Perceived Acceptability of Child Maltreatment as a Moderator of the Association Between Experiences of Child Maltreatment and Post-Traumatic Symptoms: A Cross-Cultural Study.

Despite the well-documented link between child maltreatment (CM) and mental health, evidence suggests substantial variability in the post-traumatic sequelae of CM across cultures. The perceived acceptability of CM in one's community might moderate the association between CM and mental health, but little research has been conducted on it so far. This study examined how the perceived acceptability of CM may influence the relationship between CM experiences and post-traumatic symptoms in individuals from four different continents and if the pattern of associations is the same across countries. We recruited a sample of 478 adults from Cameroon (n = 111), Canada (n = 137), Japan (n = 108), and Germany (n = 122). We administered online questionnaires and performed multiple group moderation analyses for total CM, neglect, physical abuse, emotional maltreatment, sexual abuse, and exposure to domestic violence (DV). A significant positive main effect of CM on post-traumatic symptoms was found in the overall sample and in Cameroon; in Germany, only neglect and emotional maltreatment were positively associated to post-traumatic symptoms. Moderation effects were identified; the perceived acceptability of neglect in Cameroon and Germany and of exposure to DV in Cameroon had a dampening effect on the relationship between CM experiences and post-traumatic symptoms. Our findings confirm that CM experiences entail long-term post-traumatic sequelae that can vary across cultures and CM subtypes and further our understanding of this issue by showing that the perceived acceptability of CM may be an understudied moderator.

Difficulties with emotion regulation moderate the relationship between child maltreatment and emotion recognition.

BACKGROUND: Emotion regulation (ER) and emotion recognition (ERC) deficits are frequently observed in the sequelae of child maltreatment (CM). Despite a wealth of research on emotional functioning, these emotional processes are often presented as independent but related functions. As such, there is currently no theoretical framework on how different components of emotional competence, such as ER and ERC, may be related to one another. OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to empirically assess the relationship between ER and ERC by examining the moderating role of ER in the relationship between CM and ERC. A secondary objective is to explore whether unique CM subtypes, recognition of specific emotions, and ER dimensions are driving this relationship. METHODS: A sample of 413 emerging adults (18-25 years) completed an online survey (CM history, ER difficulties) and an ERC task. RESULTS: Moderation analysis indicated that in emerging adults with ER difficulties, as CM increased, the accuracy for negative emotions decreased (B = -0.02, SE = 0.01, t = -2.50, p = .01). Exploratory analyses revealed that most CM subtypes (sexual abuse, emotional maltreatment, and exposure to domestic violence) significantly interacted with two ER dimensions (difficulty with impulsivity and limited access to ER strategies) and was associated with disgust, but not sadness, fear, nor anger recognition. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide evidence for ERC impairment in emerging adults with more CM experiences and ER difficulties. The interplay between ER and ERC is important to consider in the study and treatment of CM.

Unpacking the effects of child maltreatment subtypes on emotional competence in emerging adults.

OBJECTIVE: Child maltreatment is often studied as a general category or individually as a subtype, but maltreatment subtypes are rarely studied simultaneously. Despite a breadth of research in the effects of child maltreatment on emotional competence, discrepant findings emerge when child maltreatment subtypes are explored. The present study aims to better understand the differential effects of childhood maltreatment subtypes on facets of emotion regulation and the recognition of specific emotions. METHOD: A sample of 573 emerging adults (87% female) aged 18-25 was recruited to complete an online survey that asked about child maltreatment history, difficulty with emotion regulation, and involved an emotion recognition task. RESULTS: Path analyses indicated that emotional maltreatment had a global effect on the facets of emotion regulation and the recognition of negatively valanced emotions (anger, fear, and sadness). Neglect predicted difficulties with managing impulsive behavior; sexual abuse predicted difficulties engaging in goal-directed behavior. Physical abuse was associated with poorer recognition of fear. Multigroup analysis suggested that patterns did not differ between clinically distressed and nondistressed participants. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the importance of including a standard set of child maltreatment subtypes in prediction models of emotional competence to avoid the misattribution or overestimation of the effects of child maltreatment subtype on emotional competence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Associations between experiences of childhood maltreatment and perceived acceptability of child maltreatment: A cross-cultural and exploratory study.

BACKGROUND: Acceptable parental behaviors and practices toward a child vary across countries and may impact the risk of exposure to maltreatment. Conversely, prior experiences of maltreatment as a child may influence the acceptability of child maltreatment (CM) behaviors. OBJECTIVE: This exploratory study examined the association between CM experiences and perceived acceptability of CM using data from four countries representing different cultures, living standards, and gross national income. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: We recruited a convenience sample of 478 adults from Cameroon (n = 111), Canada (n = 137), Japan (n = 108), and Germany (n = 122) through online postings on social media. METHODS: We administered questionnaires and conducted a three-stage hierarchical multiple regression with perceived acceptability of CM subscales as the dependent variable. RESULTS: In all countries, higher scores of childhood neglect were associated with greater perceived acceptability of neglect in one's community (p < .001). Equally, our results showed that higher scores of childhood neglect or sexual abuse were associated with greater perceived acceptability of sexual abuse (p < .044). However, we did not find a significant relationship between other forms of CM (i.e., physical abuse, emotional maltreatment, exposure to domestic violence), and their perceived acceptability. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that experiences of some CM types, namely neglect and sexual abuse, may be associated with the perception that these are more acceptable within one's community. Perceived acceptability of CM might be a driver that can either prevent or perpetuate CM. Therefore, intervention and prevention programs could incorporate a deeper cross-cultural understanding and assessment of these social norms in order to foster meaningful behavioral changes.

Examining Depression Among Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Homicide.

Male depression has been recognized as an important factor in some cases of intimate partner violence but there is a paucity of literature connecting depression and intimate partner homicide (IPH). This retrospective study provides a preliminary analysis that distinguished depressed from nondepressed perpetrators of IPH from a sample of 135 cases analyzed by a coroner's homicide death review committee in Ontario, Canada. Depressed perpetrators were more likely to commit homicide-suicide and had almost 1.5 times the number of risk factors present than nondepressed perpetrators. Consistent with the existing literature, the results indicated that depressed perpetrators were significantly older, more likely to commit homicide-suicide than homicide only, more likely to have prior threats or attempts of suicide, more likely to have been abused or witnessed domestic violence as a child than nondepressed perpetrators and more likely to exhibit sexual jealousy. The implications for these findings are outlined in terms of training of mental health professionals and public awareness about the potential lethality of domestic violence.