Impact of childhood maltreatment on aging: a comprehensive Mendelian randomization analysis of multiple age-related biomarkers.

BACKGROUND: Childhood maltreatment (CM) is linked to long-term adverse health outcomes, including accelerated biological aging and cognitive decline. This study investigates the relationship between CM and various aging biomarkers: telomere length, facial aging, intrinsic epigenetic age acceleration (IEAA), GrimAge, HannumAge, PhenoAge, frailty index, and cognitive performance. METHODS: We conducted a Mendelian randomization (MR) study using published GWAS summary statistics. Aging biomarkers included telomere length (qPCR), facial aging (subjective evaluation), and epigenetic age markers (HannumAge, IEAA, GrimAge, PhenoAge). The frailty index was calculated from clinical assessments, and cognitive performance was evaluated with standardized tests. Analyses included Inverse-Variance Weighted (IVW), MR Egger, and Weighted Median (WM) methods, adjusted for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: CM was significantly associated with shorter telomere length (IVW: ß = - 0.1, 95% CI - 0.18 to - 0.02, pFDR = 0.032) and increased HannumAge (IVW: ß = 1.33, 95% CI 0.36 to 2.3, pFDR = 0.028), GrimAge (IVW: ß = 1.19, 95% CI 0.19 to 2.2, pFDR = 0.040), and PhenoAge (IVW: ß = 1.4, 95% CI 0.12 to 2.68, pFDR = 0.053). A significant association was also found with the frailty index (IVW: ß = 0.31, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.49, pFDR = 0.006). No significant associations were found with facial aging, IEAA, or cognitive performance. CONCLUSIONS: CM is linked to accelerated biological aging, shown by shorter telomere length and increased epigenetic aging markers. CM was also associated with increased frailty, highlighting the need for early interventions to mitigate long-term effects. Further research should explore mechanisms and prevention strategies.

Relation between child maltreatment and human capital: results from a population-based birth cohort.

This study aimed to investigate the association between child maltreatment and human capital, measured by intelligence quotient (IQ) at age 18 years and schooling at age 22 years in 3,736 members from a population-based birth cohort in Southern Brazil. A multiple linear regression was used to assess the association between child maltreatment and human capital measurements. Physical and emotional abuse and physical neglect occurring up to 15 years of age were considered child maltreatment. Physical neglect was associated with lower IQ scores in women (ß = -4.40; 95%CI: -6.82; -1.99) and men (ß = -2.58; 95%CI: -5.17; -0.01) and lower schooling for all sexes: women (ß = -1.19; 95%CI: -1.64; -0.74) and men (ß = -0.82; 95%CI: -1.34; -0.30). Moreover, men who had experienced one type of child maltreatment and women who had experienced two or more types had lower years of schooling at 22 years (ß = -0.41; 95%CI: -0.73; -0.89 and ß = -0.57; 95%CI: -0.91; -0.22, respectively) than those who suffered no kind of maltreatment. Efforts to improve future educational and cognitive outcomes must include early prevention and intervention strategies for child maltreatment.

