In examining whether psychopathology develops as a function of the objective or subjective experience of childhood maltreatment, the current study examined a unique cohort of 1,196 children with both objective, court-documented evidence of maltreatment and subjective reports of their childhood maltreatment histories made once they reached adulthood, along with extensive psychiatric assessment.
The study found that, even for severe cases of childhood maltreatment identified through court records, risk of psychopathology linked to objective measures was minimal in the absence of subjective reports. In contrast, risk of psychopathology linked to subjective reports of childhood maltreatment was high, whether or not the reports were consistent with objective measures. These findings have important implications for how we study the mechanisms through which child maltreatment affects mental health and how we prevent or treat maltreatment-related psychopathology. Interventions for psychopathology associated with childhood maltreatment can benefit from deeper understanding of the subjective experience. (publisher abstract modified)
Downloads
Similar Publications
- Family Doesn't Have to be Mom and Dad': An Exploration of the Meaning of Family for Care-experienced Young People
- Improving Outcomes for Child and Youth Victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation: An Evaluability Assessment of the Love 146 Survivor Care Programs
- Long-term Impact of the Fostering Healthy Futures for Preteens Program on Suicide-related Thoughts and Behaviors for Youth in Out-of-home Care: A Randomized Controlled Trial