Social support and academic experience among higher education students in Israel during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study focused on the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the academic experience of university students and their plans for dropping out. We examined how their health, exposure to COVID, and personal COVID-related health risk were associated with perceived social support and a positive academic experience versus plans to drop out of academic studies. We questioned 10,635 students from six research universities in Israel in a cross-sectional online survey. Our findings confirmed that exposure to COVID-19 was positively associated with perceived social support and plans to drop out of academic studies, but negatively associated with a positive academic experience. The greater the perceived social support, the more positive the academic experience, with fewer plans to drop out academically. The more negative students' perceptions of their general health, the more frequent the plans to drop out of academic studies. Also, perceived social support and a positive academic experience mediated the associations between COVID-19 exposure and health status, and plans to drop out of academic studies. This study highlights the potentially positive role of social support and positive academic experiences as significant resources and potential protective factors against plans brought on by COVID to drop out of academic studies.

University students' psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic: A structural equation model of the role of resource loss and gain.

Using the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, we aimed to determine whether university students' loss and gain in resources during the pandemic mediated the relationships between COVID-19 exposure/concern and depression and anxiety. In 2021, 7013 Israeli university students completed online questionnaires. We assessed the data using structural equation modeling. We found that resource loss was directly related to concern (ß = 0.32, p < 0.001). Depression and anxiety were both directly related to loss of resources (depression: ß = 0.75, p < 0.001; anxiety: ß = 0.69, p < 0.001) and concern (depression: ß = 0.06, p < 0.001; anxiety: ß = 0.12, p < 0.001). Resource loss had an indirect effect on the relationships between concern and depression (ß = 0.24, p < 0.001) and concern and anxiety (ß = 0.22, p < 0.001). COR theory may help explain the mechanisms behind university students' mental health during the pandemic and provides a framework to better understand preparedness for future pandemics, epidemics, and major disasters. Governments and universities should help prevent the loss of resources during future emergencies.

Intimate Partner Violence Victimization and Perpetration Among U.S. Adults During the Earliest Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between COVID-19 related conditions and the perpetration or experience of intimate partner violence (IPV) in the earliest stage of the pandemic. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed data collected via an internet-based survey in the spring of 2020 from an online sample of noninstitutionalized adults in the United States (N = 2,045). More than half of the sample self-identified as being in an intimate relationship at the time of the study (58.2%, n = 1,183) and were used in the analysis. A four-item tool was used to assess IPV perpetration and victimization during the earliest stage of the pandemic. Respondents self-reported demographic data and recent health histories, including COVID-19 tests results, related symptoms, and degree of personal social distancing. We hypothesized that COVID-19 related factors would increase risks of IPV. Descriptive, correlational, and generalized linear modeling analysis techniques were employed. RESULTS: COVID-19 impacted respondents had an increased risk of IPV victimization and perpetration. Among those who reported having symptoms consistent with COVID-19 but were denied access to testing, the odds of being a victim of psychological IPV was three times more likely than those who did not have symptoms. Respondents who reported testing positive to COVID-19 were two to three times more likely to experience or perpetrate psychological and physical IPV against an intimate partner. People who lost their job due to the pandemic were three to four times more likely to perpetrate IPV compared to those who remained employed. CONCLUSIONS: Especially during this COVID-19 pandemic period, our results emphasize the need for an ongoing public-health response to IPV. Continued surveillance via effective screening, intervention development, and implementation is needed.

The Role of Impulsivity in the Association Between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Severity and Substance Use in Male Military Veterans.

High rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and comorbid substance use disorder (SUD) are prevalent in military veterans. However, few studies have investigated impulsivity as a risk factor for engaging in substance use behavior for individuals who are experiencing PTSD symptoms. The present study evaluated impulsivity as a moderator of the association between PTSD symptoms and alcohol/drug use. Male military veterans (N = 106) completed self-report measures of alcohol use behavior, drug use behavior, and impulsivity. Participants also completed a structured diagnostic interview to assess for PTSD. The findings indicated that impulsivity moderated the relation between total PTSD symptoms and alcohol use, B = 0.01, p = .035, along with associations between alcohol use and two of the symptom clusters: PTSD reexperiencing symptoms, B = 0.01, p = .016; and PTSD avoidance/numbing symptoms, B = 0.01, p = .029. Veterans with high levels of impulsivity were at significantly higher risk of engaging in alcohol use than veterans with low-to-average levels. Impulsivity did not potentiate the relation between PTSD hyperarousal symptoms and alcohol use nor did it moderate the association between any of the PTSD variables and drug use. Impulsivity appears to serve as a significant risk factor for alcohol use, but not drug use, for male veterans experiencing PTSD symptoms. Future studies are necessary to replicate and expand upon these findings, particularly to facilitate the development of integrated evidence-based treatments that target both alcohol use and impulsivity within the context of PTSD.

PTSD and public stigma: Examining the relationship between public stigmas attached to PTSD and self-esteem, spirituality, and well-being.

OBJECTIVE: The main goal of the present study was to examine the association between personal characteristics and public stigma toward posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) survivors. METHOD: Two hundred and ninety (N = 290) Israeli participants completed a survey that included demographic, self-esteem, spirituality, well-being, and stigma questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, correlations, linear regressions, and structural-equation modeling were conducted in order to examine the study model and hypotheses. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The study findings demonstrate that self-esteem is associated with higher levels of belief that mental-health professionals can provide effective treatment for PTSD survivors, that survivors can recover and maintain normal relationships, and that survivors are not inclined to neglect their appearance and feel comfortable and calm with PTSD survivors. Spirituality is associated with a belief in professionals' ability to effectively treat PTSD and lower levels of belief that survivors are easily noticeable. Well-being is associated with a belief that survivors are careless with their hygiene and feel anxious around PTSD survivors. Muslim participants were more likely than Jewish participants to believe that survivors can fully recover, are careless with their hygiene, and that it is relatively easy to spot survivors. They were also more likely to feel anxious around survivors. Acquaintance with a PTSD survivor was associated with lower levels of belief that it would be difficult to maintain a relationship with a survivor and a stronger belief that survivors are relatively easy to spot. These findings make an important contribution to our understanding of the relationship between personal characteristics and the public stigmas attached to PTSD survivors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Meta-Analysis of Cyber Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration and Victimization: Different Types and their Associations with Face-to-Face IPV among Men and Women.

Cyber intimate partner violence (C-IPV) is a technology-mediated form of violence. It has been examined only in the last 10 years as a form of violence that can cause psychological damage to its victims. How this phenomenon connects to and differs from face-to-face IPV (F2F-IPV) has been, as yet, little studied. Research has not made clear whether sex differences may impact its use, particularly in light of the fact that no physical coercion is used in C-IPV. Thus, the current research aimed to investigate through a meta-analysis: differences between the average levels of different types of C-IPV victimization and perpetration; the association between C-IPV and F2F-IPV victimization and perpetration; and whether the answers to these questions were dependent on sex. The current meta-analysis drew on 46 studies, within 44 papers, with a total sample of 27,491 participants. Findings from 22 of these studies showed no significant sex differences between the average levels of different types of C-IPV victimization and between different types of C-IPV perpetration. These 22 studies showed positive large effect sizes for the correlation between C-IPV and F2F-IPV perpetration and victimization. Moreover, in both perpetration and victimization, sex did not impact the level of association. The findings suggested that C-IPV and F2F-IPV are highly correlated, and though not the same, they may share similar characteristics. Additionally, the results suggested that sex differences do not impact non-physical aggression, such as C-IPV. The implications for preventive strategies include that IPV interventions should also focus on alleviating instances of C-IPV.

Risk factors for depression and anxiety during COVID-19 in Israel: A two-wave study before and during the pandemic.

