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Somatic symptom disorders are often misdiagnosed or minimized among men, especially in middle and older adulthood. Previous research investigating links between somatic disorders and early trauma, such as childhood sexual abuse (CSA), have mostly been based on small, non-representative, female samples using cross-sectional designs. The current study used data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study to assess associations between CSA and somatic symptom severity among men in middle- and late-adulthood (mid-50s to early 70s) with histories of CSA (

This study investigated the association between caregiving time and depressive symptoms among Chinese adult children aged 45 and above, and whether early-life relationships with parents moderated the association. We used data from the 2011, 2013, and 2018 waves of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and the 2014 CHARLS Life History Survey, which included 4781 respondents with living mothers and 2710 respondents with living fathers. Results from multilevel models showed that caregiving time for mothers or fathers was not significantly associated with adults’ depressive symptoms in general. However, more caregiving time for mothers was significantly associated with more depressive symptoms among respondents experiencing more frequent maternal childhood physical abuse. Altogether, childhood maltreatment may affect levels of caregiving stress decades later. Filial caregivers with a history of childhood physical abuse may require support.

Elder abuse is a pressing problem that demands social attention in South Korea. This study aims to examine the characteristics of older adults and their family perpetrators that may influence the perceived severity of abuse by older adults using a nationally representative sample among older Koreans. We analyzed 952 community-dwelling older Koreans from a population-based survey of the Survey of Elderly Care and Welfare Need. The analytic sample of this study consisted of older adults who self-reported having been emotionally, physically, and financially abused or neglected by their family members or other primary caregivers. We used multinomial logistic regression models to predict perceived change in severity of abuse. Results showed that the abuse type and duration of abuse were significantly associated with the perceived change in the severity of abuse. Older victims’ age, being female, and being married were also associated with greater risk for increased severity of abuse relative to no change, while older adults’ better health status was associated with lower risk for increased severity of abuse. The findings of this study can help social work professionals identify older adults with heightened risk of abuse and protect the human rights of the most vulnerable aging population.

Social isolation and its consequences are a critical challenge facing the social work profession. This chapter reviews the literature on the biopsychosocial consequences of social isolation and the risk factors for experiencing social isolation and loneliness across the life span. Associations between stigma, marginalization, systemic oppression, and social isolation are also examined. The risks for and consequences of social isolation among children/youth and families, during midlife, and among older adults are also explored. This chapter includes discussions of the protective aspects of social support and the ways in which social support may buffer stress across the life span. The history of research on social isolation, with updated information on the current state of research in this area, are presented. Last, research on interventions to increase social support and decrease isolation, and examples of specific interventions are considered.

OBJECTIVE AND BACKGROUND: The current study examines the types of childhood experiences with mothers (i.e., maternal abuse, affection, discipline) among caregivers of aging mothers, and investigates whether membership in specific latent classes, particularly maternal maltreatment, is associated with psychological functioning among caregivers. METHOD: Using data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS), we used the Bolck, Croon, and Hagenaars (BCH) approach of latent class analysis (LCA) to predict distal outcomes. RESULTS: We identified four latent classes (prevalence rate noted): “Affectionate and authoritative” (65%), “affectionate and permissive” (11%), “emotionally abusive and neglectful” (8%), and “emotionally/physically abusive and authoritative” (16%). Caregivers in the “emotionally/physically abusive and authoritative” class endorsed high probabilities of both maternal affection and abuse and were most negatively affected across the three psychological functioning outcomes (i.e., self-rated mental health, psychological distress, and psychological well-being). CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: In support of the life course perspective, our findings emphasized the importance of examining adult children caregivers’ early life experiences with aging mothers and how those experiences can impact the psychological effects of caregiving. This study suggests specific practice implications; for example, assessment tools for evaluating caregiver burden should consider life course factors such as caregivers’ childhood experiences with aging parents.

Though research about adult child survivors of childhood parental maltreatment who serve as caregivers for their perpetrating parent remains in its infancy, this topic has received some media attention in recent years. These publications, mainly focused on what, if any, duty an adult child survivor of parental childhood maltreatment has to care for their aging/ill parent, have garnered hundreds of online responses from readers that reveal vastly different beliefs, attitudes, and opinions about such caregivers. Content analysis was conducted on 513 comments across 5 online publications including the New York Times New Old Age blog, AgingCare blog, Slate Magazine, and Quora discussion forum. Several themes emerged from the data: (1) feelings of obligation; (2) setting boundaries; (3) validation of experience; (4) judgment of choices. It is evident from this analysis that the shame and stigma of being harmed by a parent in childhood persists into adulthood and the isolation of caregiving is palpable; participants posted to this online forum seeking connection in shared experience. The decision to participate in caregiving is particularly fraught when there is a history of maltreatment in the family system. For those who decide to become caregivers, they are at higher risk for experiencing ongoing challenges to their health, mental health, and overall wellbeing; for those who do not, they may still experience emotional turmoil. Gerontological researchers and clinicians’ heightened awareness of and knowledge about such caregivers’ experiences and needs are crucial to provide effective, trauma-informed support.

