Childhood verbal abuse as a child maltreatment subtype: A systematic review of the current evidence

Predictors of Young Adults' Primal World Beliefs in Eight Countries

Primal world beliefs ("primals") capture understanding of general characteristics of the world, such as whether the world is Good and Enticing. Children (N = 1215, 50% girls), mothers, and fathers from Colombia, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Philippines, Sweden, Thailand, and United States reported neighborhood danger, socioeconomic status, parental warmth, harsh parenting, psychological control, and autonomy granting from ages 8 to 16 years. At age 22 years, original child participants reported their primal world beliefs. Parental warmth during childhood and adolescence significantly predicted Good, Safe, and Enticing world beliefs, but other experiences were only weakly related to primals. We did not find that primals are strongly related to intuitive aspects of the materiality of childhood experiences, which suggests future directions for understanding the origins of primals.

Defining child maltreatment for research and surveillance: an international, multi-sectoral, Delphi consensus study in 34 countries in Europe and surrounding regions

Child maltreatment is a complex public health issue that has consequences across the life-course. Studies to quantify child maltreatment and identify interventions and services are constrained by a lack of uniform definitions. We conducted a European Delphi study to reach consensus on types and characteristics of child maltreatment for use in surveillance and research. Statements were developed following a scoping review and identification of key concepts by an international expert team (n = 19). A multidisciplinary expert panel (n = 70) from 34 countries completed three rounds of an online survey. We defined consensus as ≥70% agreement or disagreement with each statement after the final round. Consensus was reached on 26/31 statements (participant retention rate 94%). From the statements, we propose a unified definition of child maltreatment to improve measurement and surveillance in Europe. Concerted efforts are now required to test and refine the definition further prior to real-world operationalisation.

Childhood emotional abuse and depression symptoms among Chinese adolescents: The sequential masking effect of ruminative thinking and deliberate rumination

BACKGROUND

This study delves into the relationship between childhood trauma and adolescent depression symptoms, specifically examining the distinct roles of ruminative thinking and deliberate rumination in mediating this connection. The focus is on exploring whether these cognitive processes, namely ruminative thinking and deliberate rumination, operate differently and sequentially in mediating the impact of childhood emotional abuse (CEA) on the development of depression symptoms among Chinese adolescents.

METHODS

The study involved gathering data from 489 adolescents, with a relatively balanced gender distribution (44.79 % males and 55.21 % females). The average age of the participants was 16.92 years, with a standard deviation of 0.67. Data collection took place in two Chinese high schools, and participants were tasked with completing assessments related to CEA, ruminative thinking, deliberate rumination, and depression symptoms. The interplay among these variables was then examined using a serial mediation model.

RESULTS

The findings of the study indicate that CEA not only exhibited a direct association with adolescent depression symptoms but also exerted indirect effects through distinct mediating mechanisms involving ruminative thinking and deliberate rumination. Specifically, ruminative thinking was identified as a mediator, whereas deliberate rumination emerged as a buffer in the relationship between CEA and depression. Additionally, ruminative thinking and deliberate rumination partially masked the effect of CEA on adolescent depression symptoms in a sequential pattern.

CONCLUSIONS

Regarding the link from CEA to adolescent depression symptoms, ruminative thinking is an adverse mediator while deliberate rumination appears to play a benign role. Consequently, the promotion of a shift from ruminative thinking to deliberate rumination is proposed as a promising strategy for alleviating the detrimental effects of CEA on adolescent depression.

Correlates of verbal and physical violence experienced and perpetrated among cisgender college women: serial cross-sections during one year of the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction

Violence against women is a prevalent, preventable public health crisis. COVID-19 stressors and pandemic countermeasures may have exacerbated violence against women. Cisgender college women are particularly vulnerable to violence. Thus, we examined the prevalence and correlates of verbal/physical violence experienced and perpetrated among cisgender women enrolled at a New York City college over one year during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

From a prospective cohort study, we analyzed data self-reported quarterly (T1, T2, T3, T4) between December 2020 and December 2021. Using generalized estimated equations (GEE) and logistic regression, we identified correlates of experienced and perpetrated violence among respondents who were partnered or cohabitating longitudinally and at each quarter, respectively. Multivariable models included all variables with unadjusted parameters X 2 p-value ≤0.05.