Objective and subjective experiences of childhood maltreatment and their relationships with cognitive deficits: a cohort study in the USA.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive deficits might contribute to the elevated risk of life-course psychopathology observed in maltreated children. Leading theories about the links between childhood maltreatment and cognitive deficits focus on documented exposures (objective experience), but empirical research has largely relied on retrospective self-reports of these experiences (subjective experience), and the two measures identify largely non-overlapping groups. We aimed to test the associations of objective and subjective measures of maltreatment with cognitive abilities within the same individuals. METHODS: We studied a cohort of individuals from the US Midwest with both objective, court-documented evidence of childhood maltreatment and subjective self-reports of individuals' histories at age 29 years. Between the ages of 29 years and 41 years, participants were assessed with a comprehensive set of cognitive tests, including tests of general verbal intelligence (Quick Test and Wide Range Achievement Test-Revised [WRAT]), non-verbal intelligence (Matrix Reasoning Test [MRT]), executive function (Stroop Test and Trail Making Test Part B [TMT-B]), and processing speed (Trail Making Test Part A [TMT-A]). Participants were also assessed for psychopathology (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and Beck Anxiety Inventory). We tested the associations between objective or subjective measures of childhood maltreatment with cognitive functions using ordinary least squares regression. To test whether cognitive deficits could explain previously described associations between different measures of maltreatment and subsequent psychopathology, we re-ran the analyses accounting for group differences in the Quick Test. People with lived experience were not involved in the research or writing process. FINDINGS: The cohort included 1196 individuals (582 [48·7%] female, 614 [51·3%] male; 752 [62·9%] White, 417 [34·9%] Black, 36 [3·8%] Hispanic) who were assessed between 1989 and 2005. Of the 1179 participants with available data, 173 had objective-only measures of childhood maltreatment, 492 had objective and subjective measures, 252 had subjective-only measures, and 262 had no measures of childhood maltreatment. Participants with objective measures of childhood maltreatment showed pervasive cognitive deficits compared with those without objective measures (Quick Test: ß=-7·97 [95% CI -9·63 to -6·30]; WRAT: ß=-7·41 [-9·09 to -5·74]; MRT: ß=-3·86 [-5·86 to -1·87]; Stroop Test: ß=-1·69 [-3·57 to 0·20]; TMT-B: ß=3·66 [1·67 to 5·66]; TMT-A: ß=2·92 [0·86 to 4·98]). The associations with cognitive deficits were specific to objective measures of neglect. In contrast, participants with subjective measures of childhood maltreatment did not differ from those without subjective measures (Quick Test: ß=1·73 [95% CI -0·05 to 3·50]; WRAT: ß=1·62 [-0·17 to 3·40]; MRT: ß=0·19 [-1·87 to 2·24]; Stroop Test: ß=-1·41 [-3·35 to 0·52]; TMT-B: ß=-0·57 [-2·69 to 1·55]; TMT-A: ß=-0·36 [-2·38 to 1·67]). Furthermore, cognitive deficits did not explain associations between different measures of maltreatment and subsequent psychopathology. INTERPRETATION: Previous studies based on retrospective reports of childhood maltreatment have probably grossly underestimated the extent of cognitive deficits in individuals with documented experiences of childhood maltreatment, particularly neglect. Psychopathology associated with maltreatment is unlikely to emerge because of cognitive deficits, but might instead be driven by individual appraisals, autobiographical memories, and associated schemas. FUNDING: National Institute of Justice, National Institute of Mental Health, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institute on Aging, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, and National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Psychosocial consequences of growing up as Austrian occupation children in post-World-War II Austria.

Background: During the post-World War II occupation of Austria, approximately 20,000-30,000 'children born of war' (CBOW), also called occupation children were born through intimate contacts between Austrian women and occupation soldiers. Research on other CBOW populations indicates that CBOW mostly grow up under difficult conditions, sometimes with strong long-term mental health consequences.Objective: To examine whether comparable psychosocial consequences can be found in Austrian occupation children (AOC), a first quantitative study was carried out.Method: Child maltreatment, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and somatization, and general life satisfaction were assessed in a sample of 98 AOC using self-report instruments. Results were compared to a sample of German occupation children (GOC; N = 146).Results: High prevalence of above threshold full (10.2%) and partial (14.3%) PTSD, somatic (16.3%) and depressive (11.1%) symptomatology were found in AOC. They were at high risk of child maltreatment (e.g. emotional abuse: 53.6%), which was associated with current symptomatology. Notably, AOC tended to report high levels of general life satisfaction. No differences were found between GOC and AOC.Conclusions: Findings highlight the complex and long-term effects of developmental conditions and childhood maltreatment on mental health of CBOW, even decades later. Findings of high life satisfaction provide evidence of resilience and maturation processes across the lifespan.

Austrian occupation children show a notable vulnerability to childhood maltreatment and its long-term consequences, including a high prevalence of above threshold PTSD, somatic, and depressive symptomatology.Findings on the psychosocial consequences of growing up as occupation children in Austria after World War II are consistent with previous studies in similar populations and can be generalized as more or less typical common experiences of children born of war.Despite psychological distress, occupation children showed surprising levels of life satisfaction, suggesting potential resilience.

