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Child maltreatment has long-term destructive effects on a person's psychological health. Therefore, it seems necessary to take interventions to reduce psychological symptoms and regulate the emotion of these people. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program on reducing psychopathological symptoms, shame, and self-criticism in young adults with a history of childhood maltreatment. The research plan was a semi-experimental design with a control group. Forty-four eligible young adults in Isfahan (Iran) enrolled in an MSC course. The participants consisted of 19 males (43%) and 25 females (57%) from 18 to 25 years old. They were randomly assigned to the experimental (N = 24) and control (N = 23) groups. The experimental group participated in eight 2-h sessions of the MSC program. The results indicated that the experimental group showed a significant decrease in anxiety (p < .001), depression (p < .01), internal shame (p < .05), self-criticism (p < .000), and a significant increase in self-compassion (p < .01) compared to the control group in both post-test and follow-up. Also, a significant reduction was observed in external shame (p < .001) and stress (p < .01) in the experimental group immediately after the end of the intervention but there were no long-term effects at the two-month follow-up (P > .05). Based on the findings, it can be concluded that MCS can improve depression, anxiety, self-criticism, internal shame, and self-compassion in young adults with childhood maltreatment. Further studies with longer follow-up periods and larger sample groups with different demographics need to be conducted to confirm these findings., Author(s): Mozhdeh Sajjadi [sup.1] , Azam Noferesti [sup.1] , Maryam Abbasi [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) https://ror.org/05vf56z40, grid.46072.37, 0000 0004 0612 7950, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Tehran, , [...]

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a global public health problem that particularly affects youth in prisons. Although there is a well-documented link between childhood maltreatment and NSSI, the underlying mechanisms connecting the two remain unclear. Based on Nock's integrated theoretical model of NSSI, the current study examined the association between childhood maltreatment and NSSI among younger Chinese prisoners and whether self-esteem mediates this association. A cross-sectional convenience sample of 1,040 participants was recruited from two prisons in central China. A self-administered anonymous questionnaire including information on childhood maltreatment, self-esteem, NSSI and demographic characteristics was administered for each participant. Pearson's correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation between two variables. Bootstrapping procedures were employed to assess the mediating effect. NSSI was positively correlated with childhood maltreatment and negatively associated with self-esteem. The relationship between childhood maltreatment and NSSI was mediated by self-esteem, with 33.4% of the total effect of childhood maltreatment being explained. The ratio was higher in males (62.5%) than in females (14.4%), and it was higher in prisoners under 24 years old (37.5%) than in those over 24 years old (27.9%). These observations emphasize the importance of combining environmental and intrapersonal factors when assessing NSSI among prisoners, thereby contributing to its prevention and intervention in prisons., Author(s): Fajuan Rong [sup.1] , Chun Kang [sup.1] , Chang Peng [sup.1] , Mengni Wang [sup.1] , Junhan Cheng [sup.1] , Hongli Ding [sup.1] , Yizhen Yu [sup.1] Author Affiliations: [...]

This study examines the impact of childhood maltreatment on aggression among incarcerated adolescents, primarily focusing on the mediating roles of self-esteem and self-control. In the present study, 454 male incarcerated adolescents from two juvenile correctional facilities, ranging in age from 14 to 18 years old, completed a set of questionnaires. These questionnaires comprised the childhood trauma questionnaire, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Brief Self-Control Scale, and the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire. The results revealed that childhood maltreatment, self-esteem, and self-control correlated with aggression. The structural equation modeling analysis and the bootstrap test indicated that self-esteem and self-control completely mediated the effects of childhood maltreatment on aggression. The findings expanded the outcomes of previous research and illuminated how childhood maltreatment was related to aggression. Implications and limitations of the present study are also discussed., Author(s): Jiaxi Peng [sup.1] [sup.2] , Jiaxi Zhang [sup.3] , Weizhuo Yuan [sup.2] , Xuan Zhou [sup.2] , Pang Fang [sup.4] Author Affiliations: (1) https://ror.org/034z67559, grid.411292.d, 0000 0004 1798 8975, [...]

Although there is increasing empirical evidence of the negative impact of childhood maltreatment on adult mental health and well-being, little is known about the underlying factors that mitigate the link between psychological maltreatment and psychological adjustment. A critical step is to examine these mechanisms to develop prevention and intervention strategies to decrease the adverse impacts of child maltreatment on psychological adjustment and well-being among young adults. The presented study aimed to explore the association between childhood psychological maltreatment and young adults' psychological adjustment through aversion to happiness, optimism, and pessimism. The sample of this study comprised 511 college students. Participants included 64% female, with ranging in age between 18 and 39 years (M = 21.36, SD = 2.55). Findings from the study indicated that aversion to happiness was a significant mediator in the association of psychological maltreatment with pessimism, optimism, and psychological adjustment. Further, optimism and pessimism mitigated the link of both aversion to happiness and psychological maltreatment with psychological adjustment. The findings indicate that optimism-based strategies are key to fostering psychological adjustment and could help to reduce the negative impacts of aversion to happiness and child maltreatment on young adults' adjustment and wellbeing., Author(s): Gökmen Arslan [sup.1] [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) https://ror.org/04xk0dc21, grid.411761.4, 0000 0004 0386 420X, Department of Psychological Counselling and Guidance, Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, , Burdur, Turkey (2) https://ror.org/01ej9dk98, grid.1008.9, [...]

Numerous studies have shown that childhood emotional neglect experiences are an important risk factor for later physical and mental health problems. However, previous studies have not fully clarified the underlying mechanisms between childhood emotional neglect and depression, especially for adolescents in vocational schools. In the present study, we examined the mediating role of self-compassion in the association between childhood emotional neglect and depression and the moderating role of friendship quality in the direct and indirect relations involved. The participants were 848 vocational school adolescents, aged 14 to 20, who completed the questionnaires about childhood emotional neglect, self-compassion, depression, and friendship quality. The results showed that self-compassion partially mediated the relationship between childhood emotional neglect and adolescent depression. Importantly, friendship quality moderated the direct link between childhood emotional neglect and depression, and the indirect link between childhood emotional neglect and self-compassion, but not the indirect link between self-compassion and depression. Especially, adolescents in vocational school with high friendship quality displayed higher levels of self-compassion and lower levels of depression after experiencing childhood emotional neglect than those with low friendship quality. These findings highlight the mechanisms underlying the relationship between childhood emotional neglect and depression in vocational school adolescents., Author(s): Simeng Dong [sup.1] , Qinnan Dong [sup.2] , Haiyan Chen [sup.3] , Shuai Yang [sup.4] Author Affiliations: (1) https://ror.org/03dgaqz26, grid.411587.e, 0000 0001 0381 4112, School of Economics and Management, [...]

