Classes and Consequences of Multiple Maltreatment

Abstract

While the overwhelming majority of research on the consequences of childhood maltreatment reports differential outcomes of specific maltreatment subtypes (e.g., physical abuse vs. emotional abuse) as though they are independent, maltreatment experiences often occur in combination. The present study evaluated multiple maltreatment experiences in a sample of 2,637 undergraduate students who reported on childhood maltreatment and current adjustment. The authors used latent class analysis to examine predominant patterns of multiple maltreatment experiences and investigated indices of psychosocial adjustment associated with those patterns. Results suggested that specific constellations of multiple maltreatment have qualitatively different associations with adjustment. Emotional abuse, alone or in combination with other maltreatment types, was especially salient for psychopathology (e.g., anxiety, depression), while a combination of physical and emotional abuse was most strongly associated with conduct-related problems (e.g., substance use, risky sexual behavior). These findings have both practical and empirical significance for understanding and classifying experiences of maltreatment.

A Latent Class Approach to Understanding the Intergenerational Transmission of Violence in Emerging Adult Relationships

“…Even though the psychological transmission subgroup reported more emotional reactivity than the no transmission subgroup, this difference was not significant. These findings align with past research indicating that patterns of co-occurring maltreatment may have an accumulative effect leading to maladjustment (Arata et al, 2005;Berzenski & Yates, 2011) and underscores the need for IGT of violence research to consider the presence of multiple forms of maltreatment when testing the IGT of violence hypothesis. This can be achieved through adopting a personoriented approach.…”

“…Even though these efforts have contributed to our understanding of the IGT of violence, by focusing on one type of violence without controlling for others extant research fails to deal with the problem of comorbidity or co-occurring experiences of violence. Offspring who experience maltreatment often experience more than one type (Arata, LanghinrichsenRohling, Bowers, & O'Farrill-Swails, 2005;Berzenski & Yates, 2011;Teicher, Samson, Polcari, & McGreenery, 2006), and individuals who report experiencing intimate partner violence also rarely experience one form alone (Sullivan, McPartland, Armeli, Jaquier, & Tennen, 2012). It is probable that confounding single and co-occurring maltreatment experiences have contributed to current inconsistencies within IGT of violence research.…”

“…Classifying the presence of violent interpersonal conduct overlooks evidence indicating that different types of maltreatment produce different effects on psychosocial health (Hahm, Lee, Ozonoff, & Van Wert, 2010;Teicher et al, 2006) and that co-occurring maltreatment types effects the well-being of children and adolescents differently (Hazen, Connelly, Roesch, Hough, & Landsverk, 2009;Villodas et al, 2012). For example, Berzenski and Yates (2011) identified subgroups of emerging adults based on multiple indicators of maltreatment, and found significant subgroup differences across a number of psychosocial outcomes. This approach of simply focusing on the presence of violence also neglects evidence suggesting that the likelihood of violent conduct being transmitted across generations will depend on the severity of violence experienced (Berzenski, Yates, & Egeland, 2014;Litrownik et al, 2005;Straus & Michel-Smith, 2014).…”

The consequences of childhood abuse

“…Many well respected research projects (51,52,48) show how emotional child abuse is the most widespread and most detrimental form of abuse. It leads to a feeling of shame in adulthood, and patterns based on shame and self-sacrifice act as mediators in the relationship between emotional abuse and later psychopathology (46).…”

“…If a child suffers several forms of abuse, it is reasonable to conclude that the effects, apart from cumulating, also act interactively, increasing the likelihood or severity of an unfavourable outcome (53). The most common comorbidity is physical and emotional abuse, but overlap is also frequent with other forms of abuse (51). The same authors emphasize that attempts to isolate the effects of individual forms of abuse is complicated and demanding methodologically, and of questionable value.…”