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Hautle LL, Kurath J, Jellestad L, Lüönd AM, Wingenbach TSH, Jansson B, Pfaltz MC. Larger comfortable interpersonal distances in adults exposed to child maltreatment: The role of depressive symptoms and social anxiety. Br J Psychol 2024. [PMID: 38651545 DOI: 10.1111/bjop.12705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Previous studies report a preference for larger comfortable interpersonal distance (CIPD) in individuals with child maltreatment (CM) when being approached by others. Yet, research on approaching others, as opposed to being approached, as well as on potential effects of social anxiety and depression is lacking. We investigated if CM and depressive symptoms influence CIPD and if social anxiety mediates the possible association of CM and CIPD when approaching a female stranger. One hundred ten participants with CM (CM) and 58 participants without CM (non-CM) experiences performed the stop-distance paradigm and stopped first when feeling uncomfortable (D1) and again when feeling very uncomfortable (D2). CM experiences were associated with a preference for larger CIPD, independent of depressive symptoms. All CM subtypes were associated with a larger D2. The relationship between CM and CIPD was partially mediated by social anxiety. These novel findings can help to develop interventions strengthening socially relevant skills and processes in those affected by CM, targeting alterations in social anxiety and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara-Lynn Hautle
- Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Jennifer Kurath
- Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Lena Jellestad
- Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Antonia M Lüönd
- Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Tanja S H Wingenbach
- Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
- School of Human Sciences, Faculty of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, University of Greenwich, London, UK
| | - Billy Jansson
- Department of Psychology and Social Work, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden
| | - Monique C Pfaltz
- Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Psychology and Social Work, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden
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Hautle LL, Kurath J, Jellestad L, Lüönd AM, Wingenbach TSH, Frühholz S, Jansson B, Niedtfeld I, Pfaltz MC. Individuals with and without child maltreatment experiences are evaluated similarly and do not differ in facial affect display at zero- and first-acquaintance. Borderline Personal Disord Emot Dysregul 2023; 10:17. [PMID: 37210564 DOI: 10.1186/s40479-023-00222-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with a history of child maltreatment (CM) are more often disliked, rejected and victimized compared to individuals without such experiences. However, contributing factors for these negative evaluations are so far unknown. OBJECTIVE Based on previous research on adults with borderline personality disorder (BPD), this preregistered study assessed whether negative evaluations of adults with CM experiences, in comparison to unexposed controls, are mediated by more negative and less positive facial affect display. Additionally, it was explored whether level of depression, severity of CM, social anxiety, social support, and rejection sensitivity have an influence on ratings. METHODS Forty adults with CM experiences (CM +) and 40 non-maltreated (CM-) adults were filmed for measurement of affect display and rated in likeability, trustworthiness, and cooperativeness by 100 independent raters after zero-acquaintance (no interaction) and 17 raters after first-acquaintance (short conversation). RESULTS The CM + and the CM- group were neither evaluated significantly different, nor showed significant differences in affect display. Contrasting previous research, higher levels of BPD symptoms predicted higher likeability ratings (p = .046), while complex post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms had no influence on ratings. CONCLUSIONS The non-significant effects could be attributed to an insufficient number of participants, as our sample size allowed us to detect effects with medium effect sizes (f2 = .16 for evaluation; f2 = .17 for affect display) with a power of .95. Moreover, aspects such as the presence of mental disorders (e.g., BPD or post-traumatic stress disorder), might have a stronger impact than CM per se. Future research should thus further explore conditions (e.g., presence of specific mental disorders) under which individuals with CM are affected by negative evaluations as well as factors that contribute to negative evaluations and problems in social relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara-Lynn Hautle
- Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jennifer Kurath
- Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lena Jellestad
- Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Antonia M Lüönd
- Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tanja S H Wingenbach
- Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- School of Human Sciences, Faculty of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, University of Greenwich, London, UK
| | - Sascha Frühholz
- Department of Psychology, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Billy Jansson
- Department of Psychology and Social Work, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden
| | - Inga Niedtfeld
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim at, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Monique C Pfaltz
- Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Department of Psychology and Social Work, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden.
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