Author(s): Andrei Corneliu Holman [sup.1] , Ana Jignea [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.8168.7, 0000000419371784, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, , [...]

Cyberbullying has gradually evolved into a wide-ranging social problem that affects the development of adolescents. Based on the social cognition theory, the current study explored the precipitating factors of cyberbullying perpetration from the perspective of adolescents' early life experiences (childhood psychological maltreatment) and individual characteristics (moral disengagement and empathy) with a view to prevent and intervene in adolescents' cyberbullying perpetration. Therefore, we built a moderated mediation model based on theoretical foundations and verified it with a large sample of data. Participants comprised 2348 Chinese students (mean age = 13.46 years, SD = .90) recruited from four middle schools. They provided self-reported data on demographic variables, childhood psychological maltreatment, cyberbullying perpetration, moral disengagement, and empathy. After controlling for age and gender, childhood psychological maltreatment was significantly and positively associated with cyberbullying perpetration, and moral disengagement partially mediated this relationship. Moderated mediation analysis further indicated that empathy moderated the relationship between childhood psychological maltreatment and cyberbullying perpetration as well as moral disengagement and cyberbullying perpetration. These two relationships became much weaker for adolescents with higher levels of empathy., Author(s): Xingchao Wang [sup.1] , Wanghao Dong [sup.1] , Jieshi Qiao [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.163032.5, 0000 0004 1760 2008, School of Educational Science, Shanxi University, , No. 92 Wucheng [...]

The current study aimed to investigate the mediating role of negative beliefs about emotion and psychological inflexibility on the relationship between childhood maltreatment and emotional distress. A total of 519 participants completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), the Leahy Emotional Schema Scale II (LESS-II), and the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II). All scales were significantly correlated. Two mediation analyses were tested. In the first model negative beliefs about emotion and psychological inflexibility mediated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and emotional distress measured by DASS-21 total score. In the second model, negative beliefs about emotion and psychological inflexibility mediated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and depression, anxiety, and stress measured by the subscales of DASS-21. Results suggest that maltreatment in childhood is associated with the individuals' approaches, plans and strategies in response to emotions, and psychological inflexibility which together further determine emotional distress., Author(s): Asli Burçak Tasören [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.411781.a, 0000 0004 0471 9346, Istanbul Medipol Universitesi Guney Kampus, , Goztepe Mah. Kavacik, Beykoz, Istanbul, Turkey Introduction The Emotional Schema Model [...]

Betrayal trauma is associated with dissociative symptoms, which can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Previous research demonstrates associations between a mother's history of betrayal trauma and intergenerational patterns of maltreatment and dissociation among their children. However, maternal betrayal trauma history remains unexplored in the etiology of youth suicidality. This study was conducted to investigate pathways between maternal betrayal trauma and youth suicidality, while considering the influences of youth maltreatment exposure and symptoms of dissociation. We implemented conditional growth curve modeling in a structural equation modeling framework to analyze secondary data from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN; N = 1,354; 51.48% female, 53.29% Black). Predictors included mothers' betrayal trauma history, youth maltreatment exposure, and youth dissociative symptoms at ages 8, 12, and 16. The slope and intercept of dissociative symptoms at the age-8, age-12, and age-16 visit were modeled as latent factors. A robust weighted least squares estimator accounted for categorical outcomes. Indirect effects were assessed via the delta method. We found a significant indirect effect from maternal betrayal trauma to adolescent suicidal ideation through children's maltreatment exposure and the growth in children's dissociative symptoms from ages 8 through 16. Maternal betrayal trauma may play a unique role in perpetuating intergenerational patterns of trauma that contribute to subsequent trajectories of youth suicidality among their offspring. Practice implications for screening, prevention, and early intervention strategies are described, along with directions for further study., Author(s): Lisa S. Panisch [sup.1] , Erinn B. Duprey [sup.2] [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.254444.7, 0000 0001 1456 7807, School of Social Work, Wayne State University, , 5447 Woodward Avenue, [...]

The purpose of this study was to complete the cycle of recognizing these relationships. In this regard, the effect of parenting styles, attachment styles, and the mediating variable of addiction was investigated on child abuse (CA). Multi-stage random sampling and sample size were selected based on the sample size estimation software (510 people) and according to the 20% probability of a drop in the number of subjects, 530 people (265 boys and 265 girls) and 1060 parents were selected. The available method was selected from a sample of 530 people who were selected based on the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) and answered Baumrind's Parenting Styles Questionnaire (PSQ), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and Adult Attachment Scale (AAS). Data were assessed by analysis of variance, mediator analysis, and path analysis. The results showed that differences in parenting styles cause differences in their attachment styles. The results supported only the relationship between the two components of parental affection and control with the attachment avoidance index, and no relationship was observed between these components and the anxiety index. Perceived emotional abuse, mediates the relationship between parental parenting components and the child attachment avoidance index. Finally, it was achieved to a model that shows how the two factors of affection and control simultaneously affect the avoidance index, mediated by parental addiction., Author(s): Tahmine Bahmani [sup.1] , Nazia Sadat Naseri [sup.1] , E. Fariborzi [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.411768.d, 0000 0004 1756 1744, Department of Educational Science, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, [...]

Child maltreatment is a pervasive public health problem. Evidence from numerous studies suggests that child maltreatment leads to both short-term and long-term detrimental effects. However, only few studies investigated the differential effects of specific child maltreatment types on mental health. In the current study, we aimed to detect the frequency of child maltreatment and determine specific associations of different types of child maltreatment with risk-taking behavior and self-esteem among college students. A total of 421 university students from Turkey aged between 18 and 26 years (M.sub.age = 21.16, SD = 1.79) participated in the study. Among the participants, 323 (76.7%) were females. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form, the Risk-taking Behavior Scale, and the Self-Esteem Scale were used to assess childhood maltreatment, risk-taking behavior, and self-esteem, respectively. In total, 58.7% (n = 247) of the participants reported experiencing at least one type of child maltreatment throughout their childhood. Moreover, a path analysis showed that emotional abuse ([beta] = -0.23, p < .001) and emotional neglect ([beta] = -0.28, p < .001) were negatively associated with self-esteem, whereas sexual abuse ([beta] = 0.16, t = 3.37, p < .001) was positively linked with risk-taking behavior after controlling for other types of childhood maltreatment and sociodemographic variables. The findings emphasize the importance of understanding the unique associations and effects of childhood maltreatment on self-esteem and risk-taking behavior. Prevention and intervention efforts should consider these potential impacts of specific childhood maltreatment types., Author(s): Rukiye Kiziltepe [sup.1] , Melisa Ebeoglu-Duman [sup.2] , Ece Sagel-Çetiner [sup.3] , Tobias Hecker [sup.4] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.411742.5, 0000 0001 1498 3798, Department of Psychology, Pamukkale University, , [...]

