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Childhood maltreatment has been repeatedly linked to a higher incidence of health conditions with an underlying proinflammatory component, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. Childhood maltreatment has also been linked to elevated systemic inflammation prior to the onset of disease. However, childhood maltreatment is highly comorbid with other risk factors which have also been linked to inflammation, namely major depression. The present analysis addresses this issue by assessing the association of maltreatment with genome-wide transcriptional profiling of immune cells collected from four orthogonal groups of adolescents (aged 13-17): maltreated and not maltreated in childhood, with and without major depressive disorder. Maltreatment and psychiatric history were determined using semi-structured clinical interviews and cross-validated using self-report questionnaires. Dried whole blood spots were collected from each participant (n = 133) and assayed to determine the extent to which maltreatment in childhood was associated with a higher prevalence of transcriptional activity among differentially expressed genes, specific immune cell subtypes, and up- or down-regulation of genes involved in immune function after accounting for current major depression. Maltreatment was associated with increased interferon regulatory factor (IRF) transcriptional activity (p = 0.03), as well as nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 1 (NRF1; p = 0.002) and MAF (p = 0.01) among up-regulated genes, and increased activity of nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κB) among down-regulated genes (p = 0.01). Non-classical CD16+ monocytes were implicated in both the up- and down-regulated genes among maltreated adolescents. These data provide convergent evidence supporting the role of maltreatment in altering intracellular and molecular markers of immune function, as well as implicate monocyte/macrophage functions as mechanisms through which childhood maltreatment may shape lifelong immune development and function.

ABSTRACT In Sweden, both maltreatment and behavioural problems are indicative of needs that motivate interventions from child welfare services (CWS). However, the likelihood of being referred to CWS can be influenced by other than indicative factors on individual, peer and school‐area levels. Studies disentangling such other factors (possible bias) from indicative factors are still lacking in Sweden. Using a subsample of 1286 children across 14 schools from a longitudinal research programme and linking survey data to child welfare records, this article examines the relationship between maltreatment, behavioural problems, individual socio‐economic factors, peer affiliation, disadvantaged school areas and the likelihood of being referred. After controlling for maltreatment and behavioural problems, findings demonstrate that other factors on all three levels (individual, peer and school‐area) increase the likelihood of being referred, for example, living with low socio‐economic status, living in a single‐parent household, being affiliated with peers who smoke and attending school with a large proportion of children from socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. The findings highlight that individual‐level socio‐economic factors are pivotal in understanding why some children are referred, while others with similar needs are not. Implications for outreach social work with children at risk of maltreatment and behavioural problems are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nurturing environments have a critical influence on children's language development. It is unclear to what extent nurturing environments in institutions influence children's language development. Methods: The present study investigated the early lexical development in Japanese children raised in institutional care (IC) (N = 86; 10–33 months; 37 boys) and compared their lexical skills to a large sample of age peers being raised in biological family care (BFC) (N = 1897; 937 boys) using vocabulary checklists. Results: Our results present three main findings: (1) Japanese IC children did not exhibit a delay in productive vocabulary compared with BFC children, although their comprehensive vocabulary was delayed; (2) IC children who experienced maltreatment showed poorer vocabulary scores than non‐maltreated IC children; (3) both the duration at the institution and the number of books read to them significantly predicted children's vocabulary scores. Conclusion: Our study suggests that the Japanese institutions included in the present study did not show a negative impact, at least on productive vocabulary, and may competently foster children's language development. We discussed the relationship between institutional environments and children's language development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Young children involved in the child welfare system (CWS) are at high risk for suicidal ideation (SI) at a time when overall rates of suicide death in this age group are rising. Yet risk factors for and changes in SI over time are poorly understood in this population. Method: We combined data from two large representative longitudinal studies of children involved in the United States CWS. We examined patterns of SI among children who were between ages 7 and 12 years at the initial survey wave (N = 2,186), assessed at three waves using a measure of SI in the past 2 weeks. We conducted a multinomial regression