Pub Date : 2026-01-08DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2026.107885
Shan Jiang , Chengkun Jin , Ruoyu Du , Zurong Liang
Background
While both adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and discrimination have independently been linked to health disparities, few studies have examined how early-life adversity may predispose individuals to perceive or experience discrimination.
Objective
This study explores the long-term cumulative, typological and time-varying effects of ACEs on discrimination in adulthood using a representative longitudinal data.
Participants and setting
Four public waves of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health were used. The final analytical sample consists of 3107 respondents.
Methods
Latent class analysis was used to identify latent ACE classes. OLS and Negative binomial regression models were conducted to examine the effects of varied ACEs measures on discrimination experiences and perceptions.
Results
Physical abuse, emotional abuse, and parental incarceration were the strongest predictors of discrimination experiences (b = 0.160–0.193, p < .001) and perceptions (IRR = 1.393–1.649, p < .001). Cumulative ACEs was positively associated with discrimination experiences (b = 0.066, p < .001) and perceptions (IRR = 1.156, p < .001). Latent class analysis identified three ACE typologies; those within Parental Abuse had higher adult discrimination experiences and perceptions than Low ACE class. Exposure to physical (b = 0.281, p < .001; IRR = 1.655, p < .001) and emotional abuse (b = 0.258, p < .001; IRR = 1.722, p < .001) during early childhood predicted highest discrimination experiences and perceptions.
Conclusions
The study contributes to life course and stress proliferation theories by conceptualizing discrimination as a downstream manifestation of early trauma. Policy and clinical implications emphasize the need for trauma-informed, developmentally sensitive interventions across the life span.
虽然不良的童年经历（ace）和歧视都与健康差异有关，但很少有研究调查早期生活逆境如何使个人容易感知或经历歧视。目的利用具有代表性的纵向数据，探讨不良经历对成年期歧视的长期累积效应、类型效应和时变效应。参与者和设置使用了来自国家青少年到成人健康纵向研究的四波公开数据。最终的分析样本包括3107名受访者。方法采用潜类分析方法鉴定ACE的潜类。采用OLS和负二项回归模型检验不同ace措施对歧视体验和感知的影响。结果身体虐待、精神虐待和父母监禁是歧视经历（b = 0.160 ~ 0.193, p < 0.001）和认知（IRR = 1.393 ~ 1.649, p < 0.001）的最强预测因子。累积ace与歧视经历（b = 0.066, p < .001）和认知（IRR = 1.156, p < .001）呈正相关。潜在分类分析鉴定出三种ACE类型；受父母虐待的学生比低ACE班级有更高的成人歧视经历和认知。儿童早期遭受身体虐待（b = 0.281, p < .001; IRR = 1.655, p < .001）和精神虐待（b = 0.258, p < .001; IRR = 1.722, p < .001）预示着最高的歧视经历和感知。结论该研究通过将歧视概念化为早期创伤的下游表现，为生命历程和应激增殖理论做出了贡献。政策和临床意义强调需要创伤知情，发展敏感的干预整个生命周期。
{"title":"A longitudinal study of adverse childhood experiences and discrimination in adulthood","authors":"Shan Jiang , Chengkun Jin , Ruoyu Du , Zurong Liang","doi":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2026.107885","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2026.107885","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>While both adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and discrimination have independently been linked to health disparities, few studies have examined how early-life adversity may predispose individuals to perceive or experience discrimination.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study explores the long-term cumulative, typological and time-varying effects of ACEs on discrimination in adulthood using a representative longitudinal data.</div></div><div><h3>Participants and setting</h3><div>Four public waves of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health were used. The final analytical sample consists of 3107 respondents.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Latent class analysis was used to identify latent ACE classes. OLS and Negative binomial regression models were conducted to examine the effects of varied ACEs measures on discrimination experiences and perceptions.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Physical abuse, emotional abuse, and parental incarceration were the strongest predictors of discrimination experiences (b = 0.160–0.193, <em>p</em> < .001) and perceptions (IRR = 1.393–1.649, <em>p</em> < .001). Cumulative ACEs was positively associated with discrimination experiences (b = 0.066, <em>p</em> < .001) and perceptions (IRR = 1.156, <em>p</em> < .001). Latent class analysis identified three ACE typologies; those within Parental Abuse had higher adult discrimination experiences and perceptions than Low ACE class. Exposure to physical (b = 0.281, <em>p</em> < .001; IRR = 1.655, <em>p</em> < .001) and emotional abuse (b = 0.258, <em>p</em> < .001; IRR = 1.722, <em>p</em> < .001) during early childhood predicted highest discrimination experiences and perceptions.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The study contributes to life course and stress proliferation theories by conceptualizing discrimination as a downstream manifestation of early trauma. Policy and clinical implications emphasize the need for trauma-informed, developmentally sensitive interventions across the life span.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51343,"journal":{"name":"Child Abuse & Neglect","volume":"173 ","pages":"Article 107885"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145908674","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-07DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107872
Naama Parush Shear Yashuv , Rinat Salem , Ofra Abramson , Ayelet Carmeli-Messinger , Avrum Neumbourg , Amir Ron , Naama Holzman , Pini Akiva , Ben Y. Reis , Merav Dadia-Molad , Astar Sobol , Maytal Bivas-Benita , Guy Amit
Background
Child neglect and abuse are prevalent worldwide yet often incompletely reported and are frequently associated with long-term adverse physical and mental health outcomes. Municipal-level administrative data contain indicators relevant to detecting child neglect and abuse, which machine learning algorithms can aggregate to help identify children at-risk and facilitate timely interventions. However, this valuable information is typically stored in isolated data silos across different municipal services, limiting its effective utilization.