Extensive studies have shown that childhood psychological maltreatment causes harmful effects. However, positive psychologists indicate that an absence of negative outcomes does not guarantee that there will be coinciding positive outcomes (e.g., life satisfaction). The mechanisms underlying the association of childhood psychological maltreatment and life satisfaction are relatively underexplored. To address the gap, this study examined the mediating role of internalizing problems between childhood psychological maltreatment and life satisfaction and the moderating role of social support (i.e., psychological and instrumental support from significant social relationships) between internalizing problems and life satisfaction among emerging adults. A total of 346 Chinese young adults were recruited (M.sub.age = 22.49, SD.sub.age = 0.96; 236 females and 110 males) to complete self-report measures of demographics, childhood psychological maltreatment, internalizing problems, social support, and life satisfaction. The results showed that (a) the prevalence rate of childhood psychological maltreatment was 46.5% in the present sample, (b) internalizing problems fully mediated the association between childhood psychological maltreatment and life satisfaction, and (c) social support moderated the relationship between internalizing problems and life satisfaction. These findings could provide some fresh avenues for psychological interventions of young adults suffering from childhood psychological maltreatment. Limitations and implications are discussed., Author(s): Angyang Li [sup.1] , Shuo Wang [sup.2] , Xiangping Liu [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.20513.35, 0000 0004 1789 9964, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, [...]

Whilst child abuse experiences can often be found among prisoners, whether they would co-exist with emotional suppression to influence interpersonal sensitivity and psychiatric co-morbidity is unknown. 428 prisoners from three prisons in Anhui and Guangdong, China, were recruited from January to March 2020. They completed questionnaires measuring child abuse experiences, emotional suppression, interpersonal sensitivity and psychiatric co-morbidity. Latent profile analysis supported a three-profile solution: Profile one prisoners had the highest levels of child abuse with a tendency not to suppress distressing emotions (a high-abuse group). Profile two had the lowest levels of child abuse with a tendency to suppress emotions (a low-abuse group 1). Profile three prisoners were similar to Profile two except that the former experienced significantly higher physical and emotional abuse levels than did profile two (a low-abuse group 2). Profile one showed significantly higher levels of fragile inner self and depression than the other two profiles. They also reported significantly higher levels of interpersonal sensitivity and co-morbid psychiatric symptoms, except social dysfunction, than profile two individuals. Profile three prisoners reported significantly higher levels of most interpersonal sensitivity and co-morbid psychiatric symptoms than profile two individuals. The severity of child abuse experiences and tendency to suppress or express emotional distress can affect levels of interpersonal difficulties and psychological distress among Chinese prisoners., Author(s): Zilan Ye [sup.1] , Man Cheung Chung [sup.1] , Xiaohua Di [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.10784.3a, 0000 0004 1937 0482, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, , Hong Kong, [...]

Although non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a worldwide public health concern, the prevalence rate and risk factors for it among Chinese university students are not known. The present study aimed to address these knowledge gaps and examine the interrelationship between child abuse and NSSI frequency and functions as well as psychiatric co-morbidity with emotion dysregulation as a mediator and attachment style as a moderator. Five hundred and thirty-six (F = 359, M = 177) Chinese university students were recruited from two universities in Hong Kong and completed the Functional Assessment of Self-Mutilation, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Revised Adult Attachment Scale, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale and General Health Questionnaire-28. The findings showed that the prevalent rate of NSSI was 22% in the past year. The results showed that child abuse was significantly correlated with psychiatric co-morbidity and emotion dysregulation, and the latter was also significantly correlated with positive and negative reinforcement, and psychiatric co-morbidity. Moderation effects were not established. Non-suicidal self-injurious behaviour was relatively common among Chinese university students in Hong Kong. Their difficulties in regulating their emotions may influence why they hurt themselves and the severity of psychological distress, especially for those who experienced a high level of child abuse in the past., Author(s): Siu Ling Wong [sup.1] , Man Cheung Chung [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.16890.36, 0000 0004 1764 6123, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, , QT308, 3/F, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong [...]

Exposure to violence in childhood and adolescence may lead to negative self-identity construction in young women. These phenomena are exacerbated in the context of Arab young women, who belong to both a national minority in Israel and to a gender subject to exclusion, oppression, and discrimination in society in general and in Arab society in particular. The aim of this qualitative study was to examine how Arab young women abused in childhood construct their self-identity within their gender, cultural, class, and national context. The study was based on 20 semi-structured interviews with Arab young women in Israel, who were victims of violence in childhood (aged 18-26). Construction of self-identity, as described by participants, included: harmed self (self under guilt; lack of confidence in one's abilities and giving up; insecure self; belittling of self); self divided between loyalty to the family and society and a desire for self-realization; the self versus the other. In addition, some participants, later in young adulthood, were able to change their perception of self and see themselves as capable, strong, and not guilty of the violence directed against them. These women transitioned from absent to present femininity. The study provides a broader definition of self-identity construction among young women abused in childhood, including Arab young women in Israel in their intersecting contexts and the limitations imposed by multiple marginality. This broader understanding enables the design of context-informed therapeutic intervention practices., Author(s): Raghda Alnabilsy [sup.1] , Shira Pagorek-Eshel [sup.1] , Haneen Elias [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.443022.3, 0000 0004 0636 0840, Department of Social Work, Ruppin Academic Center, , 40250, Emeq [...]

