Don’t get too close to me: depressed and non-depressed survivors of child maltreatment prefer larger comfortable interpersonal distances towards strangers

Abstract

Background Childhood maltreatment (CM) is frequently linked to interpersonal problems such as difficulties in social relationships, loneliness, and isolation. These difficulties might partly stem from troubles regulating comfortable interpersonal distance (CIPD). Objective We experimentally investigated whether CM manifests in larger CIPD and whether all subtypes of CM (i.e., physical, emotional, or sexual abuse and physical or emotional neglect) affect CIPD. Methods Using the stop-distance method (i.e. a team member approached participants until the latter indicated discomfort), we assessed CIPD in 84 adults with a self-reported history of CM (24 with depressive symptoms) and 57 adult controls without a history of CM (without depressive symptoms). Results Adults with CM showed a larger CIPD ( Mdn = 86 cm) than controls ( Mdn = 68 cm), and CIPD was largest for those with CM combined with current depressive symptoms ( Mdn = 145 cm) ( p’s < .047). In the latter group, all subtypes of CM were associated with a larger CIPD compared to controls ( p’s < .045). In the CM group without depressive symptoms, only those with emotional abuse ( p = .040) showed a larger CIPD than controls. Conclusions These results add to findings of differential socio-emotional long-term consequences of CM, depending upon the subtype of CM. Future research should explore whether a larger CIPD has a negative impact on social functioning in individuals exposed to CM, particularly in those with depressive symptoms. HIGHLIGHTS Adults with child maltreatment (CM) prefer larger physical distances. • This effect is more pronounced in those with CM and depressive symptoms. • Troubled regulation of physical distance might contribute to interpersonal problems.

Association between childhood maltreatment and social functioning in individuals with affective disorders: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Third, most of included studies used questionnairebased measures as the method of assessing social functioning and CM, which are subject to bias. 141 However, it is encouraging that there are new studies adopting assessments and application of experimental stimuli and settings that are close to real-life, such as interactive experimental paradigms with different interactions partners and contexts, 142,143 and virtual reality 144 environments. 145 Finally, more global representation is needed in the evidence base.…”

Social Functioning in Individuals Affected by Childhood Maltreatment: Establishing a Research Agenda to Inform Interventions

“…1 ) should, i.a., focus on problems in the regulation of closeness and distance which might contribute to partnership conflict and reduced sexual and relationship satisfaction. It has recently been proposed that based on learning history, individuals exposed to CM show abnormal neural responses to social signals, such as facial expressions [ 76 ] or the perception of touch [ 77 ], which might result in discomfort in situations of physical proximity, and a preference for larger interpersonal distances [ 77 , 78 , 79 ]. In addition, future studies should try to identify alterations in communicative processes and behaviors that contribute to negative evaluation by others [ 51 ].…”

Childhood Maltreatment is Linked to Larger Preferred Interpersonal Distances Towards Friends and Strangers Across the Globe

“…Research on the association between CM and CID is scarce. Using the stop-distance procedure, studies found an increased CID in physically abused children (Vranic, 2003) and adults with mixed types of CM (Maier et al, 2020;Lüönd et al, 2022. This finding was replicated by Lüönd et al (2022) and by Hautle et al (manuscript submitted for publication b), with mixed findings regarding the impact of depressive symptoms: Lüönd et al (2022) found that in adults with CM and symptoms of depression, all subtypes of CM were linked to a larger CID. In the absence of depressive symptoms, only adults exposed to emotional abuse showed an increased CID.…”

“…The complete absence of transcultural research and the lack of studies involving populations outside of Europe is problematic, given cultural and geographical effects on the processing of socio-emotional signals in general (e.g., Liddell & Williams, 2019;Matsumoto et al, 2010) and on CID in particular (Beaulieu, 2004;Evans et al, 2000;Ozdemir, 2008;Sorokowska et al, 2017). Finally, unlike other research on CID (e.g., Haim-Nachum et al, 2021), all of the previous studies on CID in CM have focused exclusively on CID towards strangers (Hautle et al, manuscript submitted for publication b;Lüönd et al, 2022;Maier et al, 2020;Vranic, 2003). It is thus unknown whether larger CID in individuals exposed to CM is restricted to strangers or extends to known others, as was found for individuals with high levels of social anxiety (Perry, 2013) and for individuals suffering from adjustment disorder with depressed mood (Ponizovsky et al, 2013).…”

“…However, sample sizes of existing studies are small, limiting reliability and conclusions that can be drawn. Moreover, existing findings stem from Croatia (Vranic, 2003), Germany (Maier et al, 2020), and Switzerland (Hautle et al, manuscript submitted for publication b; Lüönd et al, 2022), i.e., from limited geographical and cultural contexts, limiting generalizability. The complete absence of transcultural research and the lack of studies involving populations outside of Europe is problematic, given cultural and geographical effects on the processing of socio-emotional signals in general (e.g., Liddell & Williams, 2019;Matsumoto et al, 2010) and on CID in particular (Beaulieu, 2004;Evans et al, 2000;Ozdemir, 2008;Sorokowska et al, 2017).…”