to understand the baseline demographic, child maltreatment, and mental health characteristics that distinguish the trajectories. Results: There were eight different subgroups (Non‐Ideators, Late Ideators, Boomerang Ideators, Delayed Ideators, Desisters, Boomerang Non‐Ideators, Late Desisters, and Persisters). Differences in race, type of maltreatment, sex, and mental health symptoms were identified when comparing Persisters (SI at all three waves) to other groups. Conclusions: These findings can help researchers and practitioners to develop strategies for better identifying CWS‐involved children who are in greatest need of suicide risk monitoring and intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive science has demonstrated that we construct knowledge about the world by abstracting patterns from routinely encountered experiences and storing them as semantic memories. This preregistered study tested the hypothesis that caregiving‐related early adversities (crEAs) shape affective semantic memories to reflect the content of those adverse interpersonal‐affective experiences. We also tested the hypothesis that because affective semantic memories may continue to evolve in response to later‐occurring positive experiences, child‐perceived attachment security will inform their content. The sample comprised 160 children (ages 6–12 at Visit 1; 87F/73 M), 66% of whom experienced crEAs (n = 105). At Visit 1, crEA exposure prior to study enrollment was operationalized as parental‐reports endorsing a history of crEAs (abuse/neglect, permanent/significant parent‐child separation); while child‐reports assessed concurrent attachment security. A false memory task was administered online ∼2.5 years later (Visit 2) to probe the content of affective semantic memories–specifically attachment schemas. Results showed that crEA exposure (vs. no exposure) was associated with a higher likelihood of falsely endorsing insecure (vs. secure) schema scenes. Attachment security moderated the association between crEA exposure and insecure schema‐based false recognition. Findings suggest that interpersonal‐affective semantic schemas include representations of parent‐child interactions that may capture the quality of one's own attachment experiences and that these representations shape how children remember attachment‐relevant narrative events. Findings are also consistent with the hypothesis that these affective semantic memories can be modified by later experiences. Moving forward, the approach taken in this study provides a means of operationalizing Bowlby's notion of internal working models within a cognitive neuroscience framework. Research Highlights: Affective semantic memories representing insecure schema knowledge (child needs + needs‐not‐met) may be more salient, elaborated, and persistent among youths exposed to early caregiving adversity.All youths, irrespective of early caregiving adversity exposure, may possess affective semantic memories that represent knowledge of secure schemas (child needs + needs‐met).Establishing secure relationships with parents following early‐occurring caregiving adversity may attenuate the expression of insecure semantic memories, suggesting potential malleability.Affective semantic memories include schema representations of parent‐child interactions that may capture the quality of one's own attachment experiences and shape how youths remember attachment‐relevant events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, we surveyed forensic interviewers (N = 137) on their note-taking practices, perceptions of note-taking, and note-taking training. Many forensic interviewers surveyed (81%) reported that they take notes during forensic interviews. Of those, the most common reason for note-taking was to assist with remembering what the interviewee reported during the interview (89%) and to guide the formulation of follow-up questions (87%). Note-taking style was also reported upon, with most respondents indicating that they write down keywords that may be used again in the interview (78%), as well as short utterances or sentences related to the presenting narrative (61%). Finally, the majority (50%) of respondents who take notes reported always taking notes, although 29% reported taking notes most of the time. Of those respondents who reported not taking notes during forensic interviews, the majority listed the reasons as being that it distracts the child from the interview (85%) and causes them to break eye contact with the child (46%). Overall, many respondents endorsed the benefits of note-taking to the interviewing process, whereas a small minority reported some perceived risks or concerns with note-taking during interviews. Perhaps most notably, forensic interviewers, both of whom take notes and those who do not, reported low rates of note-taking training and a desire for more information on note-taking practices within the field. These results underscore the need for further research and best practice guidelines regarding note-taking during forensic interviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maltreatment and autism can be associated with overlapping difficulties across functional domains (e.g., social, emotional, and sensory) and high rates of mental health problems. A cognitive approach focussing on affect-laden cognition, here on episodic future thinking (FT), could help inform cognitive assessments and adapt psychological interventions. Three groups of adolescents (N = 85), (i) maltreatment (n = 28), (ii) autism (n = 29), and (iii) typical