The purpose of this study was to identify changes in family conflict and abuse dynamics during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders from the perspectives of youth calling a national child abuse hotline. We analyzed text and chat transcripts from Childhelp's National Child Abuse Hotline from May-June 2020 that were flagged as coming from a child with a COVID-19-related concern (N = 105). Thematic analysis was used to identify COVID-19 related influences of family conflict as well as how COVID-19 constraints influenced coping and survival for youth reporting distress or maltreatment to the hotline. Family conflict most commonly disclosed stemmed from parental or child mental health concerns, often manifesting in escalated child risk taking behaviors, parental substance use, and violence in the home. Conflict was also mentioned surrounding caregiver issues with child productivity while sheltering-in-place, commonly related to school or chores. Youth often voiced feeling unable to find relief from family conflict, exacerbated from physical distance from alternative social supports, technological isolation, and limited contact with typical safe places or supportive adults. To cope and survive, youth and crisis counselors found creative home-based coping skills and alternative reporting mechanisms. Understanding the unique impact of COVID-19 on youth in homes with family conflict and abuse can point to areas for intervention to ensure we are protecting the most vulnerable as many continue to shelter-in-place. In particular, this study revealed the importance of online hotlines and reporting mechanisms to allow more youth to seek out the help and professional support they need., Author(s): Laura Sinko [sup.1] , Yuan He [sup.1] [sup.2] , Rachel Kishton [sup.1] , Robin Ortiz [sup.1] [sup.2] , Larel Jacobs [sup.3] , Michelle Fingerman [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.25879.31, [...]

Purpose This study examines the relationships among adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization, and two types of adulthood help-seeking behaviors in adulthood-formal and informal. The effects of IPV on formal and informal help-seeking, and the effects of ACEs on IPV and formal and informal help-seeking were assessed. Method: The analytic sample of this study is 591 college students from seven universities in the U.S. and Canada who reported at least one type of ACE and IPV victimization. Results: Results from structural equation modeling show that ACEs were positively associated with IPV victimization. IPV victimization was positively associated with formal and informal help-seeking. ACEs were positively associated with formal but not informal help-seeking. Conclusions: These findings suggest that ACEs influence not only violent experiences in adulthood but also behaviors in relation to seeking help following victimization in adulthood., Author(s): Jisuk Seon [sup.1] , Hyunkag Cho [sup.2] , Jae-Bum Han [sup.3] , Jennifer Allen [sup.2] , Abbie Nelson [sup.2] , Ilan Kwon [sup.4] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.440959.5, 0000 0001 [...]

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships among adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization, and three adulthood health outcomes-perceived physical and mental health and depression-among college students. We analyzed the direct effects of a subset of ACEs including community violence, peer victimization, child abuse and neglect, exposure to domestic violence, and other physical and sexual victimization and a subset of IPV victimization including threats, physical, sexual, technological, and psychological violence on health, and the indirect effect of IPV victimization on the relationships between ACEs and health. We analyzed 3,535 college students from seven universities who reported information about major variables of interest. Results: Findings from structural equation modeling indicate that ACEs are positively associated with poorer perceived physical health ([beta] = .37, p < .001), poorer mental health ([beta] = .64, p < .001), and higher levels of depression ([beta] = .40, p < .001). IPV victimization is positively associated with poorer perceived physical health ([beta] = .36, p < .001), poorer mental health ([beta] = .23, p < .001), and higher levels of depression ([beta] = .16, p < .001). In addition, IPV victimization partially mediates the impacts of ACEs on perceived physical health ([beta] = .06, p < .001), mental health ([beta] = .28, p < .001), and depression ([beta] = .10, p < .001). ACEs influenced adulthood health outcomes both physically and mentally via IPV victimization. This study suggests a life-course perspective and trauma-informed approach that incorporates the long-term effect of ACEs and IPV victimization on adulthood well-being., Author(s): Jisuk Seon [sup.1] , Hyunkag Cho [sup.2] , Ga-Young Choi [sup.3] , Esther Son [sup.4] , Jennifer Allen [sup.2] , Abbie Nelson [sup.2] , Ilan Kwon [sup.2] Author Affiliations: [...]

Whereas Western research has shown that childhood maltreatment experiences may have a negative impact on inmates' adjustment to confinement, such studies are rare in China. The present study aims to address the respective research gap. In a two-wave longitudinal project, 514 male juvenile offenders were interviewed in a centralized provincial juvenile reformatory in southwest China regarding their childhood maltreatment experiences, incarceration experiences, and their pre-incarceration at-risk behaviors or experiences. While controlling for demographic characteristics and variables derived from correctional importation and deprivation models, multiple linear regression analyses show a significant correlation between childhood maltreatment experiences and juveniles' adjustment to confinement. Specifically, there is a positive correlation between the level of childhood emotional abuse and negative emotions among incarcerated juveniles, a negative correlation between childhood emotional neglect and juvenile offenders' adjustment to prison life, and a positive correlation between childhood sexual abuse experiences and adjustment to prison life. The present study provides evidence that child maltreatment, especially emotional abuse and neglect, impacts juvenile offenders' adjustment to confinement in China. This demonstrates the importance of offering institutional programs that would assist juvenile offenders with childhood maltreatment experiences, especially those of emotional abuse or neglect. Tentative explanations are provided for unexpected findings., Author(s): Ruohui Zhao [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.437123.0, 0000 0004 1794 8068, Department of Sociology, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, , Taipa, Macau, China Introduction Previous research has shown [...]

Many studies have supported the mediating role of maladaptive schemas in the relationship between early childhood adversity and psychopathology in both clinical and non-clinical adolescent samples. However, to the best of our knowledge, there has been no study to simultaneously test the mediating role of maladaptive schemas in a combined model included in both clinical and non-clinical samples of adolescents. The sample of the study consisted of 132 non-clinical (M = 15.65, SD = 1.15) and 193 clinically referred (M = 15.05, SD = 1.07) adolescents. Criteria for the clinical sample included being diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, depressive disorder or mixed anxiety and depressive disorder. Participants were administered The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Young Schema Questionnaire, Children's Depression Inventory, and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesized mediation model that Disconnection/Rejection and Impaired Autonomy schema domains would mediate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and psychological symptoms for clinical and non-clinical adolescent samples, separately. Furthermore, we tested whether structural paths of the model were different across the two samples, using multiple-group path analysis. Results showed that Disconnection/Rejection and Impaired Autonomy emerged as significant mediators in both samples. In addition, only the association between Disconnection/Rejection and depression was stronger in the clinical sample compared to the non-clinical sample., Author(s): Ibrahim Yigit [sup.1] , Harun Kiliç [sup.2] , Melike Guzey Yigit [sup.3] , Cihat Çelik [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.411548.d, 0000 0001 1457 1144, Faculty of Science and Letters, [...]

