsequently predict greater endorsement of gambling motives. In turn, gambling motives were hypothesized to predict increased gambling frequency and gambling problems. The results revealed a pattern wherein altered self-capacities mediated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and gambling motives. However, gambling motives were not observed to mediate the relationship between altered self-capacities and gambling frequency or gambling problems.

Although childhood maltreatment has been established as a risk factor for the development of problematic gambling, there are significant omissions in the literature regarding the investigation of mediating mechanisms underlying this etiological relationship. The purpose of the current study was to examine altered self-capacities (i.e., relationship difficulties, identity disturbances, and affect dysregulation) and gambling motives as mediating mechanisms underlying the link between childhood maltreatment and gambling, in a sample of emerging adults recruited from the community. It was hypothesized that childhood maltreatment would lead to impairments in the aforementioned self-capacities, which would subsequently predict greater endorsement of gambling motives. In turn, gambling motives were hypothesized to predict increased gambling frequency and gambling problems. The results revealed a pattern wherein altered self-capacities mediated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and gambling motives. However, gambling motives were not observed to mediate the relationship between altered self-capacities and gambling frequency or gambling problems.

abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between childhood maltreatment and juvenile homicide offending. Specifically, this study compared a sample of maltreated male juvenile homicide offenders (N = 51) with non-maltreated male juvenile homicide offenders (N = 364) among the following areas: familial dysfunction and disorganization, mental health issues, academic functioning, prior delinquency, substance abuse and homicide-related crime characteristics. Data was obtained from the following aggregate sources: Supervision Risk Classification Instrument (SRCI), the State Attorney's Recommendation form (SAR), the Predisposition Report (PR), and the Massachusetts Juveniles Screening Instrument 2 (MAYSI-2). Chi square and t-tests were then utilized to compare the two groups and preform analyses. Maltreated male juvenile homicide offenders significantly differed from non-maltreated male juvenile homicide offenders in terms of familial dysfunction and disorganization, academic functioning, prior delinquency and homicide-related crime characteristics. As a result of these significant differences, tailored prevention and treatment efforts were discussed. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S.W. Social Work 2011

No description available.

This study explored the relationship between childhood interpersonal trauma and coping self-efficacy, coping styles, and emotion regulation difficulties among male and female offenders in detention and diversion centers (N = 183). The coping-relapse model of recidivism posits that offenders’ coping ability plays a pivotal role in successful reentry (Zamble & Quinsey, 1997). Past research reveals that childhood maltreatment is associated with avoidant coping and emotion regulation difficulties, which could negatively impact reentry (e.g., Cloitre et al., 2009; Min, Farkas, Minnes, & Singer, 2007). The relationship between childhood maltreatment and coping self-efficacy has not been addressed. This study found that childhood interpersonal trauma was significantly related to emotion regulation difficulties (r = .20), but not coping self-efficacy, active coping, or avoidant coping. Coping self-efficacy was significantly related to emotion regulation difficulties (r = -.61), active coping (r = .60), and avoidant coping (r = -.30). Research and practice implications are discussed.

Thesis advisor: James Lubben / Thesis advisor: Sara M. Moorman / Every year, more than three million allegations of childhood maltreatment are received by child protective services, many of which involve cases of abuse or neglect inflicted by the victims’ parents. A number of studies found that negative consequences of childhood maltreatment can last for a lifetime. Despite the long-term impact of childhood maltreatment, later-life relationships between adult victims of childhood maltreatment and their abusive parent have rarely been examined. This dissertation aims to address the gap in the literature by examining how adult victims of childhood maltreatment relate to their abusive parent when the parent becomes old and requires long-term care assistance. This three-paper dissertation utilized existing data sources: Wisconsin Longitudinal Study and National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States. The first paper examined the mediating effect of intergenerational solidarity with the aging mother in the association between maternal childhood maltreatment and adult psychological functioning. The second paper used longitudinal data analysis to compare long-term changes in affectual solidarity with aging mothers between adults with a history of childhood abuse and those without. This paper also examined moderating effects of the correlates of childhood abuse (i.e., poor social competency and lack of emotional regulation) in the association between childhood abuse and affectual solidarity with the aging mother. The third paper focused on the caregiving situation in which adult victims of childhood abuse provided care to their abusive parent. This paper investigated whether and how providing care to the abusive parent was associated with psychological distress among abused adult children, and whether self-esteem mediated the association. By revealing the dynamics of later-life relationships between adult victims of childhood maltreatment and their abusive parent, this three-paper dissertation not only contributes to creating new knowledge to the aging literature, but also provides future direction for social work practice and policy. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2016. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Social Work. / Discipline: Social Work.

Childhood maltreatment predicts mental health problems and stress responses. To design better intervention/prevention programs, it is important to explore mechanisms that may mediate those relationships. Some evidence indicates that emotion regulation strategies (suppression and reappraisal) may play this role. Using self-report, observational, and biological measures and stress manipulation in female and male college students (Study 1: N=267; Study 2: U.S.= 264; Korean=211; Study 3: N=211), I tested the following hypotheses: Study (1) habitual suppression and reappraisal strategies will mediate the relation between childhood maltreatment and perceived stress; Study (2) parental emotional neglect will be positively associated with habitual suppression and internalizing problems, and negatively associated with habitual reappraisal, in both U.S. and Korean participants; Study (3) childhood maltreatment will be associated with heightened physio-emotional responses to the Trier Social Stress Test, mediated by spontaneous suppression and reappraisal. In Study 1, partially supporting my hypotheses, habitual suppression and reappraisal mediated the relationship between self-reported maternal/paternal emotional neglect and perceived stress, though in females only; habitual suppression also mediated the relationship between maternal psychological maltreatment and perceived stress in females. In Study 2, structural equation modeling revealed that, as hypothesized, in both countries parental emotional neglect was positively associated with internalizing problems and negatively associated with habitual reappraisal; habitual reappraisal was negatively associated and habitual suppression was positively associated with internalizing problems. The positive association between parental emotional neglect and suppression was significant only in U.S. participants. In Study 3, partially supporting hypotheses, childhood maltreatment was associated with lower spontaneous reappraisal, higher negative affect at stress-test baseline, and higher behavioral expression during recovery; spontaneous suppression and reappraisal were associated with reduced emotional responsivity. Contrary to hypothesis, no mediating roles for spontaneous suppression and reappraisal were found. Together, results showed that habitual use of some emotion regulation strategies can mediate the relation between childhood maltreatment and later perceived stress (at least in females) and internalizing problems; habitual suppression mediates the association between parental emotional neglect and internalizing problems in U.S. young adults; and childhood maltreatment is related to emotional and behavioral responses to stress and effectiveness of spontaneous reappraisal strategy use during stress. / 2022-02-28T00:00:00Z