Research indicates that mental health problems increased across the globe after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is a need for research examining specific risk factors for mental health problems, while accounting for symptoms before the pandemic. This study examined risk factors for depression and anxiety symptoms among Israeli adults following the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel, above and beyond depression and anxiety symptoms reported 3 years before the pandemic. We performed a two-wave 3-year longitudinal study (W1 July-September 2017; W2 May-June 2020). The final sample included 578 participants who completed anxiety and depression self-report questionnaires at both waves. The W2 assessment additionally included being considered high-risk for COVID-19, and measures regarding loneliness, perceived stress, and COVID-19 worries. Both anxiety and depression symptoms were significantly higher at W2 during the pandemic. Worries related to COVID-19, perceived stress, loneliness, and prior mental health symptoms predicted depression and anxiety in W2. Additionally, being younger was associated with W2 anxiety. The current study highlights risk factors for psychological distress in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Attention of clinicians and policy makers should be given to the important role of loneliness when screening and treating people during this pandemic.

Development of a Questionnaire on Intentions to Engage in Dating Violence Among Puerto Rican Residents.

This mixed-methods paper describes the development and preliminary validation of the Behavioral Intentions Questionnaire (BIQ), a multi-scale questionnaire developed to assess determinants influencing Puerto Rican adolescents' intentions to engage in abusive behaviors in dating relationships. Items were developed qualitatively, and face and content validity were established by expert and target population judges via semi-structured interviews (n = 48), discussions, and four focus groups (n = 6 each). The questionnaire was pilot tested twice. An initial pilot test was conducted with students aged 13 to 17 from a private alternative education program in San Juan, Puerto Rico (n = 32). A second pilot test was conducted with a sample of students from the same site (n = 22), in addition to students in the same age range from a private school (n = 88) in San Juan. Confirmatory and Exploratory factor analysis was used to determine construct validity and Cronbach's coefficient alpha determined the subscales internal consistency reliability. Correlations between subscales were examined. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. Qualitative data suggested the need to revise or eliminate items and instructions and incorporate a social desirability measure. Factor analyses yielded a unidimensional structure for each subscale and each subscale demonstrated high internal consistency. Preliminary analysis on the factor structure, internal reliability, and validity of the BIQ were encouraging. However, further psychometric testing is needed before this measure can be considered a useful tool for measuring intentions to engage in abusive behaviors in dating relationships. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10896-021-00341-x.

Perceived stress during COVID-19: Community resilience three years before the pandemic as a protective factor.

Research indicates that stress increased across the globe after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Community resilience has been suggested as a central protective factor for stress related to disasters and emergency crises. This study examined the contribution of community resilience reported three years prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, together with related worries and personal risk factors, to perceived stress among Israeli adults following the first wave of COVID-19 in Israel. We performed a two-period 3-year longitudinal study (Period 1 [P1]: July-September 2017; Period 2: [P2] May-June 2020). The final sample included 578 participants. Participants completed a community resilience self-report questionnaire during P1 as well as measures regarding perceived stress and COVID-19 worries during P2. Using linear hierarchical regression, we tested the additional explanatory effect of community resilience and found it to be negatively associated with perceived stress. While health-related worries were not significantly associated with perceived stress, worries related to the functioning of governmental and health institutions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic were significantly associated with perceived stress. Additionally, being single, living in a smaller residence and income reduction during the pandemic predicted higher perceived stress. The current study highlights the potential buffering role of community resilience in protecting against COVID-19 stress. Assessing community resilience may help identify vulnerable groups, and focusing on community building may be an effective strategy to mitigate stress in future disasters.

Examining the Role of National Context: Do Country Conditions During Childhood Impact Perpetration of Dating Violence in Emerging Adulthood?