Childhood maltreatment is associated with increased suicide risk. However, not all maltreated children report self-injurious thoughts and behaviors, highlighting the presence of other risk factors. Notably, adolescent dating violence (ADV) and child maltreatment are highly comorbid, with ADV also linked to suicide risk among adolescents. Current research further suggests that distinct patterns of ADV involvement are differentially related to adolescent mental health. To date, it is unknown whether differences in ADV patterns moderate changes in suicide risk for adolescents with and without a maltreatment history. This study aims to advance the literature by identifying patterns of ADV in a unique sample of adolescents and by determining the differential association between maltreatment and suicidal ideation and non-suicidal self-harming behaviors based on ADV profiles. Participants were racially and ethnically diverse low-income non-treatment-seeking adolescent females with elevated depressive symptoms, ages 13-16 (N = 198). Using latent class analysis, we found support for a 3-class model of dating violence: adolescent females without ADV involvement, those in relationships with mutual verbal abuse, and those in romantic relationships with multiple and more severe forms of ADV, such as verbal abuse and physical violence. A series of latent class moderation models indicated that the effect of child maltreatment on suicidal ideation significantly differed based on ADV class membership. Results highlight the importance of considering different ADV patterns and maltreatment as interactive risk factors for increased self-injurious thoughts and behaviors. Intervention and prevention approaches relevant to maltreated youths are discussed for families and practitioners., Author(s): Tangeria R. Adams [sup.1] , Elizabeth D. Handley [sup.1] , Jennifer M. Warmingham [sup.1] , Jody Todd Manly [sup.1] , Dante Cicchetti [sup.1] [sup.2] , Sheree L. Toth [sup.1] [...]

Prostitution diversion program participants who have experienced lifelong patterns of abuse, including child polyvictimization and later adult victimization, may exhibit greater trauma symptomatology than participants who have not experienced lifelong abuse. If true, these participants may face unique barriers to successful program completion as a result of their increased trauma symptomatology. This calls into question whether incarceration is an appropriate sanction for program failure. Data from a prostitution diversion program located in Houston, Texas, was used to conduct a series of bivariate analyses that examined whether participants who had experienced multiple types of child abuse: (1) were more criminally involved, (2) were more likely to report adult victimization, and (3) exhibited greater trauma symptomatology relative to program participants who had never experienced child abuse, or only experienced a single type. Participants who had experienced multiple types of child abuse were more likely to report adult victimization and greater trauma symptomatology relative to participants who had not experienced any child abuse. The prostitution diversion program examined in this study contained a subgroup of participants who had experienced multiple types of child abuse, possessed an increased risk of adult victimization, and reported greater trauma symptomatology. These participants are trauma survivors, and may face unique barriers to program completion. Consequently, incarceration is a misguided sanction for program failure, as it may lead to further traumatization., Author(s): Alexander H. Updegrove [sup.1] , Lisa R. Muftic [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (Aff1) grid.263046.5, 0000 0001 2291 1903, Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Sam Houston State University, , Box [...]

There is a significant association between childhood abuse and suicidal behavior in low-income African American women with a recent suicide attempt. Increasingly, empirical focus is shifting toward including suicide resilience, which mitigates against suicidal behavior. This cross-sectional study examines childhood abuse, intrapersonal strengths, and suicide resilience in 121 African American women, average age of 36.07 years (SD = 11.03) with recent exposure to intimate partner violence and a suicide attempt. To address the hypothesis that childhood abuse will be negatively related to suicide resilience and that this effect will be mediated by intrapersonal strengths that serve as protective factors, structural equation modeling examined the relations among three latent variables: childhood abuse (measured via physical, sexual, and emotional abuse), intrapersonal strengths (assessed by self-efficacy and spiritual well-being), and suicide resilience (operationalized via the three components of suicide resilience-internal protective, external protective, and emotional stability). The initial measurement model and the structural model both indicated excellent fit. Results indicated that childhood abuse was negatively associated with intrapersonal strengths and suicide resilience, intrapersonal strengths were positively associated with suicide resilience, and intrapersonal strengths fully mediated the association between childhood abuse and suicide resilience. Thus, the results suggest a positive and protective influence of intrapersonal strengths on suicide resilience in the face of childhood abuse in suicidal African American women. The clinical implications and directions for future research that emerge from these findings are discussed., Author(s): Shweta Kapoor [sup.1] , Heather Key Domingue [sup.2] , Natalie N. Watson-Singleton [sup.3] , Funlola Are [sup.4] , Corinn A. Elmore [sup.5] , Courtney L. Crooks [sup.2] , Amber [...]

Risk for committing child abuse is frequently attributed to an intergenerational 'cycle of violence' through which abuse as a child increases risk for committing abuse as a parent. While this hypothesis has support, more research is needed to understand the factors that account for this pattern of risk. Given literature suggesting that adults with a history of child maltreatment have increased risk for a wide range of psychopathology, this study examined the role of two behavioral endophenotypes, emotional dysregulation and negative affect, in the association between maternal experiences of childhood maltreatment and maternal child abuse potential among 83 low-income, primarily African-American mothers of elementary school age children. Results indicate that a mother's experience of abuse as a child predicts later risk for abusive parenting as measured by child abuse potential scores. However, our data also indicate that the relationship between maternal experience of child abuse and later child abuse potential is mediated by maternal emotional dysregulation and negative affect. Keywords Child maltreatment * Emotional dysregulation * Negative affect * Child abuse potential * Intergenerational trauma, A robust body of literature demonstrates that exposure to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse in childhood increases risk for a wide range of mental health problems across the lifespan (Anda [...]

This study examined predictors for parents' potential for abusing their children. Two hundred and thirteen Jewish and Arab parents of children up to 6 years of age completed six questionnaires assessing child-abuse potential, childhood history of abuse/neglect, attachment style, emotional control, perceived stress, and cognitive appraisal of parenthood. Results indicated that parents who experienced childhood abuse and neglect scored significantly higher in child-abuse potential than parents without a history of abuse or neglect. A Structural Equation Model indicated that anxious and avoidant attachment mediated the experiences of abuse and neglect in childhood and emotional control; whereas emotional control deficits mediated the relationship between insecure attachment and parenthood as challenge vs. threat, leading to greater child-abuse potential. Clinical implications were discussed. Keywords Childhood abuse * Adult child abuse risk * Attachment styles * Emotional control * Parental stress * Parenthood as threat, The present study was designed to examine parents' potential for abusing their children and the risk of intergenerational transmission of abuse. This study is based on Belsky's (1993) developmental-ecological model [...]

