Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma最新文献

Introduction: Rates of suicidality are increasing among Black youth, who have higher instances of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) exposure compared to their White counterparts, despite reporting overall better mental health. This manuscript describes the suicidality trends among Black youth exposed to ACEs.

Methods: One hundred fifteen Black adolescents aged 11-16 participated in one of two interventions from 2022 to 2024 focused on substance use prevention and sexual health promotion. Both interventions consisted of eight sessions offered twice weekly over four weeks. To be eligible, youth were required to report exposure to at least one household challenge (i.e., a caregiver with a history of substance use, incarceration, or mental illness). Baseline and posttest assessments asked about exposure to nine adversities as well as about suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the sample's suicidality and adversity.

Results: The cohort reported being exposed to an average of three ACEs. Experiencing peer victimization (77.7%), discrimination (61.3%), and having an incarcerated family member (52.3%) were the most common types of adversity within the sample. From baseline to posttest, the frequency of suicidal thoughts increased nearly 4% among younger adolescents (ages 11-13) but decreased 5% among older adolescents (ages 14-16). A similar trend was observed for suicidal attempts but not plans.

Conclusions: Understanding the persistence and timing of ACEs exposures may be a critical factor in understanding suicidality among Black youth. Efforts to reduce suicidality among this group should focus on age-appropriate strategies to reduce ACEs exposures.

Early life adversity (ELA) is associated with diminished social cognition in populations with a neuropsychiatric diagnosis however less is known about general populations. Examining the association between ELA and social cognition in non-clinical populations allows determinants of social cognition to be explored in the absence of psychiatric classifications. The aim of this study was to examine the association between ELA and social cognition in the general adult population. The protocol for this study was preregistered on Prospero (preregistration-ID: CRD42023433358). Four databases and reverse citation searches were performed to identify relevant articles examining the relationship between social cognitive domains and ELA. Fisher's r-to-z transformed correlation coefficients were synthesised using inverse variance weighted random effects modelling to provide a mean effect size estimate, with 95% confidence intervals. The limited number of included studies precluded subgroup, sensitivity and publication bias analysis. 1,314 articles were identified with 20 articles representing 18 study populations meeting the inclusion criteria. There is preliminary evidence that ELA is associated with diminished theory of mind (z _r  = -.247, p = .002) and emotion recognition (z _r  = -.121, p < .001) in the general adult population. Sexual abuse as a subdomain of ELA is also associated with diminished emotion recognition (z _r  = -.056, p < .001). Correlational findings on the association between retrospective accounts of ELA and social cognitive deficits during adulthood suggest a continuing impact of trauma in later life. Longitudinal research is best situated to further explore causative and mediating factors underlying this relationship. These results have helped to clarify the ELA-social cognition association without potential confounds of concurrent mental health status, and, further elucidate a possible risk mechanism for functional disability.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40653-025-00724-y.

Background: Physical punishment (PP) of children is banned in > 50 countries, motivated by ethical arguments as well as empirically ascertained negative effects in adulthood. There is ample social pressure against PP in Sweden.

Aims: How common is a history of PP among randomly selected Malmö adolescents, is PP explained by certain social background factors and/or individual characteristics, and how do physically punished individuals differ with respect to antisocial outcomes at age 18.

Method: Participants (N = 518, a 20% sample of children born in Malmö 1995) responded to a comprehensive self-report questionnaire in three waves, age 15, 16 and 19.

Results: PP was reported by appr. 20% of the participants. Several differences were observed between participants who experienced PP and those who did not. These differences can be summarized as follows: parents' country of birth, the importance of religion, conflicts with parents, poor bonding with family, exposure to antisocial peers, perceived victimization by peers and teachers, victimization from crime, and difficulties with certain aspects of self-regulation.

Conclusion: In spite of being illegal, PP is relatively common. There were some significant associations suggesting differences between those exposed to PP and the others, but no serious effects at age 19, except violent behaviour for boys.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40653-025-00725-x.

This case study presents a 7-year-old girl who was brought to the emergency department after sustaining superficial burns on the anterior aspect of both legs approximately 8-9 days following a reported fall. The mother claimed the injuries resulted from applying oil and allowing the child to sit near a fireplace for warmth. However, forensic examination revealed parallel superficial burns with intervening normal skin, suggesting the burns were due to a hot cylindrical object rather than accidental injuries. Despite stable vitals and no evidence of infection, the delay in seeking medical care and the inconsistencies in the mother's explanation raised concerns of neglect and potential abuse. Further investigation revealed additional indicators of neglect in the child's home environment, including inadequate food provision and excessive housework responsibilities. This case shows the importance of comprehensive forensic examination and history evaluation in pediatric burn cases, stressing the demand for awareness and intervention in suspected child abuse scenarios.

Early social experiences of an individual profoundly impact their subsequent development of self-concept, psychopathology, affect regulation and interpersonal skills. The present study examines the relationship between childhood maltreatment, silencing the self, and self-esteem. Silencing the self, a construct proposed by Jack (1991), refers to the extent to which individuals perceive themselves based on external standards, sacrifice their needs as an act of caring, silence their opinions to avoid conflicts, and feel a disparity between their inner and outer selves. The study included 70 young adults (18-25 years; 51 females, 19 males) from India, recruited using snowball sampling. Results revealed a significant positive correlation between silencing the self and childhood maltreatment. Self-esteem was found to have a significant negative correlation with both childhood maltreatment and silencing the self. Further analysis revealed that childhood maltreatment and silencing the self act as significant predictors of self-esteem, but only self-esteem acts as a significant predictor of silencing the self. The findings of this study have important implications for understanding the influence of socialisation and consequent psychological changes in an individual.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked with increased risk for postpartum depression, which subsequently can lead to poor maternal and infant outcomes. The present study investigated how different patterns of ACEs are associated with postpartum depressive symptoms and with use of depression screening services. A racially/ethnically diverse sample of low-income women (N = 427) in an urban, university hospital in the Mid-Atlantic region reported their ACEs, depressive symptoms, receipt of depression screening, and receipt of a postpartum home visit. Three latent classes of maternal ACEs were identified: Low ACEs (57% of the sample), High Parental Separation/Divorce (30%), and High/Multiple ACEs (13%). Participants in the High/Multiple ACEs classes reported the highest levels of depressive symptoms, followed by women in the High Parental Separation/Divorce class, then the Low ACEs class. There were no statistically significant differences in depression screening services used across the three classes. Findings highlight the importance of screening for maternal ACEs during the perinatal period and targeting depression prevention services based on ACEs. More specifically, findings suggest multiple types of ACEs at high levels may be a more important predictor of depressive symptoms postpartum than the specific types of ACEs that are experienced.

