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Zhong W, Liang Q, Yang A, Yan R. Why emotional neglect brings suicidal ideation? The mediating effect of meaning in life and the moderating effect of post-stress growth. Child Abuse Negl 2024; 149:106700. [PMID: 38382400 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emotional neglect during childhood has long-lasting negative effects on individuals, and it is often hidden and unrecognized. Previous research has not fully understood its unique effects on mental health outcomes, especially when considering the co-occurrence with other forms of maltreatment. The meaning-making coping and growth model suggests that individuals achieve positive psychological outcomes by constructively integrating negative experiences into their self-concept, which may be a protective mechanism against the detrimental effects of emotional neglect. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine the relationship between emotional neglect and suicidal ideation among undergraduates, accounting for the presence of emotional abuse and physical neglect, and to investigate the mediating role of meaning in life and the moderating role of post-stress growth in this relationship. METHODS A self-reported survey was conducted with 3132 undergraduate students from a university in South China. The survey assessed emotional neglect, emotional abuse, physical neglect, suicidal ideation, post-stress growth, and meaning in life. RESULTS Meaning in life partially mediated the relationship between emotional neglect and suicidal ideation. Post-stress growth moderated the association between emotional neglect and the sense of meaning in life, in particular the moderation effect was stronger when emotional abuse was weaker. CONCLUSIONS Meaning in life mediated the relationship between emotional neglect and suicide ideation. Post-stress growth moderated the mediation effect such that it was weakened among individual with a higher level of post-stress growth. This study contributes to the understanding of the psychopathological processes following emotional neglect and the development of positive personal changes thereafter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Zhong
- Mental Health Education and Consultation Center, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510420, China
| | - Qianrong Liang
- School of Finance, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510420, China; Institute of Analytical Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, City University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
| | - An Yang
- Department of Applied Psychology, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510420, China.
| | - Ru Yan
- Mental Health Education and Consultation Center, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510420, China.
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Legendre M, Milot T, Rousseau M, Lemieux R, Garon-Bissonnette J, Berthelot N. Beyond abuse and neglect: validation of the childhood interpersonal trauma inventory in a community sample of adults. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1358475. [PMID: 38487577 PMCID: PMC10937553 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1358475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Childhood trauma is not restricted to abuse or neglect and other potentially traumatic experiences need to be pondered in practice and research. The study aimed to collect validity evidence of a new measure of exposure to a broad range of potentially traumatic experiences, the Childhood Interpersonal Trauma Inventory (CITI), by evaluating whether the CITI provides important additional information compared to a gold standard measure of childhood trauma. Methods The sample consisted of 2,518 adults who completed the CITI and self-reported measures of trauma (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire; CTQ) and psychiatric symptoms (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5; Kessler Psychological Distress Scale; Dissociative Experiences Scale). Results First, the sensitivity to properly detect participants having been exposed to childhood maltreatment, as measured by the CTQ (here used as the gold standard), ranged between 64.81% and 88.71%, and the specificity ranged between 68.55% and 89.54%. Second, hierarchical regressions showed that the CITI predicted between 5.6 and 14.0% of the variance in psychiatric symptoms while the CTQ only captured a very small additional part of variance (0.3 to 0.7%). Finally, 25% (n = 407) of CTQ-negative participants screened positive at the CITI. The latter reported higher severity of psychiatric symptoms than participants without trauma, suggesting that the CITI permits the identification of adults exposed to significant traumas that remain undetected using other well-validated measures. Discussion The findings underscore the utility of the CITI for research purposes and the latter's equivalence to a gold standard self-reported questionnaire to predict negative outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Legendre
- Department of Nursing Sciences, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
- Centre d’études Interdisciplinaires sur le Développement de l’enfant et la Famille (CEIDEF), Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
- CERVO Brain Research Center, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Intimate Partner Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse (CRIPCAS), Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Groupe de Recherche et d’Intervention auprès des Enfants Vulnérables et Négligés (GRIN), Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
| | - Tristan Milot
- Centre d’études Interdisciplinaires sur le Développement de l’enfant et la Famille (CEIDEF), Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
- Groupe de Recherche et d’Intervention auprès des Enfants Vulnérables et Négligés (GRIN), Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychoeducation, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche Universitaire sur les Jeunes et les Familles (CRUJeF), CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Michel Rousseau
- Department of Psychoeducation, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche Universitaire sur les Jeunes et les Familles (CRUJeF), CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Roxanne Lemieux
- Department of Nursing Sciences, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
- Centre d’études Interdisciplinaires sur le Développement de l’enfant et la Famille (CEIDEF), Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
- Groupe de Recherche et d’Intervention auprès des Enfants Vulnérables et Négligés (GRIN), Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
| | - Julia Garon-Bissonnette
- Centre d’études Interdisciplinaires sur le Développement de l’enfant et la Famille (CEIDEF), Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
- Groupe de Recherche et d’Intervention auprès des Enfants Vulnérables et Négligés (GRIN), Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
- Peabody College of Education and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Nicolas Berthelot
- Department of Nursing Sciences, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
- Centre d’études Interdisciplinaires sur le Développement de l’enfant et la Famille (CEIDEF), Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