Although the long-term effects of cumulative childhood maltreatment (CCM) include a variety of adverse consequences, many individuals are resilient following such experiences. This study explored the role of social support from family and friends in buffering long-term outcome following CCM, examining both main and moderating effects. Participants included 344 college aged men and women. Findings revealed strong promotive (main) effects of social support from family and friends that were associated with a reduction in symptoms of depression/anxiety and anger/hostility, regardless of the severity of abuse experienced. Support generally acted as a buffer (moderator) against negative outcomes for individuals with lower, and not higher, levels of CCM. The role of family support in moderating outcome was complex, particularly with respect to women's later dating victimization; here family support functioned as a protective factor at low CCM, but as a vulnerability factor at high CCM. Keywords Social support * Cumulative childhood maltreatment * Risk and protection, The long-term effects of childhood maltreatment are heterogeneous (Briere and Runtz 1990; Mullen et al. 1996) and include a variety of adverse affective and behavioral outcomes. Past research has often [...]

Children in all societies are often neglected, maltreated, abused, intentionally or otherwise by their parents, siblings and in school. One of the most important and preventable long term consequences of childhood abuse is the development of suicidal tendencies in adolescence or adulthood. We report such a case of childhood abuse leading to repeated suicidal attempts in an adolescent. Individual and family therapy, coupled with other specific interventions, has helped the teenager and his family lead a normal life. Thus, proper treatment and counseling will be helpful to cope with difficult family and social situations. Keywords Child abuse * Suicide * Sibling rivalry * Counseling, Challenges to the health of children have been changing overthe recent decades. Childhood diseases causing significant mortality and morbidity in the past few decades have now been tackled through immunization [...]

This paper draws on Matza's(1964/1990) theory of deviance to propose that the father's current abuse of the child moderates the relationship between father's patriarchal beliefs and current perpetration of husband violence in South Korea. Drawing on Matza's concept of neutralizing beliefs, the paper argues that child abuse potentiates patriarchal beliefs, allowing husbands to extend rationalizations for child abuse to rationalizations for wife abuse, resulting in an interaction effect. The paper tests this hypothesized interaction effect using data from a nationally representative sample of 585 South Korean men. The paper then tests a competing alternative hypothesis that any type of violence (including violence outside the family) by the father acts as a moderator. Support is found for the child abuse as moderator hypothesis but not for the competing hypothesis. Keywords Domestic violence * Patriarchal beliefs * Child abuse * Legitimizing beliefs, This paper challenges entrenched views of the relationship between the physical abuse of children and the physical abuse of women in intimate relationships. It does not argue that the long [...]

Interest in the mechanisms by which childhood maltreatment can lead to adult intimate partner victimization (IPV) is growing, though limited research has examined these mechanisms from the direct perspective of the victims. Using qualitative methods to examine childhood histories in a sample of 23 IPV survivors, we identified two trajectories, childhood emotional trauma and childhood physical trauma, which lead to revictimization in adulthood in the form of IPV. The emotional trauma trajectory was associated with a desire for intimacy and deficits in navigating interpersonal relationships. Problematic interpersonal schemas and a fear of loneliness swayed many of these women to stay with an abusive partner. The physical trauma trajectory was associated with desensitization and normalization of violence. Problematic interpersonal schemas, and the belief that the experience of violence is normal, promoted tolerance of IPV. Implications for research and intervention are discussed. Keywords Child maltreatment * Child abuse * Intimate partner violence * Revictimization * Family violence, The long-term adverse effects of exposure to violence in childhood, whether the child is the direct victim or a witness, have been well documented, including a focus on intrapersonal functioning [...]

This study utilized a sample of men (N= 340) charged with assault against a female partner to assess differences among IPV perpetrators with and without a history of childhood family violence on factors such as angry, controlling and violent behaviors, substance use related behaviors, and attitudes towards women. Over two-thirds of the sample reported childhood exposure to maltreatment or witnessing IPV. Chi-square analyses and t-tests indicated significant differences between perpetrators with and without a history of family violence on eight of eleven measures. Findings suggest perpetrators with a family violence history more strongly endorse ideas that present women and feminine attributes in a negative light. This research demonstrates that while exposure to family violence during childhood is not necessary for IPV to occur, its presence may be a marker for more severe attitudinal and behavioral problems. Findings highlight the need for primary prevention efforts and can inform secondary prevention strategies. Keywords Child maltreatment * Witnessing intimate partner violence * Perpetrators of intimate partner violence Family violence * Violence prevention * Behavior * Attitudes, In the family violence literature, the term 'family violence' is broadly defined. One simple definition presents family violence as the experience of direct exposure (e.g., child maltreatment) or indirect exposure [...]

Childhood exposure to violence and victimization is a significant public health problem, with potentially long-lasting, deleterious effects on adult mental health. Using a longitudinal study design, 123 young adults--identified in adolescence as at-risk for high school dropout--were examined for the effects of multi-domain childhood victimization on emotional distress and suicide risk, net of adolescent risk and protective factors, including family dysfunction. The hypothesis that higher levels of cumulative childhood victimization would be significantly associated with mental health maladjustment in young adulthood was confirmed by the analysis. However, the victimization predictors of adult emotional distress were different than the predictors of adult suicide risk. These findings indicate the need for prevention and intervention approaches that include thorough assessment, and focus on the childhood and adolescent problem areas that are most consequential for long-term psychological well-being. Keywords Young adult * Victimization * Emotional distress * Suicide, Childhood experiences of violence and victimization are implicated in significant psychosocial difficulties in young adulthood, including depression, anxiety, aggression, and suicide (Benjet et al. 2010; Brown et al. 2007a, b, [...]