Background and Objectives Guided by the life course perspective and traumagenic dynamics theory, the current study examines (a) the long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and other adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on older adults’ sexual and marital outcomes, (b) the mediating role of intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization in the association between childhood adversities and sexual and marital satisfaction, and (c) whether gender moderates the mediational association. Research Design and Methods We examined 5,391 adults in their early 70s who participated in the 2010–2011 Wisconsin Longitudinal Study. A series of structural equation models was performed to examine the direct and indirect effect of CSA and other ACEs on sexual and marital outcomes in later life. Results CSA was directly associated with lower levels of sexual and marital satisfaction in late adulthood. Other ACEs were associated with currently not being married and greater numbers of marriages. Furthermore, other ACEs were significantly associated with low levels of marital satisfaction through IPV victimization. The moderated mediational analysis showed that the negative indirect effect of other ACEs on marital satisfaction via IPV victimization was stronger for women than men. Discussion and Implications Using a population-based sample, this is one of the first studies demonstrating that distal life events such as CSA and ACEs can undermine older adults’ sexual and marital health, and revictimization in adulthood may serve as a mechanism for the association. Timely intervention is needed to prevent persistent negative effects of childhood violence.

Objectives: Combining the stress process model of caregiving and life course perspective, this study examined the long-term associations among childhood abuse, relationships between perpetrating parents and adult children, and adult children's well-being in the context of caregiving for a perpetrating parent.Method: Using a sample of family caregivers from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, this study investigated (a) whether contact frequency and emotional closeness with an abusive parent mediated the longitudinal effects of parental childhood abuse on adult-child caregivers' depressive symptoms and (b) the moderating effects of self-acceptance and mastery on this mediational association.Results: Key findings indicated that in the caregivers of mothers, maternal childhood abuse was negatively associated with emotional closeness between an adult child caregiver and perpetrating mother care recipient. In turn, low emotional closeness was associated with higher depressive symptoms in the adult child caregiver. A lack of psychological resources such as self-acceptance and mastery strengthened the effect of maternal childhood abuse on depressive symptoms. In the caregivers of fathers, we did not find any significant indirect effect of parental childhood abuse on adult-child caregivers' depressive symptoms.Conclusion: Further research is needed to explore this phenomenon in light of the heterogeneity of contemporary families. Practitioners are encouraged to employ a trauma-informed approach when working with adults with a history of parental childhood abuse who are caregiving for their perpetrator to maximize the caregivers' health and well-being.

Extensive evidence suggests that exposure to childhood abuse can lead to harmful health effects across a lifetime. To contribute to the literature, the current study examined whether and how a history of parental childhood abuse affects exposure to and severity appraisal of daily stressors in adulthood, as well as emotional reactivity to these stressors. We analyzed 14,912 daily interviews of 2,022 respondents from the second wave of the National Study of Daily Experiences. Multilevel modeling was utilized to analyze nested data, in that each person provided repeated measures of daily experience for eight consecutive study days. Results showed that more frequent experience of maternal childhood abuse was associated with more severe appraisal of daily stressors. In addition, adults with more frequent maternal childhood abuse exhibited greater emotional reactivity to daily stressors. The current study provides evidence that a history of parental childhood abuse may serve as a vulnerability factor in the process of experiencing and responding to stressful events encountered in daily life. Future research should further explore the long-term health effects of daily stress and emotional experience among adults with a history of parental childhood abuse. Interventions for these adults should focus on promoting emotional resilience in the face of daily stress.

The present study investigated distal and proximal factors associated with depression among a sample of 479 American Indian (AI) adults in the Midwest. Distal factors included histories of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and other childhood adversities. Proximal factors included levels of health self-efficacy and treatment for alcohol problems. The study also examined the moderating effect of treatment for alcohol problems on the relationship between CSA and depression. In model 1, results indicate that CSA was positively related to depression after controlling for demographic and background variables. In model 2, childhood adversities and treatment for alcohol problems were associated with increased depression in AI adults; CSA became nonsignificant. As a protective factor, level of health self-efficacy was negatively associated with depression. In model 3, treatment for alcohol problems magnified the effect of CSA on depression. These findings suggest that early traumatic experiences may have persistent, harmful effects on depression among AIs; one mechanism exacerbating the impact of CSA on depression is treatment for alcohol problems. Targeted interventions are needed to mitigate the long-term negative health effects of childhood trauma in this population and to strengthen proximal protective factors, such as health self-efficacy.