Objective
This study aimed to assess whether machine learning models applied to integrated municipal data can accurately predict the risk of child neglect and abuse in a large population of children residing in Jerusalem, Israel.
Participants and setting
A large, deidentified dataset representing over 470,000 children, linked across multiple municipal systems, including population registry, education, public health, local taxation and welfare services.
Methods
We defined neglect and abuse outcomes based on the child's welfare records, and constructed models to predict the current risk and the future 2-year risk for each outcome, using multitude of variables extracted from the dataset. Two main use cases were addressed: (1) risk prediction in the general child population using non-welfare data, and (2) risk prediction within the subpopulation already known to welfare services using both welfare and non-welfare data. The models were trained with incremental inclusion of data sources, and their performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and sensitivity at fixed levels of specificity.
Results
The prediction models demonstrated good performance, with AUCs ranging from 0.75 to 0.88, depending on the use case and the time window for risk estimation. Accuracy improved with the integration of additional data sources, particularly education and taxation records. In a scenario where the top 5 % of children at risk, according to the algorithm, are assessed by municipal services, 32 % of neglected children and 34 % of abused children would have been identified up to 2 years in advance. Predictive performance was generally consistent across sex groups, but showed slightly lower AUCs for Arab children, compared to Jewish children.
Conclusions
Machine learning models utilizing multi-source municipal data can effectively identify children at risk of maltreatment. Such tools may support municipal welfare systems by enhancing early detection, guiding resource allocation, and improving outcomes for vulnerable children. However, ethical considerations, cultural sensitivity, and human oversight are essential to ensure responsible implementation.
{"title":"Data-driven prediction of child neglect and abuse using integrated municipal sources","authors":"Naama Parush Shear Yashuv , Rinat Salem , Ofra Abramson , Ayelet Carmeli-Messinger , Avrum Neumbourg , Amir Ron , Naama Holzman , Pini Akiva , Ben Y. Reis , Merav Dadia-Molad , Astar Sobol , Maytal Bivas-Benita , Guy Amit","doi":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107872","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107872","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Child neglect and abuse are prevalent worldwide yet often incompletely reported and are frequently associated with long-term adverse physical and mental health outcomes. Municipal-level administrative data contain indicators relevant to detecting child neglect and abuse, which machine learning algorithms can aggregate to help identify children at-risk and facilitate timely interventions. However, this valuable information is typically stored in isolated data silos across different municipal services, limiting its effective utilization.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aimed to assess whether machine learning models applied to integrated municipal data can accurately predict the risk of child neglect and abuse in a large population of children residing in Jerusalem, Israel.</div></div><div><h3>Participants and setting</h3><div>A large, deidentified dataset representing over 470,000 children, linked across multiple municipal systems, including population registry, education, public health, local taxation and welfare services.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We defined neglect and abuse outcomes based on the child's welfare records, and constructed models to predict the current risk and the future 2-year risk for each outcome, using multitude of variables extracted from the dataset. Two main use cases were addressed: (1) risk prediction in the general child population using non-welfare data, and (2) risk prediction within the subpopulation already known to welfare services using both welfare and non-welfare data. The models were trained with incremental inclusion of data sources, and their performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and sensitivity at fixed levels of specificity.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The prediction models demonstrated good performance, with AUCs ranging from 0.75 to 0.88, depending on the use case and the time window for risk estimation. Accuracy improved with the integration of additional data sources, particularly education and taxation records. In a scenario where the top 5 % of children at risk, according to the algorithm, are assessed by municipal services, 32 % of neglected children and 34 % of abused children would have been identified up to 2 years in advance. Predictive performance was generally consistent across sex groups, but showed slightly lower AUCs for Arab children, compared to Jewish children.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Machine learning models utilizing multi-source municipal data can effectively identify children at risk of maltreatment. Such tools may support municipal welfare systems by enhancing early detection, guiding resource allocation, and improving outcomes for vulnerable children. However, ethical considerations, cultural sensitivity, and human oversight are essential to ensure responsible implementation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51343,"journal":{"name":"Child Abuse & Neglect","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 107872"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145935780","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-03DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107874
Austen McGuire , Rachel Siciliano , Cynthia M. Navarro Flores , Alejandro L. Vázquez , Daniel W. Smith , Dean Kilpatrick
Background
Exposure to multiple potentially traumatic events (PTEs; e.g., maltreatment, family or community violence), is a robust risk factor for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Identifying patterns of PTE exposure (i.e., polyvictimization) is essential for understanding youth risk for subsequent PTE exposure and mental health outcomes.