Preliminary research suggests that child abuse is indirectly associated with female-perpetrated intimate partner violence via posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and anger. To date, however, no known studies have investigated these relationships for physical and psychological dating violence within a female college sample. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to examine the impact of child abuse history, PTSD symptoms, and anger arousal on female-perpetrated physical and psychological dating violence. Female undergraduates (N=496) completed measures of child abuse, PTSD symptoms, anger arousal, and dating violence perpetration as part of a larger trauma and violence study. Results indicated that child abuse directly predicted female-perpetrated physical and psychological dating violence and indirectly impacted female-perpetrated physical and psychological dating violence via PTSD symptoms and anger arousal. The direct relationships between PTSD symptoms and female-perpetrated physical and psychological dating violence were nonsignificant after controlling for the effect of anger arousal. Keywords Dating violence * Anger * PTSD * Child abuse, Approximately 17-55% of college women report experiencing childhood abuse (CA), characterized by at least one incident of childhood physical abuse (CPA) or sexual abuse (CSA; Davis et al. 2001; Graves [...]

Byline: Hyeouk Chris Hahm (1), Yoona Lee (2), Al Ozonoff (3), Michael J. Wert (1) Keywords: Child maltreatment; Child abuse; HIV risk behaviors; Sexual risk behaviors; Delinquency; Suicide; Women; Cumulative approach; Hierarchical approach Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate how different types of child maltreatment, independently and collectively, impact a wide range of risk behaviors that fall into three domains: sexual risk behaviors, delinquency, and suicidality. Cumulative classification and Expanded Hierarchical Type (EHT) classification approaches were used to categorize various types of maltreatment. Data were derived from Wave III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Our sample consisted of White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian females ages 18 to 27 (n = 7,576). Experiencing different kinds of maltreatment during childhood led to an extensive range of risk behaviors within the three identified domains. Women experiencing sexual abuse plus other maltreatment types had the poorest outcomes in all three domains. These findings illustrate that it may no longer be appropriate to assume that all types of maltreatment are equivalent in their potential contribution to negative developmental sequelae. Author Affiliation: (1) School of Social Work, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA (2) Department of Psychology, Brandies University, Waltham, MA, USA (3) School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA Article History: Registration Date: 01/12/2009 Received Date: 01/08/2009 Accepted Date: 01/12/2009 Online Date: 18/12/2009

Young maltreated children, birth to three years, represent the age group with the highest rates of maltreatment in the United States (ACYF 2007). There are few studies to date that have investigated early childhood maltreatment and its effects on emotion regulatory processes and psychopathology. In response, the current investigation uses a dyadic assessment procedure to examine the relationship between parenting, emotion regulation, and symptoms of psychopathology among maltreating and non-maltreating parent--child interactions. The participants in this study were 123 children (66 maltreated and 57 nonmaltreated) from ages 1-3. Child and parent affect and child effortful control were observed during a parent--child interaction task. Symptoms of psychopathology were measured using the Child Behavior Checklist. The maltreated children exhibited more anger, more internalizing symptomatology, and less positive affect compared to non-maltreated children. Among maltreated children, emotion dysregulation was associated with internalizing symptomatology. Moreover, these data reveal parental positive affect was associated with lower child internalizing symptomatology and parental anger was associated with higher child internalizing symptomatology in the entire sample. This investigation offers evidence that emotion dysregulation subsequent to poor dyadic interactions is associated with early child maltreatment. These data suggest that maltreated children experience difficulties in emotion regulation which may be related to their higher levels of behavioral symptomatology. Keywords Emotion regulation * Maltreatment * Parenting. Early childhood * Psychopathology

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the relationship between child maltreatment, social support, and developmental outcomes in first-year college students. Participants were 202 undergraduate students (137 female, 65 male) who completed surveys at two time points: once before entering college and once during their first year of college. It was hypothesized that child maltreatment would predict poorer developmental outcomes in adolescence and early adulthood, but that social support would mediate this relationship. Results indicated that child maltreatment related negatively to developmental outcomes and to perceived social support; adolescent and young adult development related positively to perceived social support. In addition, a mediational model in which social support mediates child maltreatment and developmental outcomes was supported. KEY WORDS: social support; child maltreatment; adolescent development; transition to college; child abuse.

This paper explored methodological issues in examining the impact of maltreatment characteristics on behavioral adjustment in a sample of maltreated school-age children. Different approaches to assessing the effects of maltreatment type were used to determine whether maltreatment characteristics differed by type of maltreatment and whether relationships between maltreatment characteristics and child behavioral functioning differed according to type of maltreatment. Results revealed several differences among the three types of maltreatment subgroups (physical abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse) on characteristics of maltreatment experiences. Correlations between maltreatment characteristics and outcome measures for the sample as a whole obscured findings that relationships were often specific to particular types of maltreatment. Developing generic definitions for maltreatment characteristics applicable to all forms of maltreatment is difficult because of differences in meaning across maltreatment types. Findings suggest that the role of maltreatment characteristics in children's behavioral functioning should be examined separately for each form of maltreatment. KEY WORDS: child maltreatment; behavioral adjustment; methodology., Investigations of the impact of maltreatment on children's behavioral and emotional functioning have provided evidence for the heterogeneity of maltreatment experiences. The range and variety of maltreatment experiences may account [...]

Byline: Carlos Seiglie (1) Keywords: abortion; child abuse and neglect; quality of children Abstract: Recently, there have been several empirical studies exploring the effects of abortion on child outcome by correlating the availability of abortion to a mother at the time of a child's birth. This paper presents a model that helps explain the process, as well as establish that the incidence of child neglect is also reduced by access to abortion. It argues that the birth of a child reduces the desired quality of not only that particular birth but of all previous and subsequent offspring. More specifically, a family does not reduce the quality invested in a particular child, whether unwanted or not, but in all family members. Several propositions derived from the model are empirically tested. Some of the findings include that access to abortion reduces the neglect of children, yet is positively associated with sexual abuse. Furthermore, unlike the stylized facts, blacks and female-headed households are no more likely to neglect and abuse their children than other households once availability of abortion, employment status, income and other variables are taken into account. Finally, income and the poverty rate are found to be unrelated with maltreatment, while other variables such as the unemployment rate have better explanatory power. Author Affiliation: (1) Department of Economics, Rutgers University and Program in Economic Policy Management, Columbia University, USA Article History: Registration Date: 18/10/2004

This article examines the use of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in helping a client address problems with persistent anxiety and a lack of self-esteem. During EMDR treatment, the client explored the dichotomous thinking that had plagued her since childhood, and correspondingly, the role of childhood physical and emotional abuse in her chronic feelings of inadequacy and anxiety. The client experienced significant improvement in her levels of anxiety and problems with self-esteem, both at the end of treatment and at 1-year follow up. Qualitative and quantitative data are utilized in this case study outlining the use of EMDR with a client diagnosed with dysthymic disorder. KEY WORDS: trauma; child abuse; anxiety; EMDR.

