Linking childhood emotional neglect to adolescents' parent-related loneliness: Self-other differentiation and emotional detachment from parents as mediators

A mobile-based, single-session intervention to empower parents of adolescents hospitalised for non-suicidal self-injury: A mixed-methods randomised controlled trial

Background

Adolescents hospitalised for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) represent a particularly severe subset within psychiatric care. The NSSI imposes significant challenges on parents, including lack of knowledge, ineffective coping strategies, and negative emotions, exacerbated by stigma. Parental empowerment is crucial for supporting adolescent recovery; however, current interventions often neglect parents. Single-session interventions (SSIs) may offer an accessible and promising approach to address this gap.

Methods

This mixed-methods study assessed the short-term effects of project CSH-P: a mobile-based, self-guided SSI aimed at empowering parents of adolescents hospitalised for NSSI. 88 participants were randomly assigned to CSH-P (n = 46) or control group (n = 42). Online assessments measuring knowledge, attitudes, and stigma were administered at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and one week later. Additionally, semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with participants who received CSH-P post-intervention.

Results

Compared to the control group, participants who received CSH-P showed significant improvements in NSSI-related knowledge (Cohen's d = .42, p = .027) and more positive attitudes toward their adolescents (Cohen's d = - .31, p = .047). Qualitative findings confirmed these results, with parents reporting highly positive engagement and perceived empowerment across cognitive, emotional, and behavioural dimensions. Furthermore, parents provided constructive feedback for further enhancing the intervention's impact.

Conclusions

Project CSH-P demonstrates the potential to enhance parental empowerment in managing adolescent self-injurious behaviours. Its brevity, low cost, and ease of dissemination make it a promising strategy for widely applicable prevention and treatment efforts. Future research should explore the long-term sustainability of these improvements and assess the broader impact on parenting practices and adolescent treatment outcomes.

The association between childhood maltreatment and school bullying behaviors among Chinese adolescents: A latent class analysis

BACKGROUND

Existing studies primarily examine the relationship between childhood maltreatment (CM) and bullying behaviors from an accumulative perspective. However, there is limited understanding of this relationship when adolescents experience combined forms of childhood maltreatment, particularly in the context of varying residential environments.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to identify latent patterns of childhood maltreatment and examine their association with bullying behaviors among Chinese adolescents. Additionally, residential area differences in these associations were explored.

PARTICIPANTS

There were 13,029 Chinese adolescents (mean age = 14.4 years) who completed self-report questionnaires between October and November 2023.

METHODS

Data on childhood maltreatment and school bullying were collected through self-report measures. Latent class analysis (LCA) was employed to identify distinct patterns of maltreatment. Multiple logistic regression was employed to explore the relationship between maltreatment patterns and bullying behaviors, with stratified analysis conducted by residential areas after propensity score matching (PSM).

RESULTS

Three childhood maltreatment patterns were identified: low-abuse-low-neglect (class 1, 75.7 %), low-abuse-high-neglect (class 2, 20.9 %), and high-abuse-high-neglect (class 3, 3.5 %). Compared to class 1, class 2 was associated with elevated risks for being an only victim (OR = 1.68), only bully (OR = 1.57), or bully-victim (OR = 1.85). Class 3 showed even higher risks (only victim: OR = 3.71; only bully: OR = 4.79; bully-victim: OR = 7.95), with a clear gradient in risk severity. Stratified analyses revealed that adolescents in rural areas who primarily experienced neglect were more likely to be both bullies and victims compared to the urban adolescents (OR = 2.05, 95 % CI = 1.17-3.58, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Childhood maltreatment influences bullying behaviors among adolescents significantly, with distinct maltreatment patterns providing critical insights for risk stratification. Residential area differences further modulate these associations. Intervention strategies should account for diverse maltreatment patterns and contextual factors such as rural-urban disparities to effectively address bullying behaviors.

Childhood Neglect and Loneliness: The Unique Roles of Parental Figure and Child Sex

There is a well-supported link between experiences of childhood neglect and levels of loneliness in adulthood, with emotional neglect from caregivers being predictive of loneliness. However, current research has yet to explore additional, sex-linked factors that influence this relationship. This study investigates the impact of different neglect types on loneliness, with a focus on the parental figure involved and the child's sex. It was hypothesized that men who experienced emotional neglect from their fathers would score higher in loneliness compared to other parent-child combinations. The findings showed no significant differences in father-son relationships within the context of emotional neglect. However, there was a significant difference in father-son relationships in the context of supervision neglect and loneliness outcomes, relative to all other parent combinations. Consistent with existing research, emotional neglect emerged as the strongest predictor of loneliness. Additionally, sex differences were observed, with women experiencing greater levels of loneliness stemming from neglect compared to men. These findings help address the knowledge gap present in childhood neglect research, with the goal of understanding the long-term consequences of adverse childhood experiences.