Objective
The current study used network analysis to characterize interrelations among PTEs and their connections to PTSD symptoms, and examined whether theoretically grounded classifications versus data-driven constellations of individual PTEs differentially capture polyvictimization patterns and associations with symptoms.
Methods
Data were drawn from 3614 youth (Mage[SD] = 14.63[1.67]; 50 % female youth) who reported on lifetime exposure to 31 distinct PTEs and PTSD symptoms. The study compared network structures and metrics indexing PTE and PTSD symptom interconnectedness across two approaches: (1) a priori theoretically-grounded PTE categories and (2) data-driven groupings of individual PTEs.
Results
Results from categorical and individual networks revealed both distinct and overlapping polyvictimization and symptom patterns. Aggregating PTEs into broad categories obscured key connections among “lower severity” PTEs (e.g., caregiver spanking/slapping, touching on private parts) that were strongly linked to polyvictimization and symptoms.
Conclusions
Theoretical, broad groupings may not accurately reflect patterns of PTE exposure in youth. Findings highlight the value of data-driven approaches and the importance of assessing individual PTEs to capture the complexity of polyvictimization. Results also highlight potential targets for prevention and intervention among PTE exposed youth (e.g., caregiver behaviors) and provide guidance for future the operationalization of polyvictimization in studies linking PTE and emotional and behavioral health outcomes.
{"title":"Caught in the web of polyvictimization: Network analysis of theoretical clusters versus data-driven groupings of potentially traumatic events among adolescents","authors":"Austen McGuire , Rachel Siciliano , Cynthia M. Navarro Flores , Alejandro L. Vázquez , Daniel W. Smith , Dean Kilpatrick","doi":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107874","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107874","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Exposure to multiple potentially traumatic events (PTEs; e.g., maltreatment, family or community violence), is a robust risk factor for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Identifying patterns of PTE exposure (i.e., polyvictimization) is essential for understanding youth risk for subsequent PTE exposure and mental health outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>The current study used network analysis to characterize interrelations among PTEs and their connections to PTSD symptoms, and examined whether theoretically grounded classifications versus data-driven constellations of individual PTEs differentially capture polyvictimization patterns and associations with symptoms.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Data were drawn from 3614 youth (<em>M</em><sub><em>age</em></sub>[<em>SD</em>] = 14.63[1.67]; 50 % female youth) who reported on lifetime exposure to 31 distinct PTEs and PTSD symptoms. The study compared network structures and metrics indexing PTE and PTSD symptom interconnectedness across two approaches: (1) a priori theoretically-grounded PTE categories and (2) data-driven groupings of individual PTEs.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Results from categorical and individual networks revealed both distinct and overlapping polyvictimization and symptom patterns. Aggregating PTEs into broad categories obscured key connections among “lower severity” PTEs (e.g., caregiver spanking/slapping, touching on private parts) that were strongly linked to polyvictimization and symptoms.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Theoretical, broad groupings may not accurately reflect patterns of PTE exposure in youth. Findings highlight the value of data-driven approaches and the importance of assessing individual PTEs to capture the complexity of polyvictimization. Results also highlight potential targets for prevention and intervention among PTE exposed youth (e.g., caregiver behaviors) and provide guidance for future the operationalization of polyvictimization in studies linking PTE and emotional and behavioral health outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51343,"journal":{"name":"Child Abuse & Neglect","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 107874"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145901000","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-31DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107875
Afnan Attrash-Najjar
Background
Although children's responses to abuse are well documented, less is known about how those responses unfold in marginalized, conservative communities experiencing political instability.
Objectives
This study examines responses and interpretations of responses to intrafamilial physical child abuse among Palestinian Muslim survivors in Israel.
Methods
Seventeen Palestinian Muslim adults (12 women, 5 men, aged 19–54) with histories of continuous intrafamilial physical abuse in childhood participated. They were recruited via social media and engaged in in-depth narrative interviews between May 2022 and January 2023. The interviews were analyzed using categorical-content analysis.