OBJECTIVES: This paper aims to provide a conceptual review of prior research on the effect of a history of parental childhood maltreatment on the experiences and outcomes of adult-child caregivers who provide care to their perpetrating parents. METHODS: We performed a search using several databases including PsycINFO, ScienceDirect, and Academic Search Premier (EBSCO) for relevant papers and reviewed reference sections of selected papers. RESULTS: Histories of childhood maltreatment are associated with adverse psychological health in adult-child caregivers and reduced frequencies of providing support to their parents. The potential factors affecting the experiences and outcomes of such caregivers include contemporaneous relationships with perpetrating parents; caregivers’ sense of choice about providing care; opportunities for posttraumatic growth; and participating in care through the end of life. CONCLUSIONS: Caregiving for perpetrating parents can be particularly challenging due to complex, intersecting factors; thus, healthcare practitioners’ increased awareness of and knowledge about such caregivers are crucial to provide effective support. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: We highlighted the importance of ensuring caregivers’ sense of choice and assessing their posttraumatic growth. In caregiving at the end of life, we noted the importance of using a trauma-informed approach when interacting with caregivers and their family members during illness and bereavement.

Early life adversity has long-term detrimental effects on physical health. Although biological, behavioral, and social factors have been explored as intermediate mechanisms, little research has explored psychosocial factors as potential mediators. This study examined whether purpose in life longitudinally mediates the relationship between childhood adversity and two measures of adult health. Data were obtained from 3,871 participants in the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. We tested a longitudinal mediation model from childhood adversity to adult health via purpose in life, controlling for baseline measures of health. Results indicated that childhood adversity is associated with poorer adult health through direct and mediated paths. Childhood adversity may restrict individuals' sense of purpose in life, and reduced purpose in life is subsequently associated with poorer subjective health and increased likelihood of functional limitations. The findings of this study can be used to inform the development of psychosocial and therapeutic intervention programs and services for adults with a history of childhood adversity.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Considering the increasing trends in multi-generational living arrangements, the current study aimed to test the intergenerational transmission of violence hypothesis in three-generational households. We also examined whether and how living in a three-generation household would moderate the negative effect of childhood maltreatment on adults’ abusive and neglectful parenting behaviors. METHOD: We conducted secondary data analysis using data from the Wisconsin Families Study. The study sample included 727 low-income parents of young children, most of whom were African American women with, on average, a high school diploma. We estimated a series of ordinary least squares regression models. RESULTS: Our findings indicated that parents who reported a history of childhood abuse, neglect, and witnessing domestic violence showed more frequent use of psychological aggression, physical aggression, and neglectful behavior against their children. Living in a three-generation household played a protective role: The negative effects of a) a history of childhood abuse on the use of neglectful parenting and b) witnessing domestic violence on the use of psychological aggression were reduced for respondents living in a three-generation household (b = −0.11; b = −0.33, ps < .05, respectively). CONCLUSION: The risk of the intergenerational transmission of violence may decrease in three-generation households where parents of young children can meet their needs by sharing family resources or easing the burden of childcare. Further research is needed to identify and specify factors and contexts associated with the beneficial effects of multi-generational living arrangements.

Objectives Elder abuse victimization is increasingly recognized as a pressing public health concern. However, few empirical studies have investigated whether early life course adversities and midlife sequelae heighten risks for abuse in late life. Guided by cumulative disadvantage theory, the current study examined whether compromised health in middle adulthood (physical, psychological, cognitive) mediates the association between child abuse and elder abuse. Method This secondary analysis was based on data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, a population-based, multi-wave dataset. We analyzed responses from 5,968 participants (mean age = 71 years; 54% female) on adapted versions of standardized measures: elder abuse victimization (outcome variable), childhood adversities (independent variable), and midlife health (physical health, depressive symptoms, cognitive functioning; mediator variables). Serial multiple mediation models were conducted, controlling for background characteristics. Results Rates for any elder abuse and child adversities were, respectively, 16.34% and 47.98%. Multivariate analyses supported the cumulative disadvantage hypothesis. Childhood adversities (0.11, p < .001) and midlife health (physical, −0.10, p < .05; depressive symptoms, 0.09, p < .001; cognitive functioning, 0.02, p < .05) had significant direct effects on elder abuse victimization. Childhood adversities also had an indirect effect on elder abuse through physical health (0.002, p < .05) and depressive symptoms (0.01, p < .001), both in serial. Discussion This innovative study advances our understanding mechanisms through which childhood trauma influences abuse in late life. Boosting health in middle adulthood could help prevent elder abuse. Other implications for clinical practice, treatment, and future research on elder abuse are discussed.

Objectives This study primarily examines the associations between histories of childhood maltreatment (i.e., neglect, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse) and elder abuse victimization and explores whether gender moderates the associations. Methods We conducted a secondary data analysis of 5,968 older adults (mean age = 71 years) based on data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (2010–2011). Using retrospective self-reports of childhood and current (past 12 months) victimization experiences, logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the effects of early-life adversities on the likelihood of elder abuse victimization. Results Results indicate that childhood emotional abuse and childhood sexual abuse (CSA) were associated with greater risk of being abused as older adults, after controlling for childhood and adult background factors. We also found that the effect of CSA on elder abuse victimization was weaker for women than men. Discussion Findings suggest that the phenomenon of revictimization may occur not only in early and middle adulthood, but also in late life. To advance our understanding of victimization across the life course, future research on root causes of elder abuse should include histories of child abuse.

