Social functioning in individuals affected by childhood maltreatment: establishing a research agenda to inform interventions

Abstract

In individuals with a history of child maltreatment (CM), impairments in many domains of social functioning are well-documented but poorly understood. We summarize evidence for the detrimental effects of CM on social functioning and present key research recommendations focused on: 1. Identifying alterations in specific inter- and intra- personal processes (e.g., regulation of closeness and distance) that underlie problems in broader domains of social functioning (e.g., lack of perceived social support) in individuals who have experienced CM; 2. Examining whether alterations in specific processes and their link to broader social problems are modulated by internal and external situational factors; 3. Assessing social processes through laboratory studies and in vivo interactive approaches; 4. Adopting an interdisciplinary, lifespan perspective to assess bio-behavioral and environmental effects of CM within and across generations, using multi-method assessments; 5. Establishing global research collaborations to account for cultural and ethnic influences on social processes. Understanding the mechanisms that underlie problems in social functioning, as well as cultural and ethnic influences, might inform the implementation of effective prevention programs. Moreover, the proposed research is critical to develop interventions that help affected individuals build stable and nurturing relationships. Such relationships can – likely through buffering the effects of chronic stress and corresponding allostatic load – foster resilience and improve mental and physical well-being, thereby reducing not only personal suffering but also the societal and economic costs of CM and its consequences.

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

“…CM is linked to various long-term interpersonal problems such as difficulties in relationships (Colman & Widom, 2004 ), loneliness, and social isolation (Loos & Alexander, 1997 ). These impairments are alarming, given that supportive relationships are a major resilience factor protecting against the development of mental disorders (Holz, Tost, & Meyer-Lindenberg, 2020 ; Pfaltz et al, 2021 ) and can also help to break the cycle of intergenerational transmission of maltreatment (Thornberry et al, 2013 ).…”