Results
Participants coped with ongoing intrafamilial physical child abuse through various mechanisms, including emotional withdrawal, invisibility, cognitive and imaginative escape, spiritual coping, and unsuccessful help-seeking due to systemic barriers. Their responses to the abuse were shaped by socialization, gender norms, religion, political oppression and state violence, which reinforced their endurance, silence, and distrust of authorities.
Conclusions
The study reveals how cultural, gendered, and systemic factors shape survivors' responses to abuse, emphasizing the need for interventions targeting both individual trauma and broader societal and systemic oppression.
{"title":"“Never mind, my dear, endure it, bear it”: Responses to and interpretations of intrafamilial physical child abuse among Palestinian Muslim survivors in Israel","authors":"Afnan Attrash-Najjar","doi":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107875","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107875","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Although children's responses to abuse are well documented, less is known about how those responses unfold in marginalized, conservative communities experiencing political instability.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This study examines responses and interpretations of responses to intrafamilial physical child abuse among Palestinian Muslim survivors in Israel.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Seventeen Palestinian Muslim adults (12 women, 5 men, aged 19–54) with histories of continuous intrafamilial physical abuse in childhood participated. They were recruited via social media and engaged in in-depth narrative interviews between May 2022 and January 2023. The interviews were analyzed using categorical-content analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Participants coped with ongoing intrafamilial physical child abuse through various mechanisms, including emotional withdrawal, invisibility, cognitive and imaginative escape, spiritual coping, and unsuccessful help-seeking due to systemic barriers. Their responses to the abuse were shaped by socialization, gender norms, religion, political oppression and state violence, which reinforced their endurance, silence, and distrust of authorities.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The study reveals how cultural, gendered, and systemic factors shape survivors' responses to abuse, emphasizing the need for interventions targeting both individual trauma and broader societal and systemic oppression.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51343,"journal":{"name":"Child Abuse & Neglect","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 107875"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145884985","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-30DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107866
Mengtong Chen, Naiqi Tian
Background
It remains unclear how childhood experiences, particularly dual exposure to child abuse and interparental violence, as well as positive childhood experiences, affect well-being in adulthood.
Objectives
This study aims to build the network structure of different forms of childhood victimization, parent-child closeness, and adulthood well-being outcomes, with a focus on the core childhood factor that is strongly linked to adulthood well-being and the potential sequential relationship between the variables.
Participants and setting
The retrospective study included 1528 participants between 18 and 65 in the community setting of Shenzhen, China.
Methods
Network analysis was used to identify the relationships between childhood experiences and well-being outcomes in adulthood. The network structure was constructed using R packages qgraph and bootnet. The directed acyclic graph (DAG) was used to explore the most probable direction of the proposed causal relationship.
Results
The network structure shows the indirect interactions between childhood victimization and adulthood well-being via parent-child closeness. Particularly, parent-child closeness is linked to childhood psychological aggression directly and also through neglect and exposure to father-to-mother violence. DAG further indicates the potential sequential relationship between childhood experiences and adulthood well-being, in which psychological aggression plays a pivotal role.
Conclusions
The findings emphasize the significance of preventing childhood victimization, which can improve community health. There is a need for universal interventions to improve the awareness of psychological abuse and integrated services for poly-victims of childhood abuse and interparental violence. Programs aimed at reducing the impacts of child victimization should include efforts to strengthen parent-child relationships.
{"title":"Associations between childhood victimization, parent-child closeness, and adulthood well-being outcomes: A network analysis","authors":"Mengtong Chen, Naiqi Tian","doi":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107866","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107866","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>It remains unclear how childhood experiences, particularly dual exposure to child abuse and interparental violence, as well as positive childhood experiences, affect well-being in adulthood.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This study aims to build the network structure of different forms of childhood victimization, parent-child closeness, and adulthood well-being outcomes, with a focus on the core childhood factor that is strongly linked to adulthood well-being and the potential sequential relationship between the variables.</div></div><div><h3>Participants and setting</h3><div>The retrospective study included 1528 participants between 18 and 65 in the community setting of Shenzhen, China.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Network analysis was used to identify the relationships between childhood experiences and well-being outcomes in adulthood. The network structure was constructed using R packages <em>qgraph</em> and <em>bootnet.</em> The directed acyclic graph (DAG) was used to explore the most probable direction of the proposed causal relationship.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The network structure shows the indirect interactions between childhood victimization and adulthood well-being via parent-child closeness. Particularly, parent-child closeness is linked to childhood psychological aggression directly and also through neglect and exposure to father-to-mother violence. DAG further indicates the potential sequential relationship between childhood experiences and adulthood well-being, in which psychological aggression plays a pivotal role.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The findings emphasize the significance of preventing childhood victimization, which can improve community health. There is a need for universal interventions to improve the awareness of psychological abuse and integrated services for poly-victims of childhood abuse and interparental violence. Programs aimed at reducing the impacts of child victimization should include efforts to strengthen parent-child relationships.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51343,"journal":{"name":"Child Abuse & Neglect","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 107866"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145879470","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-30DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107854
Mikaela D. Scozzafava , Carl F. Weems
Background
Child maltreatment remains a critical public health issue with long-term developmental consequences. Understanding how community-level factors and policy changes influence reporting trends is essential for effective prevention and intervention.