Objectives The current study examined the within-person association between providing daily assistance to aging parents with disability and adult children's daily mood in the context of early relationship with parents. Methods We used data from 782 participants and 5,758 daily interviews from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Refresher, with 248 people self-reported providing daily assistance ranging from 1 to 8 days out of the entire daily-interview period. Multilevel models were fit to examine the moderating effect of physical and emotional abuse from parents in early life on the associations between daily assistance to parents today and yesterday and daily mood. Additional analyses were conducted to examine whether the moderating effect of parental abuse remained when the assistance was provided for other family members and friends. Results Providing assistance today and yesterday to parents had immediate and lagged associations with higher negative affect when adult children experienced childhood emotional abuse from parents. No significant findings were found for daily positive affect. The moderating effect of parental abuse became nonsignificant when the assistance was provided to other family members or friends. Discussion Daily assistance to parents with disability needs to be examined in the context of the relationship history with parents. The impact of childhood abuse can linger long after the actual incident. Frequent early emotional abuse from parents was associated with greater distress when the middle-aged provided daily assistance to their aging parents.

Background and objective The long-term negative impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) is now well-recognized; however, little research has explored the link between ACEs and daily stress processes in adulthood. The current study aimed to examine the effect of ACEs in the association between daily stressor exposure and daily negative affect, and whether such associations would predict long-term health and well-being. Methods Using data from the National Study of Daily Experiences 2 (NSDE 2) and the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) studies, multilevel moderated mediation analyses were conducted to account for daily measurements nested within individuals. We tested whether the indirect effect of daily stressor exposure on prospective chronic health conditions and prospective depressive symptoms through daily negative affect would differ by adults' levels of ACEs. Results We found significant positive associations between daily stressor exposure and daily negative affect at both the within- and between-person levels. Between-person daily negative affect was, in turn, associated with more chronic health conditions and higher depressive symptoms ten years later. This indirect effect was stronger for adults with high ACEs compared to those with low ACEs. Conclusions The current study demonstrated that a history of ACEs may exacerbate the negative health effects of daily stress processes over time. Programs focusing on coping with daily stressors and resilience may benefit adults with ACEs and promote their health and well-being.

Objective Research investigating long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) on mental health for men is vastly underdeveloped. This study strengthened the knowledge base by examining: (a) long-term trajectories of depressive symptoms for men with and without a history of CSA, and (b) moderating effects of social support over time. Method We analyzed multiple waves of data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study. The sample (N = 2,451) consisted of men with histories of CSA and a stratified, randomly sampled comparison group. Growth curve modeling was employed for analyses. Results After controlling for demographic, parental, and health factors, men with CSA histories had greater depressive symptoms than those with no history of CSA. For both groups, depressive symptoms decreased over time; slope patterns did not differ. We found a significant moderating effect of social support on the relationship between CSA and depressive symptoms. Discussion This innovative, population-based, longitudinal study demonstrated that CSA can undermine mental health for men across the life span and into old age. Social support appears to mitigate these deleterious effects. In early, middle, and late adulthood, practitioners should assess for CSA and strengthen support resources for male survivors.

Objectives Parental childhood maltreatment has a negative impact on psychological well-being in adulthood. However, little is known about whether and how contemporary relationships with an abusive parent might explain the long-term harmful effects. Thus, this study aims to examine the mediating effect of later-life relationships with an abusive parent on the association between parental childhood maltreatment and psychological well-being. Methods Using the 2004-2005 Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, this study analyzed a total of 1,696 adults aged 65 years. A series of ordinary least squares regression and mediational analyses were performed. Results Key findings showed that maternal childhood neglect and abuse were associated with decreased emotional closeness with mothers, which was, in turn, associated with diminished psychological well-being. In addition, childhood neglect was associated with less frequent exchanges of social support with mothers, which was, in turn, associated with diminished psychological well-being. Discussion This study suggests that, despite childhood maltreatment, parent-child relationships persist throughout life, and the continuing relationship with an abusive parent may undermine adult victims' psychological well-being. When intervening with mental health issues of adults who have experienced childhood maltreatment, their unresolved issues with the parent should be properly addressed.

Background Parenting a child with a disability has been shown to take a toll on physical health in mid to late life. However, the additional impact of a history of childhood maltreatment has not been explored. Objective This study examined the moderating effect of exposure to childhood maltreatment on the longitudinal associations between parenting a child with a disability and physical health. We also examined whether this interaction was conditional on parent gender. Methods Data were obtained from 3178 participants in the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. We used linear mixed modeling to estimate the independent and interactive effects of a history of childhood maltreatment, parenting a child with a disability, and parent gender on physical health over three waves of assessment spanning nearly two decades. We used three distinct measures of health including a composite based on two self-rated health items, chronic conditions, and functional limitations. Results Key results showed that a history of childhood maltreatment exacerbated the adverse health effect of parenting a child with a disability for mothers, but not fathers. Conclusions Findings suggest that a history of early maltreatment may create a context that makes it more difficult to cope with the demands of caring for a child with a disability, and the accompanying stress has a detrimental effect on health.