development without maltreatment/autism (TD; n = 28), matched in age (10–16 years old), sex (assigned at birth), and socioeconomic status, completed a newly adapted online Autobiographical Future Thinking Test. As predicted, the maltreatment group generated significantly fewer specific future events relative to the TD group, however, the number of specific future events did not significantly differ between the autism and the other groups. Exploratory analyses showed that lower FT specificity was significantly associated with more depressive (but not anxiety) symptoms across the three groups. These findings shed light on the cognitive profiles of both maltreatment and autism during adolescence and signal FT as a potential therapeutic target for adolescents with these developmental differences. Our study lays the foundation for additional comparisons of maltreatment-related presentations versus autism with improved designs and a broader set of cognitive and clinical domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the relationship between violence exposure and mental health in preschoolers living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Multiple regression analyses investigated associations between violence exposure and mental health in the Drakenstein Child Health Study (N = 978), a South African birth cohort. Lifetime violence exposure was assessed at age 4.5 years using the parent-report Child Exposure to Community Violence Checklist (CECV). Mental health was assessed at age 5 years using the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL 1.5–5). Eighty-three percent of the children were exposed to some form of violence. Internalising and externalising behaviours were positively associated with overall violence exposure (β per one unit change in the overall score = 0.55 [0.16, 0.94] and β = 0.53 [0.23, 0.84], respectively), domestic victimisation (β per one unit change in the subscore = 1.28 [0.28, 2.27]; β = 1.14 [0.37, 1.90]) and witnessing community violence (β = 0.77 [0.15, 1.39]; β = 0.68 [0.19, 1.18]). There was a positive association between polyvictimisation and externalising (β = 1.02 [0.30, 1.73]) but not internalising (β = 0.87 [-0.06, 1.80]) behaviour problems. Evidence for an association of witnessing domestic violence with internalising (β = 0.63 [-0.97, 2.24]) or externalising (β = 1.23 [-0.04, 2.50]) behaviours was less robust. There was no association between community victimisation and internalising or externalising behaviours (β = 0.72 [-1.52, 2.97; β = 0.68 [ -1.06, 2.41]). Observations highlight the risk for mental health problems among preschoolers living in high-violence contexts and emphasize the need for early interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A history of maltreatment can increase risk for dating violence (DV) and risky sexual behaviour (RSB) among adolescents. Secure parent-child attachment may reduce this risk, yet few studies have examined this as a protective factor. This study differentiated developmentally appropriate, exploratory sexual behaviours from RSB and examined whether maltreatment experiences and parent-child attachment in adolescence predicted DV and RSB reported five years later in a high-risk sample. Participants were 179 adolescents (46% girls; Mage = 15.34, range = 12–18 years) at risk for aggressive and antisocial behaviour. Adolescents reported their maltreatment histories and attachment to their parents at Time 1; five years later, at Time 2, they reported their experiences with DV perpetration and victimization and engagement in RSB. Both bivariate correlations and structural analyses demonstrated that maltreatment was associated with DV perpetration and victimization but not RSB, and attachment avoidance was associated with fewer RSB but not DV. Attachment anxiety was associated with physical DV perpetration and greater condom use, but only at the correlational level; attachment anxiety was not associated with DV or RSB in the structural model. There were no significant interaction effects. Findings highlight the importance of considering key developmental factors such as maltreatment and parent-child attachment in understanding adolescent risk for DV and RSB, and may inform future research that accounts for contextual factors such as motivation for violence perpetration and contraceptive use with multiple and/or casual sex partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the prevalence of interpersonal violence (IV) experienced by elite U.S. athletes. Athletes were surveyed about experiences of emotional, physical, sexual violence, and deprivation of food or water, as well as questions about mental health indices, identity characteristics, and who perpetrated the harm. Of the total sample, 57.8% reported experiencing some form of IV in sport. Most athletes who experienced IV experienced multiple forms with a large overlap between emotional abuse and other forms of violence. A significant relationship was found between reporting any form of IV and having been diagnosed with one or more psychiatric disorders – particularly anxiety, depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. IV was also significantly associated with self-reported eating disorders. A particularly strong association was found between reporting being deprived of food in sport and reporting an eating disorder. This study reveals a critical need for more research focused on the traumatic effects of IV in sport. The potential for detrimental effects on athletes' mental health also underscores the need for