Exploring the prevalence of childhood adversity among university students in the United Kingdom: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The focus of this review was to systematically review and meta-analyse the prevalence of ACEs among university students in the UK. METHOD: The systematic searching of six electronic databases (conducted February 2024) identified ten relevant articles (peer-reviewed articles of a quantitative nature that included ACE prevalence). PROSPERO reference: CRD42022364799. RESULTS: Pooled prevalence for number of ACEs endured was 55.4% (95% CI: 32.4% - 78.4%; I2 > 99.5%) for one or more, and 31.6% (7.5% - 55.6%; I2 > 99.5%) for three or more. Pooled prevalence was: 15.9% (7.0% - 24.7%; I2 > 94.5%) for physical abuse; 27.0% (18.1% - 35.9%; I2 > 94.5%) for emotional abuse; 12.1% (5.2% - 19.0%; I2 > 94.5%) for sexual abuse; 8.4% (1.7% - 15.1%; I2 > 95.4%) for physical neglect, and 30.0% (21.5% - 38.5%; I2 > 95.4%) for emotional neglect. Pooled prevalence for household dysfunction categories were: 34.4% (22.8% - 46.0%) for parental separation; 18.4% (10.1% - 26.8%) for domestic violence; 35.2% (23.6% - 46.8%) for mental health difficulties; 21.4% (12.9% - 29.9%) for substance use; and 5.7% (2.3% - 9.1%) for incarceration (I2 > 88.8% for all household dysfunction items). Significant heterogeneity was observed between studies for most categories of adversity, and it was not possible to explain/reduce this variance by removing small numbers of influential/discrepant studies. Further analyses suggested potential influences of measurement tool used, country of data collection, and age and sex of participants. CONCLUSION: Results demonstrate considerable, largely unaccounted-for, heterogeneity in estimates of the prevalence of ACEs, impeding confidence in any summary statistics. Conclusions must be tentative due to analyses being underpowered given small numbers of papers, as well as potential confounds, meaning results may not be truly representative. However, results do suggest high prevalence rates which warrant further investigation, with appropriate support offered to students.

Childhood maltreatment associated suicidal risk in Chinese children and adolescents: a mediation of resilience.

BACKGROUND: Existing evidence suggests that children and adolescents who had experienced childhood maltreatment (CM) are at higher suicidal risk. However, the mediation role of resilience in this association remains unclear. We aim to investigate the mediation via resilience in the associations between CM and three suicidal risk indicators (suicidal ideation, SI; suicidal plan, SP; suicidal attempt, SA) among a large sample of Chinese children and adolescents. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in southwestern China Yunnan province. A total of 9723 children and adolescents were included and analyzed by using a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling design. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to explore the associations between CM, resilience, and the three suicidal risk indicators, dose-response trends further elucidated by using the restricted cubic splines. Path models were adopted to estimate the mediation of resilience. RESULTS: The estimated prevalence rates for one-year SI, SP and SA were 32.86% (95% CI: 31.93-33.80%), 19.36% (95% CI: 18.57-20.16%) and 9.07% (95% CI: 8.51-9.66%). After adjustment, CM significantly associated with all 3 suicidal risk indicators, and the odds ratios (ORs) were 2.13 (95% CI: 1.91-2.37), 2.45 (95% CI: 2.13-2.81), and 3.61 (95% CI: 2.90-4.52) for one-year SI, SP, and SA, respectively. Path models revealed that resilience significantly mediated the associations between CM and the three suicidal risk indicators, and among all dimensions of resilience, family support presented the strongest mediation consistently. CONCLUSIONS: Our study results suggest that intervention measures which focusing on improving psychological resilience might be effective in reducing suicidal risk for children and adolescents who had experienced maltreatment. Prospective studies should be done to corroborate our findings.

Prevalence and Course of Unwanted, Intrusive Thoughts of Infant-Related Harm.

