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Childhood emotional abuse and neglect as predictors of psychological and physical symptoms in women presenting to a primary care practice

Spertus, I. L., Yehuda, R., Wong, C.M., Halligan, S. and Seremetis, S.V. (2003) Childhood emotional abuse and neglect as predictors of psychological and physical symptoms in women presenting to a primary care practice. Child Abuse & Neglect , 27 (11). pp. 1247-1258. ISSN 0145-2134

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To link to this item DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2003.05.001

Abstract/Summary

Objective: There were two aims to this study: first to examine whether emotional abuse and neglect are significant predictors of psychological and somatic symptoms, and lifetime trauma exposure in women presenting to a primary care practice, and second to examine the strength of these relationships after controlling for the effects of other types of childhood abuse and trauma. Method: Two-hundred and five women completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (Bernstein et al., 1994), Trauma History Questionnaire (Green, 1996), the Symptom Checklist-revised (Derogatis, 1997), and the Revised Civilian Mississippi Scale for posttraumatic stress disorder (Norris & Perilla, 1996) when presenting to their primary care physician for a visit. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine unique contributions of emotional abuse and neglect variables on symptom measures while controlling for childhood sexual and physical abuse and lifetime trauma exposure. Results: A history of emotional abuse and neglect was associated with increased anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress and physical symptoms, as well as lifetime trauma exposure. Physical and sexual abuse and lifetime trauma were also significant predictors of physical and psychological symptoms. Hierarchical multiple regressions demonstrated that emotional abuse and neglect predicted symptomatology in these women even when controlling for other types of abuse and lifetime trauma exposure. Conclusions: Long-standing behavioral consequences may arise as a result of childhood emotional abuse and neglect, specifically, poorer emotional and physical functioning, and vulnerability to further trauma exposure. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Item Type:Article
Refereed:Yes
Divisions:Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Winnicott
Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences
ID Code:13861
Uncontrolled Keywords:emotional abuse, neglect, primary care, anxiety, somatic, POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER, SEXUAL-ABUSE, RELIABILITY, VALIDITY, HEALTH, CONSEQUENCES, MALTREATMENT, CHILDREN, HISTORY, PTSD

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