The link between individual experiences in early childhood or adolescence years and future dating violence (DV) perpetration has been well established and explored across various populations. However, little is known on a worldwide scale, about the association between national conditions during childhood, like overall well-being or status of women in that nation, and perpetration of DV in emerging adulthood. Applying life-course theory and a socioecological framework to data from the International Dating Violence Study and country index scores, this study examines whether the overall well-being of a country during childhood affects the perpetration of DV in emerging adulthood. We also examine if the national status of women during childhood moderates the association between overall well-being of a country during childhood and DV perpetration in emerging adulthood, all while controlling for the individual effects of gender, violence approval, criminal history, neglect history, and anger management. The study's sample size included 4,280 people from 19 countries. Men reported less likelihood of perpetrating DV compared to women. Cross national comparative analysis revealed a significant interaction effect between country well-being and women status on DV perpetration (ß = 0.69, p < .05) at the national level. When women's status was low or moderate, the well-being status showed an inverse effect on the probability of DV perpetration, but this direction switched in the face of high women's status. Contrary to previous research, higher women status may contribute to increased intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration. Our findings underscore the existence of context-specific social conditions in relationship to IPV. Broad implications of the findings, potential explanations and directions for future research are discussed.

Witnessing Parental Violence and Cyber IPV Perpetration in Hispanic Emerging Adults: The Mediating Role of Attitudes Toward IPV.

Recent studies indicate that the perpetration of intimate partner violence via cyberspaces (cyber IPV), namely, psychological aggression, sexual aggression, and cyberstalking is high among emerging adults. However, little is known of the risk factors that lead to cyber IPV and far lesser within Hispanic adults. Based on the intergenerational transmission of violence hypothesis, the present study examined the indirect effect of witnessing parental violence during childhood on the three types of cyber IPV through attitudes condoning IPV in Hispanic men and women, separately. Participants were 1,136 Hispanic emerging adults in the age range of 18-29 years (M = 20.53 years, SD = 2.42; 72.5% women, 88% Mexican descent). Over half of the participants (54.2%) witnessed at least one instance of parental violence during childhood. In contrast to women, men were more likely to hold attitudes accepting of IPV and perpetrate cyber sexual IPV, whereas women were more likely to report cyberstalking perpetration. Men and women with exposure to mother-to-father violence held attitudes justifying IPV that was associated with perpetrating the three cyber IPV types in adulthood (women: Brange = .016-.036; men: Brange = .016-.024). No significant gender differences were found in the associations of mother-to-father WPV and father-to-mother WPV on the three types of cyber IPV perpetration. These findings are discussed in the context of Hispanic culture, which has specific implications for cyber IPV intervention strategies.

Examining the boundaries between ICD-11 PTSD/CPTSD and depression and anxiety symptoms: A network analysis perspective.

BACKGROUND: Two newly identified sibling disorders - ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD - have been well validated in the last few years. Although these trauma-related disorders are suggested to be neatly separated from depression and anxiety, no study has used a network analysis to examine those definitions' construct validity when they also interplay with symptoms of depression and anxiety. Additionally, no research has focused upon the specific boundaries between these four disorders' symptoms, the bridges between them, and the ways they influence each other among clinical populations. METHODS: A sample of 234 men drawn randomly from a national sample of 1,600 Jewish men receiving treatment for domestic violence in Israel completed the ICD-11 International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) and Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). RESULTS: The ICD-11 CPTSD, depression and anxiety clustering network results revealed, within the EGA, a four-cluster solution in which PTSD and CPTSD symptoms are differentiated from two other distinct clusters of anxiety and depression symptoms. Feelings of worthlessness and avoiding internal reminders of the experience were the most central symptoms. LIMITATIONS: Due to the use of a cross-sectional design, causal interpretation of the network correlation between symptoms should be made cautiously. CONCLUSIONS: These findings strengthen the approach that ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD have a distinct construct; however, they also reflect a strong positive connection to anxiety and depression symptoms and no clear boundaries between disorders. Specifically, dysphoria/avoidance-related symptoms act as a bridge between the disorders, which may be important targets for specific assessments and related interventions.

Indirect effects of PTSD and complex PTSD in the relationship of polyvictimization with intimate partner violence victimization and perpetration among men in mandated treatment.