Objective: Unwanted, intrusive thoughts (UITs) of infant-related harm are a common postpartum phenomenon and can be classified into thoughts of accidental harm (TAHs) and thoughts of intentional harm (TIHs). Our study's objective was to complete a comprehensive, comparative analysis of TAHs and TIHs by commenting on their prevalence, course, characteristics (time, distress, and impairment) and most intense period.Methods: A total of 763 English-speaking pregnant women across British Columbia were recruited to participate in a prospective cohort study. Study data were collected between February 2014 and February 2017. UITs were assessed by semistructured interviews twice during the postpartum period.Results: The prevalence of TAHs and TIHs in the postpartum period was 95.8% and 53.9%, respectively. The most common TAHs included thoughts of the baby suffocating or dying from sudden infant death syndrome; the most common TIHs included thoughts of neglect. On average, TAHs are more prevalent, time-consuming, and result in greater interference compared to TIHs. The most intense period for TAHs (5.74 weeks postpartum) and TIHs (within first 8 weeks postpartum) was identified. During this period, over 40% of participants reported moderate or extreme distress related to UITs. For most, UITs decreased in frequency or completely resolved by 6 months postpartum, and most participants did not report clinically significant symptoms.Conclusion: UITs are a normative and typically self-resolving occurrence in the postpartum period. UITs' most intense period signifies a time of heightened vulnerability. Increased education is necessary to normalize and reduce distress associated with UITs.J Clin Psychiatry 2024;85(3):23m15145. Author affiliations are listed at the end of this article.

Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Adolescents With Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Frequency and Clinical Correlates.

Increasing empirical attention has been given to the role of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in the development and maintenance of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Yet, current research has predominantly focused on adult and nonclinical BDD samples, and little is known about relevance of ACEs in adolescent BDD. The present study examined (a) the frequency of ACEs in adolescents with a primary diagnosis of BDD (n = 50) versus obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) (n = 50) and (b) the clinical profile of ACE-exposed youth with BDD. ACEs were ascertained through a systematic search of electronic patient records, as well as through a parent- and self-report screening item for exposure to traumatic events. Results showed higher rate of peer victimisation (74% vs. 38%) and child maltreatment (44% vs. 24%) among BDD versus OCD youths; sexual abuse was the most common type of child maltreatment documented in the BDD group (28%) according to patient records. Parent-reported exposure to traumatic events was also significantly higher in the BDD than the OCD group (40% vs. 18%, respectively). Clinical presentation and treatment outcomes did not differ between those with versus without a history of ACEs. The current study is the first to demonstrate that a range of ACEs are common in adolescent BDD. Our findings highlight the importance of screening for these experiences. Although further research is needed, our findings also indicate that adolescents with BDD who have a history of ACEs are broadly similar in their clinical presentation to those without, and benefit from BDD-focused treatment.

Family structure and children's risk of child protective services re-reports.

BACKGROUND: Single parent families are at higher risk of re-report to Child Protective Services (CPS) than two-parent families. Yet, how single-family homes differ in risk from two-parent families remains under researched. OBJECTIVE: To identify heterogenous patterns of child and caregiver factors among CPS-involved families and the subsequent risk for CPS re-report based on child and family characteristics (i.e., sociodemographic information, family structure, and risk indicators). PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Data were from the 2017 National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System Child File (N = 249,026). METHODS: We conducted latent class analysis (LCA) to identify discrete patterns (i.e., classes) based on child and caregiver risk indicators (e.g., substance use, behavioral health). We then used logistic regression to examine family structure and other family characteristics and CPS indicators predicted CPS re-report for each class. RESULTS: Results yielded five distinct classes: 1) Financial Stressors (25 % of the sample); 2) Caregiver Substance Use (16 %); 3) Complex Household Stressors (3 %); 4) Child Disabilities (4 %); and 5) Minimal Household Stressors (53 %). Family structure was significantly associated with CPS re-reports for Classes 1, 2, and 5. For Class 1, single father families had increased odds of CPS re-report compared to other family structures. For Classes 2 and 5, single father families' odds of CPS re-reports were greater than those of married families, but lower than single mother families. CONCLUSIONS: Children growing up in single father families have different likelihoods of repeat CPS involvement compared to those in single mother and married families. Financial stressors and parental substance use within single father families should be addressed.