Emotional abuse is associated with several deleterious outcomes including poor mental health, sexual assault, and partner homicide. Exposure to violence during childhood is an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) that has also been shown to increase the likelihood of experiencing mental health issues, including depression. Building on this understanding, this paper presents two studies that examined the relationship between these constructs, hypothesizing that individuals with ACEs would be more likely to experience both depressive symptoms and emotional abuse in intimate relationships during adulthood. Study One consisted of 345 Australian women and men aged 18 to 29 years, while Study Two comprised 700 women (18-82 years) from several countries. In both studies, participants completed online measures assessing ACEs, adult experiences of emotional abuse, and depression. Results from both studies showed that experiencing childhood adversity increases the risk of experiencing emotional abuse in intimate relationships and developing depressive symptoms in adulthood. Moreover, emotional abuse positively predicted depression, even after controlling for ACEs. The results provide further evidence for intergenerational cycles of abuse and their long-term mental health consequences.

Childhood trauma significantly impacts adult psychological well-being, including interpersonal relationships. This study explored the relationship between childhood trauma, rejection sensitivity, and interpersonal cognitive distortions among 265 young adults (ages 18-25) from Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Participants completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Interpersonal Cognitive Distortion Scale (ICDS), and Adult Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (ARSQ). Results showed that childhood trauma was positively associated with overall interpersonal cognitive distortions as well as its sub-dimensions of intimacy avoidance and mind-reading. Physical abuse emerged as the most influential trauma type, significantly predicting both the overall distortions and its two sub-dimensions. Intimacy avoidance was particularly affected by childhood trauma and its types. Rejection sensitivity was also positively associated with overall interpersonal cognitive distortions and its mind-reading sub-dimension. These findings have important implications for mental health professionals, marriage and family counselors, and therapists by understanding the role of various childhood traumas in shaping adult relationship patterns.

Research indicates that both adverse childhood events (ACEs) and poor interoception, the ability to recognize visceral sensations, are independently associated with anxiety and depression. Little is known, however, about the relationship between ACEs and interoception. The current study aimed to characterize the relationship between ACEs and interoception in two independent studies. In both studies (Study 1: N = 160, 70% female, M age = 20.28; Study 2: N = 814, 52% female, M age = 38.00) ACEs were self-reported using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Self-reported confidence in interoceptive accuracy, the precision with which a person can monitor visceral signals, and interoceptive attention, the dispositional tendency to attend to bodily signals were measured using the Interoceptive Accuracy Scale and Body Perception Questionnaire, respectively. In both studies, significant relationships emerged between high levels of emotional (study 1: β = -.300, p < .001; study 2: β = -.124, p < .001) and physical neglect (study 1: β = -.177, p = .039; study 2: β = -.136, p < .001) and low confidence in interoceptive accuracy, even after adjustment for sociodemographic factors and current stress levels. While in study 1 no relationships emerged between ACEs and interoceptive attention, in study 2 emotional neglect (β = -.101, p = .006) was associated with less interoceptive attention. Both studies demonstrated a relationship between some ACEs and low confidence in interoceptive accuracy and provide initial evidence that poor self-reported interoceptive accuracy may be a possible mechanism linking childhood trauma with poor mental health.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40653-025-00721-1.

Cyberbullying is a significant concern among adolescents, impacting mental health and behavior. This study aimed to examine the sex-specific prevalence and correlates of cyberbullying victimization among Thai adolescents. Data from the 2021 Thailand Global School-based Student Health Survey, involving 5,657 students in grades 7-12, were analyzed. Cyberbullying victimization was assessed through self-reported experiences in the past 12 months. Twenty-three outcome variables across five domains (lifestyle, mental health, substance use, sexual behaviors, and violence) were examined. Logistic regression models, adjusted for age, assessed the associations between cyberbullying and these outcomes separately for males and females, accounting for the complex survey design and sampling weights. Approximately 17% of male and 13% of female students experienced cyberbullying in the past year. For males, cyberbullying was significantly associated with negative outcomes, including poor mental health (loneliness, insomnia due to anxiety, suicidal thoughts and attempts), increased substance use (cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana), and risky sexual behaviors (multiple sexual partners). Male victims were also more likely to engage in violent behaviors and experience physical attacks. For females, cyberbullying was linked to poor lifestyle choices (sedentary lifestyle, poor oral hygiene, inadequate fruit/vegetable intake), heightened mental health issues (loneliness, insomnia, suicidal thoughts and attempts), and substance use. Female victims were also at higher risk of experiencing violence and traditional bullying. This study documented high cyberbullying rates among Thai adolescents and calls for comprehensive mental‑health support, especially for males with elevated suicidal ideation; healthy‑lifestyle and social‑connectedness programs for females; and universal resilience and digital‑citizenship training for all youth.