Background: Polyvictimization is associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), severe impairment, and re-victimization, including due to intimate partner violence (IPV), but polyvictmization's role in the perpetration of IPV is less clear. Objective: To examine the indirect effect of PTSD and complex PTSD in the relationship between polyvictimization and IPV perpetration. Method: Polyvictims were identified by cluster analysis of self-reported lifetime victimization history data in a random national sample (N = 234) of men at 66 clinical treatment centers for domestic violence perpetrators in Israel. Results: Four sub-groups were identified: low exposure to abuse and physical neglect (C1, N = 105), and three polyvictim sub-groups characterized by multiple forms of past exposure to neglect and verbal abuse (C2, N = 38), to verbal and physical abuse without neglect (C3, N = 46), or to neglect and both verbal and physical abuse (C4, N = 28). Participants also were characterized as having low exposure to traumatic events across the lifespan (cluster L5, N=156), or high exposure to traumatic events across the lifespan (cluster L6, N=78). Complex PTSD symptoms had an indirect effect in the relationship between membership in the C3 and C4 polyvictimization clusters (ß=.45, p<.05, ß=.60, p<.05; respectively) and severity of psychological IPV victimization, as well as between C3 polyvictimization cluster membership and severity of psychological IPV perpetration (ß=.32, p<.05). In contrast, PTSD symptoms had no indirect effect in any relationship between cluster membership and IPV outcomes. High lifetime trauma exposure also was directly associated with sexual IPV victimization. Conclusions: Complex PTSD may be a mechanism linking polyvictimization to the severity of both IPV victimization and perpetration. Clinical implications are discussed.

Antecedentes: La polivictimización (PV) está asociada con el trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT), discapacidad grave y revictimización, incluso debido a la violencia de pareja (IPV, en su sigla en inglés), pero el rol de la PV en la perpetración de IPV es menos claro.Objetivos: Examinar el efecto indirecto del TEPT y el TEPT complejo en la relación entre la PV y la perpetración de IPV.Método: las polivíctimas fueron identificadas por análisis de grupos de datos de historial de victimización autoinformado en una muestra nacional aleatoria (N = 234) de hombres que reciben tratamiento en 66 centros clínicos para violencia doméstica en Israel.Resultados: Se identificaron cuatro subgrupos: baja exposición a violencia y negligencia física (C1, N = 105), y tres subgrupos polivictimizados caracterizados por múltiples formas de exposición en el pasado a negligencia y violencia verbal (C2, N = 38), a violencia verbal y física sin negligencia (C3, N = 46), o exposición a negligencia y violencia tanto verbal como física (C4, N = 28). Los participantes tambien se caracterizaron por tener una baja exposición a eventos traumáticos a lo largo de la vida (grupo L5, N = 156) o alta exposición a eventos traumáticos a lo largo de la vida (grupo L6, N = 78). Los síntomas de TEPT complejo tuvieron un efecto indirecto en la relación entre la pertenencia a los grupos de polivictimización C3 y C4 (ß = .45, p <.05, ß = .60, p <.05; respectivamente) y la gravedad de la victimización psicológica por IPV, así como entre el grupo de PV C3 y la gravedad de la perpetración psicológica de IPV (ß = .32, p <.05). Por el contrario, los síntomas de TEPT no tuvieron ningún efecto indirecto en ninguna relación entre la pertenencia a un grupo y los resultados de IPV. La alta exposición a trauma durante la vida tambien se asoció directamente con la victimización por IPV sexual.Conclusiones: El trastorno de estrés postraumático complejo, puede ser un mecanismo importante que vincula la polivictimización tanto con la gravedad de la victimización como de la perpetración de la IPV. Se discuten las implicaciones clínicas.

Male intimate partner violence: Examining the roles of childhood trauma, PTSD symptoms, and dominance.