Results

The prevalence of experienced violence was 52% (T1: N = 513), 30% (T2: N = 305), 33% (T3: N = 238), and 17% (T4: N = 180); prevalence of perpetrated violence was 38%, 17%, 21%, and 9%. Baseline correlates of experienced violence averaged over time (GEE) included race, living situation, loneliness, and condom use; correlates of perpetrated violence were school year, living situation, and perceived social support. Quarter-specific associations corroborated population averages: living with family members and low social support were associated with experienced violence at all timepoints except T4. Low social support was associated with higher odds of perpetrated violence at T1/T3. Other/Multiracial identity was associated with higher odds of violence experience at T3.

Conclusions

Living situation was associated with experienced and perpetrated violence in all analyses, necessitating further exploration of household conditions, family dynamics, and interpersonal factors. The protective association of social support with experienced and perpetrated violence also warrants investigation into forms of social engagement and cohesion. Racial differences in violence also require examination. Our findings can inform university policy development on violence and future violence research. Within or beyond epidemic conditions, universities should assess and strengthen violence prevention and support systems for young women by developing programming to promote social cohesion.

Awareness of Child Abuse and Neglect: A Prospective Interventional Study among Schoolteachers from Andhra Pradesh

AIM

To assess the awareness of schoolteachers from Andhra Pradesh towards child abuse and neglect (CAN) through pre- and post-educational intervention (audiovisual aid) questionnaires.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 300 schoolteachers using a 12-item questionnaire that was created using the standard focus group discussion method. Baseline awareness of CAN was assessed using the questionnaire. Subsequently, all the schoolteachers were educated regarding the various types of CAN and the process of reporting CAN using an audiovisual aid. The same questionnaire was re-administered to all the teachers immediately after the intervention and after three months. The data were statistically analyzed using Fisher's exact test to compare the frequency and distribution of responses among the study participants at various intervals.

RESULTS

A statistically significant difference (p value < 0.05) was observed in the awareness of the schoolteachers regarding CAN compared to the baseline and immediately after the intervention. However, there was no statistically significant difference (p value > 0.05) between immediately after the intervention and three months.

CONCLUSION

There is a need to have awareness among schoolteachers concerning CAN. However, after education through audiovisual aids, teachers' awareness of CAN has been improved.

Folie et Société: eroding the body-mind relationship via dysfunctional paternalistic systems

This theoretical perspective examines the proposition of shared complex trauma between a parent and child, arising from blurred relational boundaries and societal oppression, leading to inequality both at home and within the larger paternalistic system of society. Specifically, the focus is on living within a paternalistic, authoritarian system where rules are unjust, demanding obedience and compliance without questioning the behaviors of the authority. Individuals growing up in these circumstances are subject to adverse and emotionally overwhelming experiences, which lead to the creation of emotional memory images (EMIs). The delusion in which the child is caught up becomes a reality for the child as time passes. This phenomenon is recognized in psychiatry as "Folie à deux" (the madness of two or more) at the micro level, and "Folie et Société" (the madness of society) on the macro level. Complex trauma, derived from a child's exposure to multiple adverse events, can erode the mind-body relationship, impacting both mental and physical health. These traumatic experiences in early childhood can manifest as body-focused disorders in adolescents, prevailing throughout adulthood if left unattended. This article provides a theoretical perspective on dealing with the dissociation and chronic stress related to oppressive and authoritarian family systems. The broader implications of this article include highlighting the psychophysiological underpinnings of complex trauma, the relationship of a highly oppressive paternalistic authoritarian system imposed on children and adolescents, and the role of Split-Second Unlearning as a therapeutic intervention to clear EMIs and improve overall health outcomes.