The aims of the current study were to examine the long-term effects of childhood maltreatment on current relationships with parents and whether the quality of current relationships with parents mediates the associations between childhood maltreatment and psychological health in late adulthood. Using 2 decades of longitudinal data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, multilevel structural equation modeling was employed to examine the associations between reports of childhood maltreatment, aspects of current relationships with parents (i.e., perceived closeness, contact frequency, and exchange of social support), and psychological well-being/distress of adult children. Key results indicated that reports of maternal childhood abuse and neglect predicted lower levels of perceived closeness with aging mothers, which were subsequently associated with reduced psychological well-being of adult children. We did not find evidence of mediation between reports of paternal childhood abuse/neglect, current relationships with fathers, and psychological outcomes. Our findings suggest a significant linkage between childhood and later-life intergenerational relationships. Adults who were maltreated by their mother as children may continue to experience challenges in this relationship. Further research is needed to examine how these past and current relational dynamics affect caregiving experiences and outcomes. In addition, when intervening with adults with a history of childhood maltreatment, practitioners should evaluate contemporary relationship quality with the abusive mother and help address any unresolved emotional issues with the parent. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

This study examined the association between childhood maltreatment and intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization among Native American adults. Based on Riggs’s theoretical model of the long-term effects of childhood abuse, we also examined the mediating roles of insecure attachment patterns and depressive symptoms. The current study was a secondary data analysis using the 2013 General Well-Being Among Native Americans dataset ( N = 479). Structural equation modeling was used to examine the hypothesized relationships among key constructs. Consistent with existing literature of revictimization, our findings showed that the experience of childhood maltreatment was positively associated with IPV victimization. Mediation analyses indicated that depression was a significant mediator in the association between childhood maltreatment and IPV victimization. In addition, all the paths linking childhood maltreatment, fearful attachment, depressive symptoms, and IPV victimization were statistically significant, although the overall mediation effect was not significant. The results of this study suggest that Riggs’s model can serve as a useful theoretical framework for understanding the long-term effects of childhood maltreatment among Native American adults. Practitioners in the area of IPV should include maltreatment history and current attachment patterns in client assessments, which could help address conflict and violence within intimate relationships.

The authors examined the association between maternal childhood abuse and the frequency of providing social support to mothers when the victim is an adult and investigated the mediating effects of internal working models (self-esteem, positive relations with others) and maladaptive coping. Using data from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States II, they analyzed a sample of 887 adult children using a structural equation modeling approach. The results showed that maternal childhood abuse was associated with providing less frequent emotional support to mothers, although the authors did not find significant mediating effects of internal working models and maladaptive coping in the association between child abuse and intergenerational support giving. The findings suggest implications for theory, practice, and policy to address specific concerns and possible challenges that adults with a history of childhood abuse may experience in the relationship with their mothers. Language: en

Numerous studies have demonstrated the short-term effectiveness of the Cash and Counseling model option of participant-directed home and community-based personal care service programs for Medicaideligible recipients with disabilities requiring long-term care. However, long-term experiences with participant-directed services have yet to be examined for these individuals. We addressed this gap in the literature through participatory action research and qualitative content analysis. Working together as coresearchers with members of the National Participant Network, a peer organization for people interested in or enrolled in participant-directed services, we interviewed 17 adults enrolled in one state’s Cash and Counseling-based program. Participants’ ages ranged from 40 to 83 years, had been enrolled for at least 5 years, and acted as their own representative within the program. Our major findings show (a) the program’s flexibility allowed for adaptation to meet participants’ changing needs over time and (b) that program attendants helped connect participants with community in multiple ways. In this article, we provide important policy and practice implications for participant-directed programs for people with disabilities.

Elder abuse has become a recognized, prevalent public health issue. The primary aims of this study was to: a) examine associations between histories of childhood maltreatment (i.e., neglect, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse) and elder abuse victimization and b) explore whether gender moderates the associations. We conducted a secondary data analysis of 5,968 older adults (average age of 71 years) using data from the 2010–2011 Wisconsin Longitudinal Study. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the effects of early-life adversities on the likelihood of elder abuse victimization. Childhood and current (past 12 months) victimization experiences were measured with retrospective self-reports. Key results indicate that more frequent exposure to childhood emotional abuse was associated with a greater risk of elder abuse victimization. Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) was another significant predictor: the odds of elder abuse victimization were about two times higher for adults with a history of CSA compared to those without such an abuse history. Also, the odds of elder abuse victimization were 1.5 times higher for women than men. We found a significant moderating effect of gender on the association between CSA and elder abuse victimization: the effect of CSA on the risk of elder abuse victimization was weaker for women than men. Findings suggest that the phenomenon of revictimization may occur not only in early and middle adulthood, but also in later life. To advance our understanding of victimization across the life course, future research on root causes of elder abuse should include histories of child abuse.