The relationship between childhood psychological abuse and social media addiction among college students: the mediating role of fear of missing out and the moderating role of left-behind experience

Introduction

Mobile social media is a new type of online media that is participatory, open, and communicative, among other characteristics. Due to the increasing popularity of social media, this technology has become an indispensable part of people's social lives. This study aims to examine the relationship between childhood psychological maltreatment and social media addiction among university students as well as the mediating role of fear of missing out and the moderating effect of left-behind experience in this context.

Material and methods

A voluntary anonymous online survey of 1694 university students was conducted using the Childhood Psychological Maltreatment Scale, the Fear of Missing Out Scale, and the Social Media Addiction Scale.

Results

First, significant positive correlations were observed between childhood psychological maltreatment and both fear of missing out and social media addiction among university students. Fear of missing out partially mediated the relationship between childhood psychological maltreatment and social media addiction. Second, left-behind experience was found to moderate the direct path from childhood psychological maltreatment to social media addiction as well as the first half of the mediating effect of missed anxiety.

Conclusions

Childhood psychological maltreatment can predict social media addiction among university students not only directly but also indirectly through the mediating role of missed anxiety. The direct effect of childhood psychological maltreatment on social media addiction is moderated by left-behind experience. The first half of the mediating role of missed anxiety is also moderated by left-behind experience.

Childhood Maltreatment and Adult Work Absenteeism: Work Meaningfulness as a Double-Edged Sword

The adverse impacts of childhood maltreatment (CM) on an individual's health and economic welfare are widely recognized, yet its occupational and organizational effects remain less explored. Employee absenteeism, known as absenteeism, is often a sign of workplace maladjustment and may be linked to a history of CM. Some individuals in the helping professions, who exhibit a strong sense of purpose in their employment and pursue it in demanding environments, are CM survivors. This study investigates whether a heightened sense of meaningfulness in their work is associated with increased absenteeism among this subgroup. We recruited 320 helping professionals from a variety of social and mental health settings, one third of whom reported experiencing CM. As hypothesized, CM was positively correlated with work absenteeism. Furthermore, the relationship between work meaningfulness and absenteeism was moderated by their CM history: among those with CM experiences, greater work meaningfulness was associated with higher absenteeism rates. Our findings highlight the possibility that work meaningfulness may operate as a double-edged sword, and the importance of better understanding the challenges that high-functioning survivors of CM face within organizational contexts.

Patterns and trajectories of children's maltreatment experiences in Taiwan: Latent transition analysis of a nationally representative longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the patterns of child maltreatment change over time and vary according to gender and child protective services (CPS) experience in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the latent status and the trajectories of child maltreatment and to identify effects that gender and CPS have on these statuses and trajectories in Taiwan.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

A national proportionately stratified sample of 6233 4th-grade students were recruited from 314 elementary schools in Taiwan, and followed up at 6th and 8th graders. A total of 1908 students completed valid data at all three time points was analyzed.

METHODS

Latent class analysis and latent transition analysis were used to identify the number of latent variables and the patterns of child maltreatment. Multiple-group model was used to test with gender difference.

RESULTS

Four latent maltreatment statuses were identified: high all maltreatment, high psychological maltreatment, high neglect, and no/low maltreatment. A reduction in maltreatment severity occurred over time was found. The percentage of students in the "high all maltreatment" and "high neglect" groups decreased whereas those in the "high psychological maltreatment" and "no/low maltreatment" groups increased. Differences in the transition probabilities of latent maltreatment status by gender was revealed. The percentage of CPS recipients in the "high all maltreatment" decreased over time.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlighted the dynamic nature of child maltreatment and described the timing, continuity, and change that characterizes children's exposure to maltreatment in Taiwan. Policies and interventions geared toward early detection, mitigation, and prevention of child maltreatment are needed.