Objective
This study investigated 11-year trends in statewide child maltreatment reports and substantiations to better understand these trends in connection with county socioeconomic conditions, statewide policy implementation, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Participants and setting
County-level rates of reported and substantiated child maltreatment from 2012 to 2023 among all 99 counties in Iowa were linked to county-level socioeconomic indicators.
Methods
Hierarchical linear and mixed modeling techniques were used to examine temporal trends and the influence of county-level socioeconomic indicators on reporting and substantiation rates.
Results
Trends in reports and substantiation rates were best modeled by curvilinear (cubic) trends with fluctuations related to a state-wide policy change and the COVID-19 pandemic. Results indicated that county-level income (β = 149.18, SE = 66.79, p < .05), unemployment (β = 124.26, SE = 53.90, p < .05), and safety (β = 198.13, SE = 81.41, p < .05) were associated with reporting rates. County-level educational attainment (β = 60.17, SE = 23.88, p < .05), income (β = 53.12, SE = 23.85, p < .05), unemployment (β = 43.58, SE = 19.47, p < .05), and safety (β = 79.72, SE = 29.67, p < .01) were associated with substantiation rates.
Conclusions
Contrary to expectations from data at the individual and family level, higher levels of income, education, socially supportive environments, and community safety were associated with increased rates of reported and substantiated cases at the county-level. While preliminary, the findings highlight the importance of understanding broad context, community-level surveillance, and institutional capacity beyond the individual and family levels.
背景：儿童虐待仍然是一个严重的公共卫生问题，具有长期的发展后果。了解社区层面的因素和政策变化如何影响报告趋势，对于有效预防和干预至关重要。目的：本研究调查了11年来全州儿童虐待报告和证据的趋势，以更好地了解这些趋势与县社会经济状况、全州政策实施和COVID-19大流行的关系。参与者和环境：在爱荷华州所有99个县中，2012年至2023年报告和证实的县级儿童虐待率与县级社会经济指标相关。方法：采用分层线性和混合建模技术来检验时间趋势以及县级社会经济指标对报告率和证实率的影响。结果：报告和证实率的趋势最好采用曲线（立方）趋势建模，其中波动与全州政策变化和COVID-19大流行有关。结果显示，县级收入（β = 149.18, SE = 66.79, p）与个人和家庭数据的预期相反，较高水平的收入、教育、社会支持环境和社区安全与县级报告和证实病例的发生率增加有关。虽然是初步的，但研究结果强调了了解大背景、社区一级监测和超越个人和家庭层面的机构能力的重要性。
{"title":"Eleven-year trends in statewide child maltreatment reports and substantiated cases: Associations with policy implementation, Covid-19 and community socioeconomic factors","authors":"Mikaela D. Scozzafava , Carl F. Weems","doi":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107854","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107854","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Child maltreatment remains a critical public health issue with long-term developmental consequences. Understanding how community-level factors and policy changes influence reporting trends is essential for effective prevention and intervention.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study investigated 11-year trends in statewide child maltreatment reports and substantiations to better understand these trends in connection with county socioeconomic conditions, statewide policy implementation, and the COVID-19 pandemic.</div></div><div><h3>Participants and setting</h3><div>County-level rates of reported and substantiated child maltreatment from 2012 to 2023 among all 99 counties in Iowa were linked to county-level socioeconomic indicators.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Hierarchical linear and mixed modeling techniques were used to examine temporal trends and the influence of county-level socioeconomic indicators on reporting and substantiation rates.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Trends in reports and substantiation rates were best modeled by curvilinear (cubic) trends with fluctuations related to a state-wide policy change and the COVID-19 pandemic. Results indicated that county-level income (β = 149.18, SE = 66.79, <em>p</em> < .05), unemployment (β = 124.26, SE = 53.90, <em>p</em> < .05), and safety (β = 198.13, SE = 81.41, <em>p</em> < .05) were associated with reporting rates. County-level educational attainment (β = 60.17, SE = 23.88, <em>p</em> < .05), income (β = 53.12, SE = 23.85, <em>p</em> < .05), unemployment (β = 43.58, SE = 19.47, <em>p</em> < .05), and safety (β = 79.72, SE = 29.67, <em>p</em> < .01) were associated with substantiation rates.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Contrary to expectations from data at the individual and family level, higher levels of income, education, socially supportive environments, and community safety were associated with increased rates of reported and substantiated cases at the county-level. While preliminary, the findings highlight the importance of understanding broad context, community-level surveillance, and institutional capacity beyond the individual and family levels.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51343,"journal":{"name":"Child Abuse & Neglect","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 107854"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145879003","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-30DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107868
Shaoli Lin , Wenya Bai , Yudan Zheng , Yuru Pan , Miaohong Zhuang , Yiqiang Zhan , Miao Liu
Background
There is little evidence regarding the relationship of child maltreatment with chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases and its underlying pathways.