A growing number of studies have identified significant linkages between adverse childhood experiences and health outcomes in later life. Guided by a broad theoretical framework of the life course perspective, these studies have postulated that childhood adversities are the seedbed for vulnerabilities that may accumulate across the life course. This symposium includes four presentations that build on such existing knowledge, and its primary aim is to investigate the effects of early childhood adversities on psychological and biological markers of stress in middle and later adulthood. Using nationally representative samples, the four presentations focus on examining various aspects of psychological and biological markers of stress in later adulthood, including biomarkers of inflammation, alpha amylase, grip strength, and daily emotional reactivity. Particularly, biomarker data such as inflammation have key strengths: providing objective data about health and functioning in contrast to measurements based on self-reports and indicating potential risk of future disease. This symposium also addresses a wide range of childhood adversities, including neglect and abuse, low socioeconomic status, and early parental loss and provides insights around how different types and characteristics of adverse childhood experiences may unfold differently across the life course. Additionally, this symposium consists of a group of multidisciplinary presenters with diverse scholarly and cultural backgrounds. For example, one of the presentations discusses the experience of older Korean adults and offers a chance to understand cross-cultural differences.

The present study aimed to examine the effects of early paternal loss on grip strength among middle-aged and older Korean adults using data from the 2006 Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging. The independent variable was early paternal loss before the age of 18, and the dependent variable was grip strength. A series of regression models were conducted by dividing the sample by gender and age where mid-adulthood ranges from 45 to 64 (Nmale=1,850, Nfemale=2,111) and older age begins at 65 (Nmale=786, Nfemale=723). We found a significant association between early paternal loss and grip strength only among middle-aged women. Specifically, middle-aged women who lost their father in early life displayed weaker grip strength compared to those who had not. These results suggest that the presence of father during childhood may be more important for women than men, and that the long-term harmful effects extend only until mid-life.

Elder abuse is an increasingly prevalent issue in South Korea. The current study examines the association between functional impairment and emotional abuse victimization in Korean adults 65 and older. We also examines the mediating roles of diverse aspects of family resources (i.e., older adult’s self-esteem, family cohesion, family assistance, contact with friends/neighbors, and participation in social activities) in the aforementioned association. We analyzed 9691 community-dwelling older Koreans from a population-based survey of the 2009 Survey of Elderly Care and Welfare Need. We conducted a path analysis to analyze the mediational hypothesis. About 11% of the study sample reported experiencing emotional abuse by a family member in the past year (n = 1082). The results of the mediational analysis showed that greater ADL/IADL limitations were associated with (a) reduced self-esteem and (b) receiving more assistance from family, which were ultimately associated with increased risk of emotional abuse victimization. Elder abuse is a family crisis that may occur as a result of maladaptation to the heightened long-term care needs of older family members. Practitioners should take into account older adults’ vulnerability in terms of the loss of adaptive resources in the face of functional decline. This study further supports the importance of relieving the burden of family caregivers to avoid the incidence of emotional elder abuse.

Objectives Childhood abuse has long-term negative effects on adult psychological well-being. This study examined whether and how adults with a history of childhood abuse may experience poor psychological functioning partly due to aspects of current family relationships. Method We estimated multilevel mediation models using 3 waves of longitudinal data from 3,487 participants in the study of Midlife Development in the United States. Outcomes measured included negative affect, life satisfaction, and psychological well-being. We included aspects of family relationships as mediators: perceived support, perceived strain, frequency of contact, and hours of providing instrumental and emotional support. Results Multilevel mediation models showed that childhood verbal and physical abuse negatively affected diverse aspects of family relationships in later adulthood (i.e., less perceived support, more perceived strain, less frequent contact, and fewer hours of providing instrumental support). We also found that less perceived support and more family strain significantly mediated the associations between childhood abuse and all 3 psychological functioning outcomes. Discussion Childhood abuse appears to hinder perceived availability of family support in adulthood, which may undermine the psychological functioning of adults with a history of childhood abuse. To improve their psychological health, interventions should focus on facilitating supportive and functional family relationships.

Social isolation is a silent killer -- as dangerous to health as smoking. National and global health organizations have underscored the hidden, deadly, and pervasive hazards stemming from feeling alone and abandoned. Our challenge is to educate the public on this health hazard, encourage health and human service professionals to address social isolation, and promote effective ways to deepen social connections and community for people of all ages.

Cumulative dis/advantage (CDA) framework is one of the most influential theoretical frameworks in understanding how early adversity creates health disparities across adulthood. The CDA model posits that adverse experiences early in life may lead to subsequent adversities over time and accumulates across the life course. Various studies have shown that middle-aged and later adulthood are periods when accumulated disadvantages proliferate, resulting in heightened risks for an individual’s health and well-being. This symposium includes four presentations that build on such existing knowledge, and its primary aim was to further examine the complexity of how various types of adverse childhood experiences may influence physical and psychological health in middle and later adulthood. This symposium addresses a wide range of early adversities, including low socioeconomic status, parental maltreatment, and household dysfunctions. The four presentations also focus on examining various aspects of physical and psychological health outcomes in later adulthood, including measures of body mass index, physical functional ability, somatic symptoms, and clinical risk for rapid declines in kidney function. Furthermore, these presentations will demonstrate the utilization of innovative and robust methodological approaches, including latent class analysis, multilevel structural equation modeling, and latent growth modeling on examining the association between early life adversity on the long-term trajectory of change in health status using large-scale longitudinal data. Lastly, this symposium consists of an outstanding group of multidisciplinary presenters with diverse backgrounds who aim to enhance the understanding of the processes and mechanisms of CDA and how they affect individuals’ life courses.