The Effects of Childhood Emotional and Physical Maltreatment on Adolescents' Disordered Eating Behaviors: The Mediating Role of Borderline Personality Features

Over time, a complex crossroad between disordered eating behaviors (DEBs) and borderline personality features (BPFs) and their association with childhood emotional and physical maltreatment have been established. The present study aimed at evaluating the direct and indirect effect of physical and emotional abuse and neglect on DEB via BPF in a nonclinical adolescent sample. A total of 786 adolescents (48.3% male; mean age, 16.25 years; SD, 1.76) participated in the study. The mediation model suggested the pivotal predictive role of emotional maltreatment compared with the physical one. Indeed, both emotional abuse and neglect directly and indirectly predicted disordered eating via BPF ( β = 0.097; p < 0.001 and β = 0.042; p < 0.01, respectively). Likely, the emotional maltreatment represents the beginning of a developmental cascade that culminates in DEB as a maladaptive coping strategy in response to negative emotions, through BPF. On the contrary, physical maltreatment seems to be less involved in the developmental cascade.

The emotional neglect potentials of nurses working in the COVID-19 service towards their children: A qualitative study

PURPOSE

This study aims to examine in depth the potential child emotional neglect behaviors of nurses working in the COVID-19 service, and their feelings, thoughts, and experiences regarding the causes and effects on their children.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The study was designed as a qualitative study based on a descriptive phenomenological approach. A purposeful sample of service providers (N = 22) in the COVID-19 clinics of the region's largest hospital in northeast Turkey in terms of education and patient care were recruited for the study. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews using the individual in-depth face-to-face interview method. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed with Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis method. The research was reported by following Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research-COREQ.

RESULTS

The findings enabled the identification of four unique themes expressed by the participants: parent-child interaction, social impact, physiological impact, and psychological impact. The first theme consists of adversely affected time nurses spent with their children, decreased physical contact, and communication problems; the second theme includes nurses' and their children's social isolation and social stigma; the third theme includes a change in eating habits and daily activities; the fourth theme includes fear of losing parents and emotional change.

CONCLUSIONS AND PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

To prevent the increased emotional neglect potential due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to regulate the working conditions of parents who are nursing professionals and support the parent/child emotionally and psychologically.

Childhood emotional neglect and problematic social media use among Chinese adolescents: A moderated mediation model

Prior studies have found that emotional neglect in childhood exert a far-reaching influence on adolescent problematic behaviors. However, the effects and underlying mechanisms of childhood emotional neglect on adolescent PSMU remains largely unknown. Thus, the present study tested whether future negative time perspective (FNTP) mediated, and student-student relationship moderated, the link between childhood emotional neglect and adolescent PSMU. A sample of 842 Chinese adolescents (46.9% girls; M_age = 14.76 years; SD_age = 1.64) responded anonymously to questionnaires regarding demographic variables, childhood emotional neglect, FNTP, student-student relationship, and PSMU. The results showed that after controlling for gender and age, FNTP mediated the association between childhood emotional neglect and adolescent PSMU. Further, student-student relationship moderated the association between childhood emotional neglect and FNTP, and the positive association was stronger for adolescents with positive student-student relationship. These findings highlight those tailored approaches are necessary for the prevention and intervention of adolescent PSMU.

Perceived Peer Relationships in Adolescence and Loneliness in Emerging Adulthood and Workplace Contexts

Background

A common life-course hypothesis is that negative early-life experiences contribute to poor health in later-life. However, little is known about perceived peer relationships during adolescence and the feeling of loneliness in emerging adulthood. This study explores the perception of adolescent peer relationships in a school context and its association with loneliness in adulthood and in workplace contexts.

Methods

This study used data from a cohort sample of 2,520 adolescents from the Taiwan Youth Project (N = 2,520), consisting of eleven waves of data collected from 2000 to 2017. Major measures included the Loneliness Scale (6-item de Jong Gierveld short scale) and perceived peer relationships (classroom cohesion and perceived popularity among classmates) in middle school. Multivariate multinomial logistic regressions were used to estimate the associations of perceived peer relationships during adolescence and workplace characteristics with loneliness in adulthood.

Results

Positive perceived peer relationships in adolescence were significantly related to decreased risk of serious social loneliness [Relative risk ratios (RRR) 0.70, 95% CI: 0.58-0.85] and severe social/emotional loneliness (RRR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.63-0.91) in adulthood. Workplace satisfaction was a protective factor of severe social/emotional loneliness in employed adults.

Conclusion

Adolescents who perceived peer relationships in middle school as positive were less likely to report social and emotional loneliness during adulthood. Satisfaction in the workplace characteristics was also associated with lower risk of loneliness in adulthood. Theoretical and policy implications are discussed.