scholarly journals Mental Health Pathways Linking Childhood Maltreatment to Interpersonal Revictimization During Adolescence for Girls in the Child Welfare System

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (7) ◽  
pp. 1169-1191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Auslander ◽  
Sarah Myers Tlapek ◽  
Jennifer Threlfall ◽  
Tonya Edmond ◽  
Jerry Dunn
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Child Welfare ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Childhood Maltreatment ◽  
Emotional Abuse ◽  
Child Welfare System ◽  
Welfare System ◽  
Mediation Analyses ◽  
Abuse And Neglect ◽  
Physical Neglect

This study compares the association of histories of childhood emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, and physical neglect with revictimization among adolescent girls, and investigates the role of posttraumatic stress and symptoms of depression as mediators. Participants were 234 girls aged 12 to 19 years, who have been involved with the child welfare system in a Midwestern urban area. Data were collected from baseline surveys of a trauma-focused group program to which the participants were referred. The majority of participants were youths of color (75%) who were primarily African American (70%), and the remaining participants were White, non-Hispanic (25%). Data were collected through surveys that assessed histories of child abuse and neglect, symptoms of posttraumatic stress and depression, and experiences of physical, verbal, and relational revictimization in the last 3 months. All types of abuse and neglect were significantly associated with higher frequencies of revictimization and higher levels of posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms. Parallel mediation analyses demonstrated that both posttraumatic stress and depression fully mediated the relationships between emotional abuse and revictimization, and sexual abuse and revictimization. Physical abuse was fully mediated by posttraumatic stress, but not by depression. Results also indicated that neither posttraumatic stress nor depression were mediators for the relationship between neglect and revictimization. There were similar pathways to revictimization in adolescents from emotional and sexual abuse through posttraumatic stress and depression. Evidence is mounting for the deleterious effects of emotional abuse. There is evidence that treatment of both posttraumatic stress and depression in emotionally and sexually abused adolescents involved in child welfare is warranted to prevent future revictimization.

Childhood Maltreatment History as a Risk Factor for Sexual Harassment Among U.S. Army Soldiers

1998 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leora N. Rosen ◽  
Lee Martin
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Childhood Sexual Abuse ◽  
Sexual Harassment ◽  
Childhood Maltreatment ◽  
Emotional Abuse ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Sexual Experiences ◽  
Unwanted Sexual Experiences ◽  
Physical Neglect

Four different types of childhood maltreatment were examined as predictors of unwanted sexual experiences and acknowledged sexual harassment among male and female active duty soldiers in the United States Army. Predictor variables included childhood sexual abuse, physical-emotional abuse, physical neglect, and emotional neglect. Three types of unwanted sexual experiences in the workplace were examined as outcome variables: gender harassment, unwanted sexual attention, and coercion. Both sexual and physical-emotional abuse during childhood were found to be predictors of unwanted sexual experiences and of acknowledged sexual harassment in the workplace. Among female soldiers, the most severe type of unwanted experience—coercion—was predicted only by childhood physical-emotional abuse. Among male soldiers childhood sexual abuse was the strongest predictor of coercion. A greater variety of types of childhood maltreatment predicted sexual harassment outcomes for male soldiers. Childhood maltreatment and adult sexual harassment were predictors of psychological well-being for soldiers of both genders.

scholarly journals Promoting Protective Factors in Environments of Risk for Young Children: An Organizing Framework for Practice, Policy, and Research

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 96-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Fallon ◽  
Joanne Filippelli ◽  
Nicolette Joh-Carnella ◽  
Elizabeth Milne ◽  
Jessica Carradine
Keyword(s):  
Child Welfare ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Child Welfare System ◽  
Welfare System ◽  
Developmental Trajectory ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Vulnerable Children ◽  
Abuse And Neglect ◽  
Key Indicators