Background and Objectives: This study aims to examine a sample of filial caregivers in order to investigate whether and how a history of childhood abuse affects caregivers’ mental health (i.e., depressed affect, psychological well-being, and life satisfaction). This study also purports to examine the mediational role of self-esteem between caring for an abusive parent and mental health outcomes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study examines a sample of filial caregivers to investigate whether and how a history of childhood abuse is associated with caregivers’ mental health (i.e., depressed affect, psychological well-being, and life satisfaction). This study also investigates the mediational role of self-esteem between caring for an abusive parent and the mental health outcomes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Using the 2004–2006 National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States, data from 219 filial caregivers were analyzed. A series of ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and mediational analyses were conducted to estimate the direct and indirect effects of providing care to an abusive parent on negative affect, psychological well-being, and levels of life satisfaction. RESULTS: Key results showed that providing care to an abusive parent was associated with greater depressed affect and lower levels of life satisfaction. In addition, self-esteem served as a significant mediator: providing care to an abusive parent was associated with lower self-esteem, which was, in turn, ultimately associated with greater depressed affect, diminished psychological well-being, and lower levels of life satisfaction. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Filial caregivers with a history of childhood abuse should be acknowledged as a high-risk group of caregivers so that they can gain attention and support for targeted interventions. Additionally, evidence-based intervention programs (e.g., improving self-esteem issues) should be designed and implemented to address this group’s unique challenges and concerns.

Extensive evidence suggests that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can lead to negative health effects across a lifetime. This study examines the impact of ACEs on the frequency of providing daily support (i.e., unpaid assistance, emotional support, and disability-related assistance) to family members and the moderating effects of ACEs in the association between providing daily support to family and daily negative affect. Using the National Study of Daily Experiences II, we analyzed a total of 14,912 daily interviews from 2,022 respondents aged 56 on average. Key results showed that a greater number of ACEs were associated with providing more frequent emotional support to family. We also found the significant interaction effect that adults with more ACEs showed greater negative affect on the days when they provided assistance to family members with disabilities. The findings underscore the long-term negative impact of ACEs on daily well-being in the context of family relationships.

Guided by the cumulative disadvantage hypothesis, the present study examines recurrent victimization experiences across the life course and their impact on psychological health in later life. Using data from the 2010-2011 Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, we explored the latent structure of histories of childhood maltreatment (i.e., neglect, emotional/physical abuse, witness of domestic violence) and elder abuse victimization among 5,968 older adults (average age of 71 years). We also investigated whether membership in specific latent classes, particularly experiencing both childhood and elder victimization, would be associated with psychological functioning in late life. We identified five latent classes: “Never victimized” (66% of respondents), “Abused as child” (16%), “Abused and neglected as child” (9%), “Abused as elder” (6%), and “Abused as child and elder” (2%). Also, the “abused as child and elder” class consistently was associated with negative psychological outcomes (i.e., distress and somatic symptom severity) and lower levels of psychological well-being.

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a widely acknowledged trauma that affects a substantial number of boys/men and has the potential to undermine mental health across the lifespan. Despite the topic's importance, few studies have examined the long-term effects of CSA on mental health in middle and late life for men. Most empirical studies on the effects of CSA have been conducted with women, non-probability samples, and samples of young or emerging adults with inadequate control variables. Based on complex trauma theory, the current study investigated: a) the effect of CSA on mental health outcomes (depressive symptoms, somatic symptom severity, hostility) in late life for men, and b) the moderating effects of childhood adversities and masculine norms in the relationship between CSA and the three mental health outcomes. Using a population-based sample from the 2004-2005 Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, multivariate analyses found that CSA was positively related to both depressive and somatic symptoms and increased the likelihood of hostility for men who reported a history of CSA. Both childhood adversities and masculine norms were positively related to the three outcomes for the entire sample. Among CSA survivors, childhood adversities exerted a moderating effect in terms of depressive symptoms. Mental health practitioners should include CSA and childhood adversities in assessment and treatment with men. To more fully understand the effects of CSA, future studies are needed that use longitudinal designs, compare male and female survivors, and examine protective mechanisms such as social support.