Objective
To investigate the association of child maltreatment with chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases and its underlying pathways.
Participants and setting
An ambispective cohort analysis using data from the UK Biobank.
Methods
We utilized a national cohort study from the UK to evaluate the associations of child maltreatment and its five subtypes with incident chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases, assessing the mediated role of lifestyles, mental disorders, and inflammation indicators.
Results
A total of 121,632 participants who completed the child maltreatment assessment were included in analyses. Compared to participants without child maltreatment history, those exposed to three or more subtypes had an increased risk of developing chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases, with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1.49 (95 % CI: 1.36–1.62). All five subtypes of child maltreatment were associated with elevated incident chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases with the strongest estimation for physical neglect (HR: 1.43, 95 % CI: 1.31–1.55). Moreover, chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases induced by child maltreatment were attributed to chronic gastroduodenitis and gastroduodenal ulcer. Furthermore, child maltreatment was associated with lifestyles, mental disorders, and inflammation indicators, of which educational level, smoking status, anxiety, depression, C-reactive protein, white blood cell, neutrophil, and eosinophil partially mediated the associations of child maltreatment and chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases.
Conclusions
Child maltreatment and its subtypes were associated with increased incident chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases, especially for the upper gastrointestinal tract, involving the mediating role of lifestyles, mental disorders, and systemic inflammation.
{"title":"Child maltreatment linked to incident chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases and its underlying pathways: An analysis of the UK biobank","authors":"Shaoli Lin , Wenya Bai , Yudan Zheng , Yuru Pan , Miaohong Zhuang , Yiqiang Zhan , Miao Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107868","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107868","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>There is little evidence regarding the relationship of child maltreatment with chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases and its underlying pathways.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To investigate the association of child maltreatment with chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases and its underlying pathways.</div></div><div><h3>Participants and setting</h3><div>An ambispective cohort analysis using data from the UK Biobank.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We utilized a national cohort study from the UK to evaluate the associations of child maltreatment and its five subtypes with incident chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases, assessing the mediated role of lifestyles, mental disorders, and inflammation indicators.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 121,632 participants who completed the child maltreatment assessment were included in analyses. Compared to participants without child maltreatment history, those exposed to three or more subtypes had an increased risk of developing chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases, with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1.49 (95 % CI: 1.36–1.62). All five subtypes of child maltreatment were associated with elevated incident chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases with the strongest estimation for physical neglect (HR: 1.43, 95 % CI: 1.31–1.55). Moreover, chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases induced by child maltreatment were attributed to chronic gastroduodenitis and gastroduodenal ulcer. Furthermore, child maltreatment was associated with lifestyles, mental disorders, and inflammation indicators, of which educational level, smoking status, anxiety, depression, C-reactive protein, white blood cell, neutrophil, and eosinophil partially mediated the associations of child maltreatment and chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Child maltreatment and its subtypes were associated with increased incident chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases, especially for the upper gastrointestinal tract, involving the mediating role of lifestyles, mental disorders, and systemic inflammation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51343,"journal":{"name":"Child Abuse & Neglect","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 107868"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145879422","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-29DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107877
Qing-ying Ye , Si-yu Zhang , Xing-lin He , Yu-qing Yang , Ke Ni , Han-xue Yang , Wei Wei , David A. Preece , Raymond C.K. Chan , Bao-ming Li , Xin-lu Cai
Background
Childhood trauma has been found to increase the risk of developing alexithymia and depressive symptoms. However, the complex interplay between childhood trauma, alexithymia, and depressive symptoms remains unclear.
Objective
To understand how different facets of childhood trauma, alexithymia across positive and negative emotions, and depressive symptoms interact with each other, this study adopted the network analysis approaches to examine this complex relationship.