Hospital admissions and community health service contacts for mental illness following self-reported child maltreatment: Results from the Childhood Adversity and Lifetime Morbidity (CALM) study.

BACKGROUND: Child maltreatment (CM) includes neglect, and several types of abuse, including physical, emotional, and sexual. CM has been associated with a wide range of mental illnesses. Literature examining these illnesses in mid-life is scarce, and the impact of these illnesses on mental health service use is currently unknown. OBJECTIVE: To examine associations between self-reported CM and subsequent hospital admissions for mental illnesses, and/or community mental health service contacts. SETTING: Birth cohort study data linked to administrative health data, including hospital admissions and community mental health service contacts, up to the age of 40. METHODS: Associations between hospital admissions for mental health and community mental health contacts and CM subtypes (neglect, physical abuse, emotional abuse and sexual abuse) were examined using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Adjusted analyses showed that all subtypes of CM were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with admissions to hospital for any type of mental illness (aOR range 1.87-3.61), non-psychotic mental disorders (aOR range 1.98-3.61), alcohol and/or substance use (aOR range 2.83-5.43), and community mental health service contacts (aOR range 2.44-3.13). Hospital admissions for psychotic mental disorders were significantly associated with physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse (aOR range 2.14-3.93). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study confirm the current knowledge around CM and subsequent mental health illnesses up to the age of 40, and extend this knowledge to hospital and mental health service use.

Maternal victimization and neglected offspring: Child marriage, IPV and depression symptoms among Salar Muslim women.

BACKGROUND: Child neglect is prevalent in western rural China, yet there is limited research among ethnic minority communities. The Salar, a Turkic-Muslim ethnic minority residing primarily in western China, also face this specific problem. The group is deeply influenced by ethnicity, Islam and Chinese Confucianism, which in turn makes women vulnerable to child marriage and IPV. These victimizations, coupled with various life stressors, further complicate the challenges of providing adequate care for their children. OBJECTIVE: This study hypothesizes a relationship between child neglect and maternal child marriage, IPV victimization, and depression symptoms. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: 201 married Salar women from five villages in Xunhua Salar Autonomous County, China, were randomly selected to participate in the study. METHOD: A probability proportional to size (PPS) sampling approach was used to collect a random representative multi-stage cluster sample in 2022. Random effects Poisson regression models were used to test the hypotheses. RESULTS: The participants reported a 65.6 % rate of child neglect and a 30.8 % rate of IPV in the past year. 37.6 % experienced child marriage. Results revealed significant associations between child neglect and child marriage, IPV, and depression symptoms. A two-way interaction between IPV and depression symptoms was strongly positively associated with child neglect. CONCLUSIONS: This research indicates that Salar Muslim mothers who have experienced child marriage, adulthood victimization, and depression are at a higher risk of neglecting their children. The findings represent a valuable initial step toward researching and addressing the protection needs of women and children from Muslim ethnic minorities in China.

Trends in child and adolescent assault and maltreatment following the re-introduction of the Banned Drinker Register in the Northern Territory, Australia.

OBJECTIVE: In 2017 the Northern Territory (NT) government re-introduced the Banned Drinker Register (BDR) to address the high rates of alcohol related harm. This paper aims to evaluate whether trends in assault, maltreatment and sentinel injuries in children and adolescents were associated with the re-introduction of the BDR, in the context of other local interventions such as police officers stationed in bottle shops being partially removed, Police Auxiliary Liquor Inspectors, and the introduction of a minimum unit price of alcohol. METHOD: Interrupted time series analysis was used to assess monthly trends in emergency department presentations and inpatient hospital admissions for assault, maltreatment and sentinel injuries between January 2014 and December 2019 in the regions of Greater Darwin, Alice Springs, and Katherine. RESULTS: A significant step increase after the introduction of the BDR in emergency department presentations for assault and maltreatment was present when examining the three regions combined (ß = 7.65, 95 % CI = 2.15, 13.16). However, this was not present at the individual community level. Results across a range of other models pointed towards null effects of the BDR introduction. CONCLUSIONS: The current study found that the re-introduction of the BDR had minimal impact on rates of assault, maltreatment, or sentinel injuries in children and adolescents. To ensure long-term harm mitigation from alcohol use, a combination of evidence informed alcohol policies that address the price and availability of alcohol in a comprehensive framework, along with measures which address the underlying social determinants of unregulated drinking and health more broadly will assist in reducing alcohol related harm in both children and adults.

