Relationships between childhood trauma and perceived stress in the general population: a network perspective

Abstract

Background Experiences of childhood trauma (CT) are associated with increased psychological vulnerability. Past research suggests that CT might alter stress processing with a subsequent negative impact on mental health. However, it is currently unclear how different domains of CT exert effects on specific subjective experiences of stress during adulthood. Methods In the present study, we used network analysis to explore the complex interplay between distinct domains of CT and perceived stress in a large, general-population sample of middle-aged adults (N = 1252). We used a data-driven community-detection algorithm to identify strongly connected subgroups of items within the network. To assess the replicability of the findings, we repeated the analyses in a second sample (N = 862). Combining data from both samples, we evaluated network differences between men (n = 955) and women (n = 1159). Results Results indicate specific associations between distinct domains of CT and perceived stress. CT domains reflecting a dimension of deprivation, i.e. experiences of neglect, were associated exclusively to a stress network community representing low perceived self-efficacy. By contrast, CT associated with threat, i.e. experiences of abuse, was specifically related to a stress community reflecting perceived helplessness. Our results replicated with high accordance in the second sample. We found no difference in network structure between men and women, but overall a stronger connected network in women. Conclusions Our findings emphasize the unique role of distinct domains of CT in psychological stress processes in adulthood, implying opportunities for targeted interventions following distinct domains of CT.

Anxiety mediates the relationship between childhood adversity and perceived current life stress in a diverse sample of emerging adults

“…Consistent with past work (e.g. Betz et al, 2020;Mundy et al, 2015), we showed independent and direct positive relationships between childhood adversity and both perceived life stress and anxiety symptoms. In addition, and in keeping with our primary hypotheses, we report for the first time a mediating role of two separate indices of anxiety on the relationship between childhood adversity and perceived life stress.…”

“…As such, individuals also report stronger negative associations between perceived current life stress and past-year major life events (Back et al, 2008;McLaughlin et al, 2010). Moreover, recent work from Betz et al (2020) identified perceived lack of control in stressful situations as a learned outcome of childhood adversity that becomes generalized to other, less threatening situations and persists into adulthood. Thus, the perceptions of demands imposed by stressful events plays an important role in how an individual will respond, and it is crucial to understand how subjective appraisals of stressful life events are associated with childhood adversity (Cohen et al, 1995;Goldman et al, 2005).…”

“…Understanding the relationship between childhood adversity and current life stress has been an important focus of recent research (Betz et al, 2020;LoPilato et al, 2020;McLaughlin et al, 2017). Childhood adversity can be characterized according to five dimensions: physical abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect, and sexual abuse during childhood or adolescence (Bernstein & Fink, 1998).…”

“…In summary, experiences of childhood adversity have been associated with greater perceived current life stress (Betz et al, 2020;McLaughlin et al, 2010), and this relationship is often influenced by subjective appraisals (e.g. sensitivity to stress, threat anticipation; McLaughlin et al, 2010;Teicher & Samson, 2016) related to anxiety.…”

Resilience and Stress in Later Life: A Network Analysis Approach Depicting Complex Interactions of Resilience Resources and Stress-Related Risk Factors in Older Adults

“…It is commonly acknowledged that repeated and chronic stress, particularly when exposed to early in life can lead to a sensitization of the psychobiological (stress-)systems ( Lupien et al, 2009 ). This in turn increases the vulnerability and sensitivity to future stress experiences and as such, heightens the probability for future (psycho-)pathology ( McEwen, 1998 ; McLaughlin et al, 2010 ; Betz et al, 2020 ). It is therefore hypothesised that stress will have a differential impact on the two network models due to expected differences in the stress vulnerability of the risk and control groups.…”