One approach to understanding perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV) by men focuses upon their childhood exposure to abuse or neglect as traumatic experiences, which may lead to PTSD symptoms; these symptoms can serve as risk factors for IPV perpetration. Another approach looks at the societal aspects of inequality between men and women as promoting male dominance over women and leading to IPV. The aim of the current study was to incorporate elements of each approach based on social learning theory through examining the role of dominance as a mediator between early childhood trauma, PTSD symptoms, and IPV perpetration severity. Participants consisted of 234 men drawn randomly from those receiving treatment at 66 domestic violence centers throughout Israel. They completed versions of the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale for IPV and Conflict Tactics Scale Parent-Child for history of family exposure to violence and physical neglect, the International Trauma Questionnaire for PTSD, and the Dominance Scale. The results indicated an indirect association between physical neglect in childhood and psychological, physical IPV severity, via PTSD and dominance. The results suggest a more integrated way of conceptualizing trauma, PTSD, and power and control issues for the perpetration of IPV. In addition, they emphasize the need to develop trauma-informed interventions that focus on dominance alongside other important trauma-relevant core themes that increase risk for IPV. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

A Network Analysis of Peritraumatic Distress Reactions and Their Relation to Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in People Exposed to Community Fires.

Objective: Research indicates that people who experience more intense peritraumatic reactions are at higher risk of subsequently developing PTSD. The study used network analysis to: 1) explore the network structure of peritraumatic distress reactions; 2) identify clusters of peritraumatic distress reactions; and 3) assess whether central items in the peritraumatic network have stronger network associations with subsequent posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTS). Method: A convenience sample of adults living in communities affected by large-scale community fires in Israel (November 2016) were recruited. Participants completed the 13-item peritraumatic distress inventory (PDI) within one month of the fires (n = 372), and the PTSD checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) four months after the fires (n = 199). Network analyses and exploratory graph analysis were conducted. Results: The PDI items were positively connected to each other in a network structure, which divided into two clusters: emotional reactions; and physical/somatic reactions along with guilt and shame. Loss of emotional control was the most central peritraumatic distress symptom. Highly central peritraumatic distress symptoms were not strongly associated with subsequent PTS; rather, physical reactions were most associated with PTS levels four months after the fires. Conclusions: Future studies should investigate targeting peritraumatic physical reactions as an early secondary prevention strategy for PTSD.

The role of complex posttraumatic stress symptoms in the association between exposure to traumatic events and severity of intimate partner violence.

BACKGROUND: Symptoms of both posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and disturbances in self-organization (DSO) have been suggested to play a role in the association between an individual's childhood physical abuse and neglect and his/her perpetration of IPV in adulthood; however, the two have yet to be studied in one model. Thus, we aimed to examine the interrelations among childhood exposure to violence and physical neglect, exposure to trauma across one's lifetime, ICD-11 CPTSD symptoms (i.e., PTSD and DSO), and IPV severity. METHODS: Participants were 234 men drawn randomly from a national sample of 1600 mandated men receiving treatment for domestic violence in Israel. They completed measures of potentially traumatic exposure, symptoms of CPTSD, child abuse and neglect, and IPV. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine possible direct and indirect effects of the study variables. RESULTS: Results confirmed the indirect role of CPTSD symptoms in the association between the following types of traumatic exposure - childhood exposure to violence (B = .03, ß = .05, SE = .01, p = .05, CI 90% [.041, .143]), childhood exposure to physical neglect (B = .04, ß = .04, SE = .02, p < .01, CI 90% [.014, .092]), and lifetime exposure to potentially traumatic events, or PTEs (B = .04, ß = .09, SE = .01, p < .001, CI 90% [.006, .074]) - and the perpetration of psychological IPV as an adult. No significant results were found in relation to the perpetration of physical IPV. CONCLUSIONS: The current cross-sectional study findings suggest a preliminary direction regarding the possible direct and indirect effects of ICD-11CPTSD on the severity of IPV psychological perpetration. The clinical implications include the need to focus on both PTSD and DSO symptoms in order to help reduce these potential risk factors for psychological IPV perpetration.

ICD-11 complex PTSD among Israeli male perpetrators of intimate partner violence: Construct validity and risk factors.