Early childhood is an important developmental period, which lays the foundation for future learning, behaviour, physical and mental health and gene expression. The most vulnerable children in society are often referred to and receive services from the child welfare system because of a concern of abuse and neglect and/or a poor developmental trajectory. This paper presents an organizing framework for how the child welfare system, in concert with allied partners, can support interventions for young children and families by acknowledging its crucial role in improving their development and well-being. The framework is informed by research amassed from numerous disciplines, including child welfare, development, neuroscience, neurobiology and epigenetics. Although the notions of protection and well-being are central considerations in child welfare legislation in Ontario, Canada, the operationalization of wellbeing has proven challenging in child welfare practice, policy and research. The framework proposes ten key indicators and priorities for identifying and promoting optimal child development. Findings from the 2013 cycle of the Ontario Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (OIS-2013), the only provincial source of aggregated child welfare investigation data, are presented to articulate the divide between the environmental context of a population of at-risk children and the conditions that both protect children and increase the likelihood that they will thrive in adulthood. This paper argues there are different points of entry and intervention across sectors and provides a foundation for further discussion on how to promote well-being for society's most vulnerable children.

scholarly journals Childhood Maltreatment in Individuals With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: The Impact of Cut-Off Scores on Prevalence Rates

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelina Weitkämper ◽  
Michael Kellner ◽  
Jona Ruben Iffland ◽  
Martin Driessen ◽  
Hanna Kley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Physical Abuse ◽  
Childhood Maltreatment ◽  
Emotional Abuse ◽  
Common Phenomenon ◽  
Prevalence Rates ◽  
Emotional Neglect ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum ◽  
Physical Neglect ◽  
The Impact

Childhood maltreatment is a common phenomenon in various psychiatric disorders. Accordingly, patients with disorders from the schizophrenia spectrum (SSD) appear to have high prevalence rates of childhood maltreatment. However, the interpretation and comparability of prevalence rates is impeded by methodological weaknesses and differences such as measures and thresholds used in previous studies. Therefore, we aimed to provide and compare systematically captured data on prevalence rates of all common types of childhood maltreatment in patients with SSD using a standardized and well-established questionnaire and the most frequently used thresholds. The sample consisted of 48 patients with a primary diagnosis of SSD. 58.3–77.1% of the sample experienced at least one type of childhood maltreatment. Prevalence rates for physical abuse, physical neglect, and emotional abuse were dependent on the thresholds used, while equal rates were found for emotional neglect and sexual abuse. Physical neglect (46–67%), and emotional abuse (44–48%) were most commonly reported, followed by emotional neglect (38%), physical abuse (25–38%), and sexual abuse (25%). Additionally, high levels of peer victimization were reported by SSD patients. It appears that childhood maltreatment is a common phenomenon in SSD, even though methodological details, especially cut-off scores, have a substantial impact on the prevalence rates that are determined. Therefore, the methodology of studies should be closely examined when drawing conclusions from presented prevalence rates.

Childhood Emotional Abuse and Depression Among Adolescents: Roles of Deviant Peer Affiliation and Gender

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052091858 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sen Li ◽  
Fengqing Zhao ◽  
Guoliang Yu
Keyword(s):  
Childhood Maltreatment ◽  
Emotional Abuse ◽  
Adolescent Depression ◽  
Relational Theory ◽  
Deviant Peer Affiliation ◽  
Peer Affiliation ◽  
Mediation Analyses ◽  
Physical Neglect ◽  
Childhood Emotional Abuse ◽  
And Gender

Adolescent depression is a significant concern around the world. There is a pressing need to explore risk factors for this disorder to develop better interventions. Based on an integration of attachment theory, Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, and relational theory, the current study aimed to examine (a) whether childhood emotional abuse (CEA) would be significantly and positively related to adolescents’ depression, (b) whether deviant peer affiliation would mediate the relation between CEA and depression, and (c) whether gender would moderate the direct and indirect relations between CEA and adolescent’s depression via deviant peer affiliation. Participants were 961 Chinese adolescents ( M age = 15.21 years, SD = 1.57). They completed questionnaires regarding demographics, CEA, other types of childhood maltreatment (i.e., physical abuse, sexual abuse, physical neglect, and emotional neglect), deviant peer affiliation, and depression. Results showed that CEA was positively related to adolescent depression even after controlling for other types of childhood maltreatment, and this relation was mediated by deviant peer affiliation. Furthermore, moderated mediation analyses indicated that gender moderated the relation between CEA and deviant peer affiliation, with the relation being stronger for girls than for boys. However, gender did not moderate the relation between deviant peer affiliation and depression, as well as the direct relation between CEA and depression. Results highlight that interventions aimed at reducing CEA may protect adolescents, especially girls from the risks of deviant peer affiliation and depression.

