Accounting for the associations between child maltreatment and internalizing problems: The role of alexithymia

Child Abuse & Neglect
Shaquanna BrownMarco Bortolato

Abstract

Internalizing difficulties are one of the most widely documented consequences of child maltreatment. However, there is a need for studies delineating the factors that account for this association. Despite research showing that alexithymia is associated with both child maltreatment and internalizing problems, the role of alexithymia in the link between child maltreatment and internalizing problems has not received much attention in the literature. The current study evaluated whether a history of child maltreatment was associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and loneliness in emerging adulthood, and whether alexithymia partially accounted for these associations. Participants included 339 emerging adults ranging between 18 and 25 years of age (M=19.00, SD=1.26, 51.3% male). Exposure to child maltreatment (i.e., physical abuse, physical neglect, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and emotional neglect) was positively associated with depression, anxiety, and loneliness symptoms. Tests of indirect effects suggested that associations between emotional neglect and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and loneliness were partially explained by alexithymia. However, alexithymia did not account for any other associations between the rema...Continue Reading

References

Jun 1, 1978·Journal of Personality Assessment·D RussellM L Ferguson
Jan 1, 1994·Journal of Psychosomatic Research·R M BagbyJ D Parker
Nov 1, 1996·Child Abuse & Neglect·R L Gibson, T S Hartshorne
Dec 1, 1996·Journal of Psychosomatic Research·H Berenbaum
Feb 23, 2000·European Psychiatry : the Journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists·S BerthozR Jouvent
Apr 6, 2000·Journal of Psychosomatic Research·K HonkalampiH Viinamäki
May 31, 2001·The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease·A TroisiP Petti
Jun 5, 2003·Journal of Psychosomatic Research·Junilla K LarsenRon Hijman
Mar 19, 2004·ANS. Advances in Nursing Science·Devon Berry
Apr 7, 2004·Child Abuse & Neglect·Sandra C Paivio, Chantal R McCulloch
Apr 29, 2004·The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry·Daniel F ConnorRichard H Melloni
May 24, 2006·Archives of Internal Medicine·Robert L SpitzerBernd Löwe
Nov 28, 2007·Emotion·Jessica E ShackmanSeth D Pollak
Mar 29, 2008·Annual Review of Clinical Psychology·Carolyn Zahn-WaxlerKristine Marceau
Jul 26, 2008·Annual Review of Psychology·John W Graham
Aug 5, 2008·Trends in Neurosciences·Carmine M Pariante, Stafford L Lightman
Dec 6, 2008·Lancet·Ruth GilbertStaffan Janson
Mar 28, 2009·PloS One·Michael T TreadwayRichard C Shelton
Feb 11, 2010·Journal of Psychiatric Research·Corina BenjetMaría Elena Medina-Mora
Jan 1, 2004·Multivariate Behavioral Research·David P MackinnonJason Williams
Mar 23, 2010·Journal of Affective Disorders·Max KarukiviSimo Saarijärvi
May 18, 2010·Psychiatry Research·John S OgrodniczukAnthony S Joyce
Apr 2, 2011·Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review·Alexandra C De YoungVanessa E Cobham
Oct 30, 2012·Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry·Sian M J HemmingsSoraya Seedat
Dec 19, 2012·Brain Imaging and Behavior·Laurie M BakerRobert H Paul
Jul 25, 2013·Development and Psychopathology·Jamie M Ostrov, Stephanie A Godleski
Sep 28, 2013·PloS One·Mayuresh S KorgaonkarStuart M Grieve
Nov 6, 2013·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Ryan J HerringaMarilyn J Essex
Feb 12, 2015·Psychiatry Research·David Boyda, Danielle McFeeters

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Mar 7, 2017·Child Abuse & Neglect·Shaquanna BrownMarco Bortolato
Apr 7, 2020·Sexual Abuse : a Journal of Research and Treatment·Lindsey G HawkinsDennis E McChargue
Sep 16, 2020·Development and Psychopathology·Jani KajanojaHasse Karlsson
Aug 17, 2021·Psychological Reports·Gökmen Arslan, Murat Yıldırım

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.