Collective trauma: Childhood abuse, perceived discrimination, and COVID-19

• NCJ Number: 308063
• Journal: Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy Volume: Online Dated: 2023
• Author(s): Yuerui Wu; Dana T. Hartman; Lily Brown; Yan Wang; Daisy Vidales; Jaxon Grandchamp; Rayna Enriquez; Nathalie Moriarty; Deborah Goldfarb; Gail S. Goodman
• Date Published: 2023
• Length: 11 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2013-IJ-CX-0104
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Award: Long-Term Eyewitness Memory in Children Exposed to Violence

Annotation

This longitudinal study on collective trauma found that cumulative childhood abuse at high levels likely set the stage for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in adulthood, regardless of negative COVID impact.

Abstract

In a longitudinal child maltreatment study, with a community sample added, negative COVID impact (e.g., financial and mental health difficulties due to COVID) was examined in relation to childhood abuse exposure and perceived discrimination. The study concluded that cumulative childhood abuse at high levels likely set the stage for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in adulthood, regardless of negative COVID impact. Individuals with lower levels of cumulative childhood abuse had fewer PTSD symptoms unless COVID had a stronger negative impact on their lives. Discrimination contributed to lower pandemic-related well-being. Insight is provided into special vulnerabilities associated with maltreatment backgrounds and discrimination at times of collective challenges. Adults (N = 135) completed an online survey about trauma- and pandemic-related experiences. Regressions examined predictors of negative COVID impact and PTSD symptoms during the pandemic. Although cumulative maltreatment contributed to negative COVID impact, when high levels of cumulative maltreatment had been experienced in childhood, greater negative COVID impact did not significantly relate to PTSD symptoms: For these participants, PTSD symptoms were relatively high (but not at ceiling) in adulthood overall. Negative COVID impact predicted PTSD symptoms only at low levels of cumulative child abuse. Perceived discrimination was associated with negative COVID impact and PTSD symptomatology. Few studies have examined the interplay between collective trauma (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic) and personal trauma (e.g., child abuse and discrimination). (Published Abstract Provided)