Participants and setting
An initial sample of 2918 Chinese college students completed a set of psychometric questionnaires measuring childhood trauma, alexithymia and depressive symptoms. Another independent sample (n = 858) was used to investigate the replicability of our results.
Methods
Undirected networks were estimated to explore the most relevant connections between the above variables. Bayesian network analysis was further used to explore the potential causal directions between the variables.
Results
Findings from the initial dataset showed that childhood trauma was positively correlated with both alexithymia and depressive symptoms in the undirected networks. Physical abuse was the most central node. The Bayesian network analysis indicated that externally orientated thinking and depressed mood may be key drivers for activating other symptoms. Physical abuse might affect suicide ideation through difficulties in describing negative emotions. The replication dataset showed similar network structures as the initial dataset.
Conclusions
The findings suggest that childhood trauma, especially physical abuse, plays an important role in developing later depressive symptoms via valenced components of alexithymia. This study clarifies how early adversities link to depressive symptoms through emotional functioning and informs clinical interventions targeting influential symptoms in trauma-exposed populations.
{"title":"Interrelationships between childhood trauma, alexithymia, and depressive symptoms: A network analysis and replication","authors":"Qing-ying Ye , Si-yu Zhang , Xing-lin He , Yu-qing Yang , Ke Ni , Han-xue Yang , Wei Wei , David A. Preece , Raymond C.K. Chan , Bao-ming Li , Xin-lu Cai","doi":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107877","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107877","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Childhood trauma has been found to increase the risk of developing alexithymia and depressive symptoms. However, the complex interplay between childhood trauma, alexithymia, and depressive symptoms remains unclear.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To understand how different facets of childhood trauma, alexithymia across positive and negative emotions, and depressive symptoms interact with each other, this study adopted the network analysis approaches to examine this complex relationship.</div></div><div><h3>Participants and setting</h3><div>An initial sample of 2918 Chinese college students completed a set of psychometric questionnaires measuring childhood trauma, alexithymia and depressive symptoms. Another independent sample (n = 858) was used to investigate the replicability of our results.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Undirected networks were estimated to explore the most relevant connections between the above variables. Bayesian network analysis was further used to explore the potential causal directions between the variables.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Findings from the initial dataset showed that childhood trauma was positively correlated with both alexithymia and depressive symptoms in the undirected networks. Physical abuse was the most central node. The Bayesian network analysis indicated that externally orientated thinking and depressed mood may be key drivers for activating other symptoms. Physical abuse might affect suicide ideation through difficulties in describing negative emotions. The replication dataset showed similar network structures as the initial dataset.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The findings suggest that childhood trauma, especially physical abuse, plays an important role in developing later depressive symptoms via valenced components of alexithymia. This study clarifies how early adversities link to depressive symptoms through emotional functioning and informs clinical interventions targeting influential symptoms in trauma-exposed populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51343,"journal":{"name":"Child Abuse & Neglect","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 107877"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145866326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-29DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107863
Sarah Tosato , Lucia Maggioni , Vittoria Bastanzetti , Doriana Cristofalo , Carlo Faravelli , Branko Ristic , the GET UP group , Mirella Ruggeri , Antonio Lasalvia , Chiara Bonetto
Background
Childhood physical and sexual abuse are highly prevalent among individuals with psychotic disorders. These individuals also tend to have poor global and social functioning outcomes. At symptom remission, adequate functioning is restored in only one out of seven patients, and if childhood abuse is present, psychosocial and occupational functioning are more compromised. Lower psychosocial functioning is found to be associated with higher levels of needs for care. This longitudinal study examines how physical and sexual abuse affect the total, met, and unmet needs for care of patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) at nine months (T1) from the onset.
Methods
We assessed a sample of 276 Italian FEP patients (M 59.1 %, age 29.9 ± 9.8). Needs for care were evaluated at both baseline (T0) and at T1 using the Camberwell Assessment of Need (CAN) scale, covering five areas: basic needs, social needs, health, functioning, and services, measuring both met and unmet needs. Physical and sexual abuse history was recorded using the Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse Questionnaire (CECA-Q).
Results
At T1, FEP patients with childhood physical or sexual abuse had higher total and met needs than non-abused patients, with physical abuse showing the strongest association with needs for care. A higher level of psychopathology, a lower global functioning, and childhood physical abuse were the main characteristics related to increased total, met, and unmet care needs.
Conclusions
These findings highlight the importance of assessing trauma history at the onset of psychosis, as this could be a crucial factor in identifying several specific needs for care and guiding treatment to address them.