Receipt of parenting, disability, unemployment, and other income support payments in persons aged 16 to 33 years - the associations with child maltreatment.

BACKGROUND: Child maltreatment (CM) is a major public health concern with life-long effects. Its impact on income support has rarely been studied. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between CM and receipt of income support payments and the budgetary impact for persons 16 to 33 years. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: A South Australian birth cohort, born 1986 to 2004 (n = 339,411). METHODS: We linked child protection (CP) administrative records with national welfare payment records, ending March 2020. Receipt of income support payments and mean payment amounts were described by CP contact (adjusted for child and family attributes). Budget impact was modelled at the national level. RESULTS: Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for receipt of any income support payment was 3.01 (2.95-3.07) for individuals with any CP contact versus no CP contact. Among those receiving any payment, adjusted annualised mean benefit payment was $3754 (US$1446) among individuals with no CP contact, $6262 (US$4,307) in persons with any CP contact, and $9,747 in persons who'd been in OOHC. Cumulative payments modelled from age 16 to 33 years totalled $38,570 (US$26,652) for individuals with no CP contact, and $181,743 (US$125,003) for individuals who'd been in OOHC. Modelled for the Australian population to age 33, the extra cost associated with CP contact added 39 % to the government income support budget. CONCLUSION: CM is strongly associated with receipt of income support payments. Investment in effective preventive and protective strategies for CP involved children could address this core social determinant of health, while providing budget savings.

Socioeconomic risk and the longitudinal child lifetime prevalence of child protection involvement.

BACKGROUND: North American studies find that geographic indicators of disadvantage, such as concentrated poverty, significantly increase the risk of child protection involvement. Despite having one of the most extensive family support systems and progressive income redistribution policies in North America, the Canadian province of Québec still faces geographic variations in socioeconomic conditions that remain a major risk factor for child protection involvement. OBJECTIVE: This study asks how child protection involvement is distributed across socioeconomically distinct geographic areas of the province. Drawing from prior literature, we hypothesize that the highest level of child protection involvement across childhood (age 0-17) is found in the lowest socioeconomic areas. PARTICIPANTS & SETTING: This is a population-based prevalence study using administrative child protection data spanning the years 2000 to 2017 across Québec. METHODS: We constructed cumulative risk life tables of first instances of child protection events (report confirmation, compromised security or development, and out-of-home placement). Prevalence rates were mapped onto 10,650 Census dissemination areas divided into three tiers according to a validated socioeconomic status (SES) index. RESULTS: The highest childhood prevalence of confirmed child protection reports, finding of compromised security or development, and out-of-home placement was found in the lowest SES areas. Rates in low SES areas can be over twice the rates in high SES areas. CONCLUSIONS: Area-level socioeconomic vulnerability remains a robust predictor of child protection involvement even in a socially progressive context. Our findings underscore that without targeted pediatric and family services, as well as poverty-alleviation programs for high-need families in high-need areas, even well-intentioned systems may fall short of reaching the families most in need.

"All you need is compassion?" a latent profile analysis of neglect and self-compassion on child mental health.