Objectives: Childhood abuse has a long-term negative effect on adult psychological well-being. This study examined whether and how adults with a history of childhood abuse may experience poor psychological functioning partly due to aspects of overall family relationships. Method: We estimated multilevel mediation models using 3 waves of longitudinal data from 3,487 participants in the study of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS). Outcomes included negative affect, life satisfaction, and psychological well-being. We included aspects of family relationships as mediators: perceived support, perceived strain, frequency of contact, and hours of providing instrumental and emotional support. Results: Multilevel mediation models showed that childhood verbal and physical abuse negatively affected diverse aspects of family relationships in later adulthood (i.e., less perceived support, more perceived strain, less frequent contact, and fewer hours of providing instrumental support). We also found that less perceived support and more family strain significantly mediated the associations between childhood abuse and all three psychological functioning outcomes. Discussion: Childhood abuse appears to hinder perceived availability of family support in adulthood, which may undermine the psychological functioning of adults with a history of childhood abuse. To improve their psychological health, interventions should focus on facilitating supportive and functional family relationships.

The study examined the impact of subjective appraisal of daily stressor exposures on daily salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) regulation, and the moderating effect of early parental abuse on the within-person daily stress physiology. A subsample of adults (N = 670) from the Midlife in the United States Refresher study completed an 8-day daily diary where they also provided 4 saliva samples per day for 4 consecutive days. Subjective appraisals on daily stressor severity, control, risk to feeling about self, and risk to others’ feelings about oneself were considered as key predictors of daily sAA area under the curve (AUC). Multilevel models suggested that when daily stressor severity was high and the risk to feeling about self from daily stressors was also high, individuals reported more frequent early parental abuse had lower sAA daily AUC. The findings suggested blunted daily sAA regulation in relation to early parental abuse.

Growing evidence suggests that childhood abuse can lead to devastating health effects across a lifetime. To build on existing knowledge, this study primarily examines whether and how a history of childhood abuse affects exposure and reactivity to daily stressors in later adulthood. Using the National Study of Daily Experiences II, we analyzed a total of 14,912 daily interviews from 2,022 respondents aged 56 on average. Key results showed that adults with a history of childhood abuse reported more frequent exposure to interpersonal stressors compared to their non-abused counterparts. Abused adults experienced greater emotional reactivity to interpersonal stressors, which was partly because they tended to appraise interpersonal stressors as more severe than non-abused adults. Considering the long-term effects of childhood abuse on daily stress processes, this study suggests that interventions should focus on relieving recurring interpersonal tensions and conflicts, as well as enhancing abused adults’ stress appraisals in interpersonal context.

The authors compare the experiences of faculty and students at universities in Nepal and New Zealand following earthquakes in 2015 and 2011, respectively. Questionnaire data from students at Kathmandu University are analyzed and compared with previously published data from the University of Canterbury. Prominent themes are developed within the context of the cultural and socioeconomic differences between the two settings. Both similarities and contrasts are described, detailing scheduling changes, the role of students in their community’s response to natural disaster, flexibility of faculty, psychological trauma and treatment, and use of online-learning as a substitute for classroom learning. Lessons learned from the comparison of the responses to these two earthquakes demonstrate how culturally and socioeconomically different contexts necessitate distinct actions from the faculty of different universities.

Studies based on the life course perspective have identified several mechanisms by which childhood maltreatment has a long-term negative impact on the adult victim’s psychological functioning. However, little is known about whether and how later-life solidarity with the abusive parent plays a role as a potential mechanism. Thus, this study aims to address this gap in the literature by examining the mediating effect of later-life intergenerational solidarity with the abusive parent in the association between maternal childhood maltreatment and psychological well-being/depressive symptoms.

Homeless adults experience problems in multiple areas of their lives. It was hypothesized that adults who were troubled by problems in more areas of their lives would be more likely to report suicidal thoughts. The sample included 457 homeless men and women who resided in three emergency shelters. The number of sources of psychological pain, past suicide attempts, and being a man predicted current suicidal thoughts, but being diagnosed with a depressive disorder did not. Shelter workers should ask adults whether they have attempted suicide in the past and how troubled they are by each area of their lives.

Purpose of the Study: This study examined depressive symptoms among adult survivors of childhood maltreatment who provided care to their former abusive/neglectful parents. We also investigated the extent to which four coping styles-problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, positive social support, and negative social support-moderated the association between childhood maltreatment and depressive symptoms of the caregivers. DESIGN AND METHODS: Among 1,001 filial caregivers from the 2003-2005 wave of the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, 18.6% of respondents reported verbal, physical, or sexual abuse in childhood; 9.4% reported neglect in childhood. Ordinary least squares regression models were estimated. RESULTS: Persons who had a history of parental abuse showed significantly more frequent depressive symptoms when providing care to their abusive parent(s) compared with caregivers who had not experienced parental abuse. Those who had been neglected had significantly more frequent depressive symptoms than caregivers who did not report neglect. Additionally, the use of emotion-focused coping was more strongly associated with more frequent depressive symptoms among abused caregivers than among caregivers with no history of abuse. IMPLICATIONS: This vulnerable group of caregivers should be recognized in the development and implementation of support services for family caregivers at the state and national levels. In direct practice settings, when assessing caregiver stress and burden, the history of childhood maltreatment needs to be taken into account. Language: en