{"title":"The impact of childhood sexual and physical abuse on needs for care among people with first episode psychosis","authors":"Sarah Tosato , Lucia Maggioni , Vittoria Bastanzetti , Doriana Cristofalo , Carlo Faravelli , Branko Ristic , the GET UP group , Mirella Ruggeri , Antonio Lasalvia , Chiara Bonetto","doi":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107863","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107863","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Childhood physical and sexual abuse are highly prevalent among individuals with psychotic disorders. These individuals also tend to have poor global and social functioning outcomes. At symptom remission, adequate functioning is restored in only one out of seven patients, and if childhood abuse is present, psychosocial and occupational functioning are more compromised. Lower psychosocial functioning is found to be associated with higher levels of needs for care. This longitudinal study examines how physical and sexual abuse affect the total, met, and unmet needs for care of patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) at nine months (T1) from the onset.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We assessed a sample of 276 Italian FEP patients (M 59.1 %, age 29.9 ± 9.8). Needs for care were evaluated at both baseline (T0) and at T1 using the Camberwell Assessment of Need (CAN) scale, covering five areas: basic needs, social needs, health, functioning, and services, measuring both met and unmet needs. Physical and sexual abuse history was recorded using the Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse Questionnaire (CECA-Q).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>At T1, FEP patients with childhood physical or sexual abuse had higher total and met needs than non-abused patients, with physical abuse showing the strongest association with needs for care. A higher level of psychopathology, a lower global functioning, and childhood physical abuse were the main characteristics related to increased total, met, and unmet care needs.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>These findings highlight the importance of assessing trauma history at the onset of psychosis, as this could be a crucial factor in identifying several specific needs for care and guiding treatment to address them.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51343,"journal":{"name":"Child Abuse & Neglect","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 107863"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145866406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-29DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107853
Yiran Zhang , Shuting Yuan , Jinyu Chen , Qiuchang Cao , Xuemei Xiao , Huajie Gu , Si Chen , Manjun Kim , Zhanjun Xing
Background
Social network strategies have emerged as a popular component of child maltreatment prevention programs. However, limited evidence exists on how these strategies are applied and whether they contribute meaningfully to program outcomes.
Objectives
This scoping review aims to synthesize how social network strategies are used in child maltreatment prevention programs and their associated outcomes.
Methods
This study reviewed 23 peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2023. Eligible studies included interventions that incorporated social network strategies and targeted parents or caregivers. Our results are structured to reflect a three-level social network intervention framework—intra-personal, inter-personal, and contextual.
Results
Most studies (n = 18) were conducted in high-income countries and focused on mothers. Contextual strategies (e.g., forming groups) were most common, followed by intra-personal (e.g., building social skills) and inter-personal strategies (e.g., strengthening tie). While most studies reported positive parenting and support outcomes, only 10 out of 23 included studies specifically examined the outcomes of network strategies.
Conclusion
Despite the popularity of certain intrapersonal and contextual network strategies, several network change strategies remain underutilized in child maltreatment prevention programs. Additionally, because few studies measured outcomes associated with network strategies, the potential psychosocial benefit of network strategies needs to be interpreted with caution. Future research should systematically incorporate network theories in the design of network strategies and intentionally measure their impact on maltreatment prevention outcomes across diverse socio-economic contexts.
{"title":"Social network strategies in child maltreatment prevention: A scoping review","authors":"Yiran Zhang , Shuting Yuan , Jinyu Chen , Qiuchang Cao , Xuemei Xiao , Huajie Gu , Si Chen , Manjun Kim , Zhanjun Xing","doi":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107853","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107853","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Social network strategies have emerged as a popular component of child maltreatment prevention programs. However, limited evidence exists on how these strategies are applied and whether they contribute meaningfully to program outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This scoping review aims to synthesize how social network strategies are used in child maltreatment prevention programs and their associated outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study reviewed 23 peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2023. Eligible studies included interventions that incorporated social network strategies and targeted parents or caregivers. Our results are structured to reflect a three-level social network intervention framework—intra-personal, inter-personal, and contextual.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Most studies (<em>n</em> = 18) were conducted in high-income countries and focused on mothers. Contextual strategies (e.g., forming groups) were most common, followed by intra-personal (e.g., building social skills) and inter-personal strategies (e.g., strengthening tie). While most studies reported positive parenting and support outcomes, only 10 out of 23 included studies specifically examined the outcomes of network strategies.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Despite the popularity of certain intrapersonal and contextual network strategies, several network change strategies remain underutilized in child maltreatment prevention programs. Additionally, because few studies measured outcomes associated with network strategies, the potential psychosocial benefit of network strategies needs to be interpreted with caution. Future research should systematically incorporate network theories in the design of network strategies and intentionally measure their impact on maltreatment prevention outcomes across diverse socio-economic contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51343,"journal":{"name":"Child Abuse & Neglect","volume":"172 ","pages":"Article 107853"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145866474","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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