Many clinicians who have treated adult survivors of abuse have known for some time what is now confirmed by the empirical literature: these clients often suffer from a host of physical complaints for which their doctors tell them there is no physical cause. The symptoms as well as the response of the doctors are frequently quite disturbing to the client. Both aspects of the clients' experiences are also very difficult to treat. Relational theory may provide a perspective that will enhance the understanding of somatization in survivors of abuse. The resulting thesis is that somatization may be the result of deficits in meaning, which are in turn due to conflicts between distinct levels of meaning. This theory weds two previously opposed perspectives: the deficit and conflict models of psychopathology. While the hypothesis may be interesting on the level of pure theory, the ultimate aim of the paper is to apply the theory to the treatment of somatic symptoms among adult survivors of abuse, expanding upon existing interventions. First, the clinician must assess for deficits in the levels of meaning, then utilize interventions appropriate to specific levels. To safeguard that no new conflicts arise, the clinician must ensure that the meanings elaborated in treatment support an integration of meaning on all three levels. To this end, he or she must target interpretations to the client's 'zone of proximal meaning.' These principles are illustrated in a case example. KEY WORDS: child abuse; somatization; relational theory.

The increased risk of child maltreatment in the presence of domestic violence is well documented, but much remains unknown about factors that modify this relationship. This study investigates the roles of risk and protective factors in the relationship between domestic violence and being reported to the Department of Social Services for child maltreatment. Consistent with the literature, we find a significant overlap between domestic violence and maltreatment. Young maternal age, low education, low income, and lack of involvement in a religious community add to the risk for maltreatment associated with domestic violence. Separation between the maternal caregiver and her partner significantly reduces the risk for maltreatment when domestic violence is reported. A significant reduction in the risk for maltreatment is also found with higher levels of support from the maternal caregiver reported by the child in the context of domestic violence. KEY WORDS: child maltreatment; domestic violence; socioeconomic; social support.

This investigation examined relations among perceptions of mothers, attributional style, and counselor-rated behavior problems in 187 school age children (88 maltreated, 99 nonmaltreated). Hypotheses regarding the presence of higher levels of internalizing and externalizing behavior problems in maltreated children were confirmed. Attributional style was found to function as a moderator of externalizing behavior problems, suggesting that attributional style exerts a protective role against the harmful effect of child maltreatment. Perceptions of mothers were found to operate as a mediator of both internalizing and externalizing symptomatology, with maltreated children with less positive perceptions of their mothers exhibiting greater internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. These findings advance knowledge of how cognitive processes contribute to behavior problems in maltreated children and possess implications for prevention and intervention efforts. KEY WORDS: maltreatment; attributional style; perceptions; behavior.

Unwanted sexual attention (UWSA) encompasses unsolicited verbal comments, gestures, stares, and other noncontact behaviors made regarding one's sexuality and physical appearance. The present study examined the correlates and impact of such UWSA perpetrated toward girls by family members. The first objective of the study was to explore whether family climate is associated with intrafamilial UWSA. This included looking at three types of dysfunctional parenting styles (unaffectionate, unavailable, and patriarchal) as well as exploring the co-occurrence of UWSA by adult and child relatives. The second objective was to then measure the impact of such intrafamilial UWSA on childhood emotional health, after controlling for parenting style and the experience of more traditional forms of child sexual abuse (CSA). Of the 296 university women (mean age = 19) who participated in the study, 70% (N = 206) reported UWSA from a family member prior to age 18. Whereas each dysfunctional parenting style was related to presence of UWSA, a simultaneous multiple regression analysis indicated that two of the parenting styles, patriarchal and parental unavailability, also predicted frequency of nonphysical UWSA within the family. Presence of UWSA from a child relative was significantly correlated with presence of UWSA from an adult relative. Additionally, a hierarchical multiple regression, entering the three parenting styles simultaneously in the first step, childhood sexual abuse in the second step, and familial UWSA in the last step, indicated that the frequency of UWSA by family members significantly predicted poorer childhood mental health when controlling for the other variables. Overall, results indicate that while the specific parenting styles which co-occur with UWSA may be detrimental in their own right, the impact of UWSA on girls appears to be above and beyond that of either parenting styles or CSA. Clinical implications are discussed. KEY WORDS: child abuse; child sexual abuse; unwanted sexual attention; victimization.

Due to an awareness of the frequency of child abuse and lack of a single instrument to assess the extent of exposure to both the abusive and supportive environments provided by parents, a 70 item inventory (the EASE-PI) was developed that is a self-report on how both mother and father treated the respondent. A factor analysis, which was subsequently replicated, revealed three abusive factors (representing emotional, physical, and sexual abusiveness) and three supportive factors (love/support, promotion of independence, and positive modeling/fairness). The same factors emerged regardless of gender of respondent and gender of parent. The inventory provides a means to investigate the differential and interactive effects of exposure to emotional, physical, and sexual abusiveness and the possible mitigating effects of different types of supportive behaviors by each parent. KEY WORDS: child abuse inventory; parental support.

Studies on the emotional consequences of physical child abuse have contrasting definitional assumptions. The differences stem from varying definitial bases such as burning, cutting, beating and neglect. Furthermore, several studies focus on children's struggles to cope with their condition during childhood while others include the observations of adults who recount their experiences.

A study of adolescents with behavioral problems indicates a high number of depressive symptoms and a history of child abuse.

This study integrates an ecological perspective and trauma theory in proposing a model of the effects of domestic violence on women's parenting and children's adjustment. One hundred and twenty women and their children between the ages of 7 and 12 participated. Results supported an ecological model of the impact of domestic violence on women and children. The model predicted 40 Va of the variance in children s adjustment, 8% of parenting style, 43 of maternal psychological functioning, and 23% of marital satisfaction, using environmental factors such as social support, negative life events, and maternal history of child abuse. Overall, results support the ecological framework and trauma theory in understanding the effects of domestic violence on women and children. Rather than focusing on internal pathology, behavior is seen to exist on a continuum influenced heavily by the context in which the person is developing. KEY WORDS: domestic violence; child abuse; battered women; parenting; children.