Mental health of mothers and their premature infants for the prevention of child abuse and maltreatment

Patterns of exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) and child abuse (CA) were explored in 467 women seeking psychological assistance following IPV. Using latent class analysis, three classes were obtained: women who had experienced physical, sexual, and psychological IPV, along with childhood physical and sexual abuse (IPV + CA; 38.5%); women who had experienced physical, sexual, and psychological IPV only (IPV/no CA; 52.9%); and women who had experienced psychological IPV only (Psych IPV only; 8.6%). Associations of class membership with severity of specific mental health conditions were examined, along with the number of diagnosed conditions. Significant between-class differences were noted on severity of IPV-related posttraumatic stress disorder, depressive disorders, alcohol and substance use disorders, and social phobia. Classes also differed significantly on the number of mental health conditions. Understanding patterns of betrayal-based trauma (e.g., IPV and CA) can inform care within agencies that serve IPV survivors by highlighting individuals at-risk for mental health conditions.

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Associations among child abuse, mental health, and epigenetic modifications in the proopiomelanocortin gene (POMC): A study with children in Tanzania

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579415001248 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 28 (4pt2) ◽

pp. 1401-1412 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Tobias Hecker ◽

Karl M. Radtke ◽

Katharin Hermenau ◽

Andreas Papassotiropoulos ◽

Thomas Elbert

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Child Abuse ◽

Behavioral Problems ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Epigenetic Modifications ◽

Behavioral Changes ◽

Emotional And Behavioral Problems ◽

High Exposure ◽

Low Exposure ◽

Altered Gene

AbstractChild abuse is associated with a number of emotional and behavioral problems. Nevertheless, it has been argued that these adverse consequences may not hold for societies in which many of the specific acts of abuse are culturally normed. Epigenetic modifications in the genes of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis may provide a potential mechanism translating abuse into altered gene expression, which subsequently results in behavioral changes. Our investigation took place in Tanzania, a society in which many forms of abuse are commonly employed as disciplinary methods. We included 35 children with high exposure and compared them to 25 children with low exposure. Extreme group comparisons revealed that children with high exposure reported more mental health problems. Child abuse was associated with differential methylation in the proopiomelanocortin gene (POMC), measured both in saliva and in blood. Hierarchical clustering based on the methylation of the POMC gene found two distinct clusters. These corresponded with children's self-reported abuse, with two-thirds of the children allocated into their respective group. Our results emphasize the consequences of child abuse based on both molecular and behavioral grounds, providing further evidence that acts of abuse affect children, even when culturally acceptable. Furthermore, on a molecular level, our findings strengthen the credibility of children's self-reports.

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Individual- and Relationship-Level Factors Related to Better Mental Health Outcomes following Child Abuse: Results from a Nationally Representative Canadian Sample

The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/0706743716651832 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 61 (12) ◽

pp. 776-788 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Tracie O. Afifi ◽

Harriet L. MacMillan ◽

Tamara Taillieu ◽

Sarah Turner ◽

Kristene Cheung ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Child Abuse ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Well Being ◽

Canadian Community Health Survey ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Abuse History ◽

Good Mental Health ◽

Nationally Representative

Objective: Child abuse can have devastating mental health consequences. Fortunately, not all individuals exposed to child abuse will suffer from poor mental health. Understanding what factors are related to good mental health following child abuse can provide evidence to inform prevention of impairment. Our objectives were to 1) describe the prevalence of good, moderate, and poor mental health among respondents with and without a child abuse history; 2) examine the relationships between child abuse and good, moderate, and poor mental health outcomes; 3) examine the relationships between individual- and relationship-level factors and better mental health outcomes; and 4) determine if individual- and relationship-level factors moderate the relationship between child abuse and mental health. Method: Data were from the nationally representative 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey: Mental Health ( n = 23,395; household response rate = 79.8%; 18 years and older). Good, moderate, and poor mental health was assessed using current functioning and well-being, past-year mental disorders, and past-year suicidal ideation. Results: Only 56.3% of respondents with a child abuse history report good mental health compared to 72.4% of those without a child abuse history. Individual- and relationship-level factors associated with better mental health included higher education and income, physical activity, good coping skills to handle problems and daily demands, and supportive relationships that foster attachment, guidance, reliable alliance, social integration, and reassurance of worth. Conclusions: This study identifies several individual- and relationship-level factors that could be targeted for intervention strategies aimed at improving mental health outcomes following child abuse.