The International Classification of Diseases 11th Version (ICD-11) will include Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) as a unique diagnostic entity comprising core PTSD and DSO (disturbances in self-organization) symptoms. The current study had three aims: (1) assessing the validity of CPTSD in a unique population of male perpetrators of intimate partner violence; (2) examining whether exposure to different types of traumatic events would be associated with the two proposed CPTSD factors, namely PTSD or DSO; and (3) assessing the differential association of various sociodemographic and symptom characteristics with each factor. Participants were 234 males drawn randomly from a sample of 2600 men receiving treatment at 66 domestic violence centers in Israel. Data were collected using the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) - Hebrew version. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the factorial validity of ICD-11 CPTSD. Cumulative lifetime trauma and physical childhood neglect were associated with PTSD and DSO, while cumulative childhood violence exposure was associated only with DSO. Anxiety was associated only with DSO; depression more strongly with DSO than PTSD. Religious level contributed only to PTSD; compulsory military service only to DSO. The study supports the distinction between PTSD and DSO in the CPTSD construct and introduces the role of cultural variables.

The transition to parenthood following a history of childhood maltreatment: a review of the literature on prospective and new parents' experiences.

Background: Becoming a parent is viewed as one of the most important transitions in one's life. However, a history of childhood maltreatment may affect the adjustment to parenthood. Objective: The objective of this review was to synthesize the current evidence base to further our understanding of prospective and new parents' experiences in the transition to parenthood (pregnancy to 2 years post-birth), in the context of having a childhood maltreatment history. Method: A scoping review of the literature was conducted using the following online databases: PubMed, PsycINFO, PsycNET, and Published International Literature of Traumatic Stress. Results: The findings were synthesized into a four-component theoretical framework, which included mental health of the parent, physical changes, parental view of the child, and view of the self as a parent. A total of 69 papers, including 181,537 participants (of whom 30,482 mothers and 235 fathers had maltreatment histories), investigated the transition to parenthood. The majority of the studies showed that parents with a maltreatment history may suffer from a range of mental health problems during the transition to parenthood, experience more negative physical changes, and have more negative views of their child (or children). However, they reported both positive and negative experiences regarding their identity as a parent. Conclusions: The findings suggest that maltreatment is a risk factor for a more challenging transition to parenthood. Experiences of fathers with maltreatment histories merit more attention, as do those of parents in low- and middle-income countries. Future directions should include predictors of positive experiences and the development of early interventions to improve outcomes for this population.

Antecedentes: Convertirse en padre es visto como una de las transiciones más importantes en la vida. Sin embargo, un historial de abuso infantil puede afectar la adaptación a la paternidad.Objetivo: El objetivo de esta revisión fue sintetizar la evidencia actual para ampliar nuestra comprensión de las experiencias de los nuevos y futuros padres en la transición a la paternidad (desde el embarazo a dos años después del nacimiento), en el contexto de tener un historial de abuso infantil.Método: se realizó una revisión de la literatura utilizando las siguientes bases de datos en línea: PubMed, PsycINFO, PsycNET y Literatura Internacional Publicada de Estrés Traumático.Resultados: los hallazgos se sintetizaron en un encuadre teórico de cuatro componentes, que incluyó la salud mental de los padres, los cambios físicos, la visión del niño por parte de los padres y la visión de uno mismo como padre. Un total de 69 artículos, que incluían 181,537 participantes (30,482 madres y 235 padres con antecedentes de abuso), investigaron la transición a la paternidad. La mayoría de los estudios mostraron que los padres con antecedentes de abuso pueden experimentar una variedad de problemas de salud mental durante la transición a la paternidad, experimentan más cambios físicos negativos y tener una opinión más negativa de su(s) hijo(s). Sin embargo, informaron experiencias tanto positivas y negativas con respecto a su identidad como padre.Conclusiones: los hallazgos sugieren que el abuso es un factor de riesgo para una transición más compleja a la paternidad. Las experiencias de los padres con historias de abuso merecen mayor atención, al igual que los padres en países de bajos y medianos ingresos. Las direcciones futuras debieran incluir predictores de experiencias positivas y desarrollo de intervenciones tempranas para mejorar los resultados para esta población.