BACKGROUND: Neglect is a common form of child maltreatment and profoundly affects children's mental health globally. Self-compassion may help children cope with neglect but the role of self-compassion in neglect context has been understudied. This study identifies distinct patterns of self-compassion and child neglect and explores how neglect and self-compassion profiles correlate with child mental health. METHODS: The sample includes 3342 children aged 8-16 (49.6 % female) from a national survey of 29 provinces in China using a multistage sampling method. We used latent profile analysis to identify distinct profiles of self-compassion and neglect and examine their combined effects on child mental health, including both positive indicators (hope, resilience) and negative indicators (anxiety, depression, academic burnout, and peer problems). RESULTS: We identified four neglect/self-compassion profiles: Adaptable Self-Carers (average neglect/high self-compassion), Vulnerable Languishers (high neglect/low self-compassion), Stable Self-Soothers (low neglect/average self-compassion), and Opportune Thrivers (low neglect/high self-compassion). The Vulnerable Languishers group exhibited the poorest mental health outcomes, whereas the Opportune Thrivers showed the best outcomes. Adaptable Self-Carers, although experiencing more neglect than Stable Self-Soothers, had better mental health than the latter, possibly due to their greater self-compassion. LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional design limits our ability to determine causality, and the use of self-reported measures increases response bias risk. CONCLUSIONS: More self-compassion and less neglect are associated with more positive mental health outcomes. Moreover, self-compassion is a potential protective factor against the adverse effects of neglect on child mental health. Fostering self-compassion may boost positive adjustment in children who have experienced neglect.

The relationship between childhood maltreatment and self-harm: the mediating roles of alexithymia, dissociation, internalizing and posttraumatic symptoms.

Background: Although childhood maltreatment is associated with later self-harm, the mechanism through which it might lead to self-harm is not completely understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the roles of alexithymia, dissociation, internalizing and posttraumatic symptoms in the association between exposure to childhood maltreatment and subsequent self-harm.Methods: A total of 360 adolescents were asked to complete the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Dissociative Experience Scale, the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire-20, the Posttraumatic Stress Checklist for DSM-5, and the Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory.Results: Results of structural equation modelling analysis revealed the significant mediation effects of alexithymia and dissociative symptoms in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and self-harm, while internalizing and posttraumatic symptoms did not significantly mediate.Conclusion: The findings indicate that alexithymia and dissociative symptoms may be proximal mechanisms linking maltreatment exposure and adolescence self-harm.

Self-harm can be used as a maladaptive coping strategy in response to both hyper- and hypo-arousal symptoms.Alexithymia and dissociative symptoms may be proximal mechanisms linking maltreatment exposure and adolescent self-harm.Posttraumatic symptoms did not mediate the relationship between a history of childhood maltreatment and self-harm.

Knowledge and awareness level of health undergraduate students on child abuse: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate the level of knowledge of symptoms and risks of child abuse among undergraduate health science students according to their socio-demographic characteristics. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study involving 485 student volunteers. The data collection tools used in the study were the Demographic Data Collection Form and the Scale for Diagnosing Symptoms and Risks of Child Abuse and Neglect. RESULTS: It was found that health students' knowledge of the symptoms and risks of child abuse was moderate. It was also found that knowledge of diagnosing the symptoms and risks of child abuse was higher among women than among men, higher among those who had received education on child abuse, and increased with grade level. CONCLUSION: Child abuse is an important public health issue, and there is a need to raise awareness of this issue among health students.

Childhood Maltreatment and Longitudinal Epigenetic Aging: NIMHD Social Epigenomics Program.

Importance: Child physical and emotional abuse and neglect may affect epigenetic signatures of accelerated aging several years after the exposure. Objective: To examine the longitudinal outcomes of early-childhood and midchildhood exposures to maltreatment on later childhood and adolescent profiles of epigenetic accelerated aging. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study used data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (enrolled 1998-2000), a US birth cohort study with available DNA methylation (DNAm) data at ages 9 and 15 years (assayed between 2017 and 2020) and phenotypic data at birth (wave 1), and ages 3 (wave 3), 5 (wave 4), 9 (wave 5), and 15 (wave 6) years. Data were analyzed between June 18 and December 10, 2023. Exposures: Emotional aggression, physical assault, emotional neglect, and physical neglect via the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale at ages 3 and 5 years. Main Outcomes and Measures: Epigenetic accelerated aging (DNAmAA) was measured using 3 machine learning-derived surrogates of aging (GrimAge, PhenoAge, and DunedinPACE) and 2 machine learning-derived surrogates of age (Horvath and PedBE), residualized for age in months. Results: A total of 1971 children (992 [50.3%] male) representative of births in large US cities between 1998 and 2000 were included. Physical assault at age 3 years was positively associated with DNAmAA for PhenoAge (ß = 0.073; 95% CI, 0.019-0.127), and emotional aggression at age 3 years was negatively associated with PhenoAge DNAmAA (ß = -0.107; 95% CI, -0.162 to -0.052). Emotional neglect at age 5 years was positively associated with PhenoAge DNAmAA (ß = 0.051; 95% CI, 0.006-0.097). Cumulative exposure to physical assault between ages 3 and 5 years was positively associated with PhenoAge DNAmAA (ß = 0.063; 95% CI, 0.003-0.123); emotional aggression was negatively associated with PhenoAge DNAmAA (ß = -0.104; 95% CI, -0.165 to -0.043). The association of these measures with age 15 years PhenoAge DNAmAA was almost fully mediated by age 9 years PhenoAge DNAm age acceleration. Similar patterns were found for GrimAge, DunedinPACE, and PhenoAge, but only those for PhenoAge remained after adjustments for multiple comparisons. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, altered patterns of DNAmAA were sensitive to the type and timing of child maltreatment exposure and appeared to be associated with more proximate biological embedding of stress.