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A randomized controlled clinical trial of the effect of supportive counseling on mental health in Iranian mothers of premature infants

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth ◽

10.1186/s12884-020-03502-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Leila Seiiedi-Biarag ◽

Mojgan Mirghafourvand ◽

Khalil Esmaeilpour ◽

Shirin Hasanpour

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Clinical Trial ◽

Premature Infants ◽

Control Group ◽

Controlled Clinical Trial ◽

Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Postpartum Bonding ◽

Supportive Counseling

Abstract Background Premature birth can affect maternal mental health. Considering that the mental health disorder in mothers may play a vital role in the growth and development of their children, therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effect of supportive counseling on mental health (primary outcome), mother-child bonding and infant anthropometric indices (secondary outcomes) in mothers of premature infants. Methods This randomized controlled clinical trial was carried out on 66 mothers with hospitalized neonates in the NICU of Alzahra hospital in Tabriz- Iran. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups of intervention (n = 34) and control (n = 32) through a block randomization method. The intervention group received 6 sessions of supportive counseling (45–60 minutes each session) by the researcher, and the control group received routine care. Questionnaires of Goldberg General Health and the postpartum bonding were completed before the intervention (first 72 hours postpartum) and 8 weeks postpartum. Also, the anthropometric index of newborns were measured at the same time. Results There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of socio-demographic characteristics. After the intervention, based on ANCOVA with adjusting the baseline score, mean score of mental health (AMD: -9.8; 95% Confident Interval (95% CI): -12.5 to -7.1; P < 0.001) and postpartum bonding (AMD: -10.0; 95% CI: -0.6 to 13.9; P < 0.001) in the counseling group was significantly lower than those of the control group; however, in terms of weight (P = 0.536), height (P = 0.429) and head circumference (P = 0.129), there was no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusions Supportive counseling may improve mental health and postpartum bonding in mothers of premature infants. Thus, it may be recommendable for health care providers to offer it to mothers. Trial registration Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT): IRCT20120718010324N45. Date of registration: October 29, 2018.

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Incidents of Child Abuse and Neglect in Schools and Its Impact on Mental Health

An Empirical Investigation into Child Abuse and Neglect in India - SpringerBriefs in Well-Being and Quality of Life Research ◽

10.1007/978-981-10-7452-3_4 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 75-110

Author(s):

Sibnath Deb

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Child Abuse ◽

Child Abuse And Neglect ◽

Abuse And Neglect

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CHILD ABUSE AND ADULT MENTAL HEALTH: DOES GENDER MATTER?

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.3401 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S935-S935

Author(s):

Patricia M Morton ◽

Blakelee Kemp ◽

Frass Ahmed

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Child Abuse ◽

Emotional Abuse ◽

The United States ◽

Future Research ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Adult Mental Health ◽

Maternal Abuse ◽

Parental Abuse

Abstract Numerous studies have demonstrated that child abuse is associated with poor adult mental health, but few have investigated the extent to which the frequency of different types of abuse increase mental health conditions, especially at the nexus of gender. The present study examines whether parental abuse frequency and abuse perpetrator have distinct effects for men and women on three mental health outcomes—depressive symptoms, generalized anxiety, and global self-reported mental health. Data came from three waves of the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS), comprising a baseline sample of 3,032 adults aged 25-74. Estimating a series of mixed effects models revealed that maternal abuse and frequent abuse during childhood were associated with poorer adult mental health during our 20-year observation period, net of childhood and adult risk factors. Specifically, maternal emotional abuse raised the risk of depression, anxiety, and lower self-rated mental health, and was more strongly associated with depression and anxiety for women than men. Compared to adults who did not experience parental abuse during childhood, adults who experienced frequent emotional and physical abuse by either parent were more likely to experience depression and anxiety and report lower ratings of mental health in adulthood. Frequent child abuse was more strongly associated with anxiety for women than men. These results demonstrate that gender differences in adult mental health have early-life antecedents. Future research investigating the long-term mental health consequences of child abuse should consider the type and magnitude of abuse as well as the perpetrator.

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Do Child Abuse and Maltreatment Increase Risk of Schizophrenia?

Psychiatry Investigation ◽

10.4306/pi.2012.9.2.87 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 87 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Lucia Sideli ◽

Alice Mule ◽

Daniele La Barbera ◽

Robin M. Murray

Keyword(s):

Child Abuse ◽

Increase Risk ◽

Child Abuse And Maltreatment

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