Exploring Bullying Perpetration and Victimization Among Adolescent Girls in the Child Welfare System: Bully-Only, Victim-Only, Bully-Victim, and Noninvolved Roles

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 1311-1333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul R. Sterzing ◽  
Wendy F. Auslander ◽  
G. Allen Ratliff ◽  
Donald R. Gerke ◽  
Tonya Edmond ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Child Welfare ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Childhood Abuse ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Child Welfare System ◽  
Welfare System ◽  
Mental Health Service Use ◽  
Bullying Perpetration ◽  
Bully Victims

Childhood abuse is a common experience for youth in the child welfare system, increasing their risk of bullying perpetration and victimization. Little research exists that has examined the rates of bullying perpetration and victimization for child welfare–involved adolescent girls. The study addressed the following aims: (a) to generate frequency estimates of physical, nonphysical, and relational forms of bullying perpetration and victimization; (b) to identify the frequency of bully-only, victim-only, bully-victim, and noninvolved roles; and (c) to identify risk and protective factors that correlate with these bullying role types. Participants were 236 girls (12-19 years) in the child welfare system from a Midwestern urban area. Participants were referred to the study to join a trauma-focused group program. Seventy-five percent of the total sample were youth of color, with the remaining 25% identifying as White, non-Hispanic. Data were collected through baseline surveys that assessed childhood abuse, bullying perpetration and victimization, posttraumatic stress, substance misuse, aggression-related beliefs and self-efficacy, placement type, placement instability, and mental health service use. Child welfare–involved adolescent girls were found to assume all four major role types: bully-only (6.4%, n = 15), victim-only (20.3%, n = 48), bully-victim (44.1%, n = 104), and nonvictims (29.2%, n = 69). The bully-victim rate was approximately 7 times higher than the rate found in a nationally representative sample of non–child welfare–involved youth. The current study identified posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, anger self-efficacy, and alcohol use as significant correlates of bullying roles. The identification of a substantially higher rate of bully-victims has important practice implications, suggesting child welfare and school systems adopt trauma-informed systems of care. Bully-victims are very likely traumatized children who are in need of effective trauma treatment rather than punitive sanctions.

scholarly journals Can the Cumulative Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Score Actually Identify the Victims of Intrafamilial Childhood Maltreatment? Findings from a Study in the Child Welfare System

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (13) ◽  
pp. 6886
Author(s):  
Beáta Kovács-Tóth ◽  
Barnabás Oláh ◽  
Ildikó Kuritárné Szabó
Keyword(s):  
Child Welfare ◽  
Childhood Maltreatment ◽  
Adverse Childhood Experiences ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Social Situation ◽  
Child Welfare System ◽  
Welfare System ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Biological Parents ◽  
Adverse Childhood

Studies show that a significant proportion of children in the Child Welfare System (CWS) have suffered adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which have led to well documented serious consequences. This study assessed and compared the ACE status of adolescents aged 12 to 17 placed in a family style group care (FGC) setting (n = 240) to the ACE status of adolescents living with their biological parents (n = 516). The ACE Score Calculator was employed. The populational differences in ACE scores and in the prevalence of ACEs were assessed using generalized linear and logistic regression models. Adolescents living in FGC settings reported more than five times as many multiple adverse experiences (≥4 types of ACEs) as those living with their biological parents. Adolescents living in FGC settings seem to be more willing to report family dysfunction rather than their maltreatment history and are less willing to report maltreatment. In the FGC group, a surprisingly high proportion of adolescents reported having experienced no maltreatment, which is probably highly underreported and/or unrecognised in the CWS. In fact, a high ACE score will not identify the children who have experienced direct maltreatment but will highlight the consequences of the unfavourable factors inherent in disadvantaged social situation instead.

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