Prevalence and associated factors of adolescent psychological abuse, neglect in Western China a multi-center cross-sectional study.

Background: The western region of China has a dense population, relatively underdeveloped economy, and a significant number of left-behind children. Currently, the prevalence of adolescent psychological abuse, neglect, and the factors associated with these issues in the region remain unclear. This study aims to evaluate the current status of adolescent psychological abuse and neglect and its associated factors in this region.Methods: Data were collected from 50 schools in western China through cluster sampling to target adolescents aged 12 to 18. A comprehensive survey form was used to collect socio-demographic characteristics of adolescents. The Child Psychological Abuse and Neglect Scale was employed to assess the current psychological abuse and neglect of adolescents. Independent samples t-tests were used for inter-group comparisons. A Directed Acyclic Graph was constructed for controlling confounding variables. Subsequently, binary logistic regression analysis was performed, and a nomogram risk factors model was developed using R Studio.Results: This study included 12,743 teenagers, with an average age of 15.53(±1.39) years. Among them, 4,965 individuals, accounting for 39.0%, reported experiences of psychological abuse, while 4,167 individuals, accounting for 32.7%, reported experiences of neglect. The rates of psychological abuse and neglect in adolescents are influenced by gender, grade, left-behind experience, parental marital status, and living on campus (P < .05).Conclusion: Adolescents in western China exhibit higher rates of psychological abuse and neglect compared to those in the eastern and northern regions of China. Gender, grade, left-behind experience, and family factors significantly influence the psychological abuse and neglect of adolescents.

This study is the first large-scale, multi-centre, cross-sectional analysis of psychological abuse and neglect among youth in Western China, a region with relatively underdeveloped economic and social conditions.This article fills in the gap in the region's research on psychological abuse and neglect by addressing the issues of small sample size, limited coverage, and a lack of variables included.This provides a crucial theoretical foundation for enhancing the mental well-being of youth in this region and preventing psychological and mental illnesses among youth.

Medical assessments for abuse and neglect in contacts of maltreated children.

AIM: Identifying abuse or neglect in one child (index) implicates risk to other children residing in the same home (contacts). While child protection investigators may interview and visually examine contacts, there is lack of consensus regarding when contacts should have a medical assessment. Our goal was to describe the prevalence, characteristics and predictors of abuse and neglect among contacts medically assessed by a child maltreatment evaluation centre over a 5-year period. METHODS: Records of 381 maltreated index children and their 588 contacts were reviewed. Abuse or neglect was diagnosed in 15% of contact children. RESULTS: When index children had more than one type of maltreatment or more than three risk factors, their contacts were more likely to be neglected or abused, respectively. Failure to thrive, patterned injuries, and unmet medical needs were the most common findings among maltreated contacts, and most were diagnosed with injuries or conditions that would not be evident to a child protection investigator. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should consider evaluating contacts of maltreated children who have multiple risk factors or maltreatment types. These evaluations should include a careful assessment for injuries, growth and unmet medical needs.