- CERVO Brain Research Center, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Intimate Partner Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse (CRIPCAS), Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Groupe de Recherche et d’Intervention auprès des Enfants Vulnérables et Négligés (GRIN), Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
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Ensink K, Deschênes M, Bégin M, Cimon L, Gosselin T, Wais M, Normandin L, Fonagy P. Dimensional model of adolescent personality pathology, reflective functioning, and emotional maltreatment. Front Psychiatry 2024; 14:1302137. [PMID: 38268556 PMCID: PMC10806145 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1302137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Childhood emotional abuse (CEA) is a recognized risk factor for adolescent mentalizing challenges. However, there's limited understanding about how CEA might influence personality development and elevate the risk of adolescent personality pathology. A deeper grasp of these pathways is crucial, given that adolescence is a pivotal developmental phase for identity integration, personality consolidation, and the emergence of personality disorders. As the emphasis shifts to dimensional perspectives on adolescent personality pathology, the spotlight is increasingly on adolescents' evolving personality organization (PO). Within this framework, personality disorder manifestations stem from inherent vulnerabilities in PO. A comprehensive understanding of how CEA leads to these inherent vulnerabilities in PO can inform enhanced interventions for at-risk adolescents. Nonetheless, our comprehension lacks insight into potential pathways to PO, especially those involving external factors like maltreatment and individual traits like mentalizing. This study sought to bridge these gaps by employing latent factor analysis and structural equation modeling to explore connections between emotional maltreatment, adolescent mentalizing, and PO. Methods A community-based cohort of 193 adolescents (aged 12-17) took part in self-report assessments: the Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse Questionnaire (CECA.Q), the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire for Youth (RFQ-Y), and the Inventory for Personality Organization for Adolescents (IPO-A). Results The structural equation model revealed a significant direct influence of CEA on both RFQ-Confusion and PO, and a noteworthy direct effect of RFQ-Confusion on PO. Remarkably, the model accounted for 76.9% of the PO variance. CEA exhibited a significant indirect impact on PO through RFQ-Confusion, which was accountable for 52.3% of the CEA effect on PO, signifying a partial mediation by mentalizing. Discussion These insights carry substantial clinical implications, especially for devising integrated, trauma-informed strategies for adolescents with personality pathologies. This is particularly relevant for enhancing mentalizing and bolstering personality consolidation among adolescent CEA survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Ensink
- École de Psychologie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | | | - Michaël Bégin
- Département de Psychologie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Laurie Cimon
- Département de Médecine Sociale et Préventive, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | | | - Marissa Wais
- École de Psychologie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Lina Normandin
- École de Psychologie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Peter Fonagy
- Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Bürgin D, Witt A, Seker S, d'Huart D, Meier M, Jenkel N, Boonmann C, Schmeck K, Fegert JM, Schmid M. Childhood maltreatment and mental health problems in a 10-year follow-up study of adolescents in youth residential care: A latent transition analysis. Dev Psychopathol 2023:1-16. [PMID: 37990404 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579423001426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Childhood maltreatment and mental health problems are common among young people placed out-of-home. However, evidence on the impact of maltreatment on the course of mental health problems in at-risk populations is sparse. The aim of this longitudinal study is twofold: (a) describe the course of mental health problems and the shift in symptom patterns among adolescents in youth residential care into young adulthood and (b) assess how childhood maltreatment is related to the course of mental health problems. One hundred and sixty-six adolescents in Swiss youth residential care were followed up into young adulthood (36.1% women; MAge-Baseline = 16.1 years; MAge-Follow-Up = 26.4 years). Latent transition analysis was employed to analyze transitions of symptom patterns and their association with maltreatment exposure. We found three latent classes of mental health problems: a "multiproblem"-class (51.8% baseline; 33.7% follow-up), a "low symptom"-class (39.2% baseline; 60.2% follow-up), and an "externalizing"-class (9.0% baseline; 6.0% follow-up). Individuals in the "multiproblem"-class were likely to transition towards less-complex symptom patterns. Higher severity of self-reported childhood maltreatment was associated with more complex and persistent mental health problems. Our study underlines the need for collaboration between residential and psychiatric care systems within and after care placements, with a specialized focus on trauma-informed interventions and care.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Bürgin
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Research Department (UPKKJ), University Psychiatric Hospitals, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Witt
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Psychiatric Services Berne, Berne, Switzerland
| | - Süheyla Seker
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Research Department (UPKKJ), University Psychiatric Hospitals, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Delfine d'Huart
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Research Department (UPKKJ), University Psychiatric Hospitals, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Maria Meier
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Research Department (UPKKJ), University Psychiatric Hospitals, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Psychology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
| | - Nils Jenkel
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Research Department (UPKKJ), University Psychiatric Hospitals, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Cyril Boonmann
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Research Department (UPKKJ), University Psychiatric Hospitals, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - LUMC Curium, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Klaus Schmeck
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Research Department (UPKKJ), University Psychiatric Hospitals, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jörg M Fegert
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Marc Schmid
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Research Department (UPKKJ), University Psychiatric Hospitals, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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