improvements in the prevention and early detection of IV in sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is constant debate surrounding the importance of the foundation year, and whether or not it should stay. But in an era where there is a dire need for diversity in industries that are lacking skills and talent, Dr Lucy Atkinson, Director of the Centre for Academic Persistence at Arden University, argues that foundation years have never been more important for students. In this article, Dr Atkinson addresses the benefits of the foundation year for students. In doing so, she explores how it improves access to education for those from more disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as mature students. Criticisms surrounding the foundation year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper Alex Dave, the Safeguarding Education Officer of the charity LGfL - The National Grid for Learning, writes about identifying adolescent neglect, which is the most common form of child abuse. She then gives a check list of helpful solutions for professionals, especially those in schools, to adopt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The verbal abuse research in social services is limited. This study aimed to describe verbal abuse of service users by professionals in social services. This cross-sectional descriptive study examined statutory reports of threats or risks in implementing social services in one city of Finland, from 2016 to 2020 (n = 1433). The case reports describing the verbal abuse (n = 34) were analysed using inductive content analysis. The perpetrators were registered and unregistered professionals. The types of abuse included inappropriate speaking style, oppression or dominance, and sometimes verbal abuse was accompanied by physical violence or threats of violence. The consequences affected the emotional well-being of service users, the fulfilment of their needs and the delivery of services. Actions implemented as a result of the reports consisted of monitoring, supporting, educating and alerting professionals about verbal abuse and raising awareness about the reporting. The findings suggest proactive training for professionals on behavioural boundaries and whistleblowing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children in care have experienced adversities, including maltreatment prior to contact with the system, negatively impacting on their mental health outcomes. The type of placement and length of time in care are thought to be important and the child welfare system aim is to achieve a permanent decision for children that best supports their needs by establishing a stable familial network. Permanency decisions can include reunification, foster care, kinship care, adoption, and residential placements. This review aims to establish to what extent permanent placement type, maltreatment experienced, length of time in care and age at which permanency is achieved impacts child mental health outcomes. Following PRISMA guidelines, five databases (ASSIA, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus and SocINDEX) and two registers (CENTRAL and TRoPHI) were systematically searched yielding six articles for inclusion in the study. Data were extracted and articles critically appraised utilising the Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool (CCAT). Papers reported mixed findings for permanent placement type and child mental health outcomes with little or no significant overall differences reported. Type of maltreatment experienced moderated the type of mental health symptomology reported. Difficulties in attachment and social relationships were reported for children placed older than two years, although confounding factors such as type of maltreatment likely reduce the strength of the association. Typically, children in permanent placements had better outcomes compared with peers in short-term or unstable placements. A lack of suitable validated and age-appropriate outcome measures and the existence of confounding factors impair our understanding of the interaction between pre-care adversities, the child welfare system itself and permanent placement outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between poverty and maltreatment is well established, and numerous studies show the detrimental effects of economic and material hardship on maltreatment, child welfare involvement, and family well-being. In turn, an increasing body of literature suggests the value of programs and services that provide economic and concrete support in stabilizing and supporting families and, ultimately, reducing occurrences of maltreatment. In this article, we examine the effectiveness of economic and concrete support in reducing primary outcomes of child maltreatment and child welfare involvement and in improving secondary outcomes of child and adult well-being through a systematic review of the literature. We review studies published between 1990 and 2023 through searches of scholarly databases, child welfare websites, and evidence-based clearinghouses. We used a two-stage review process to identify a final sample of articles for data extraction. Twenty-four studies with low risk of bias were included in the synthesis. Regardless of delivery mechanism, we found consistent, favorable evidence of the impact of economic and concrete support as a prevention strategy to reduce child maltreatment and child welfare entry and to a lesser extent, improvements in child and adult well-being across these studies. Implications for policy, practice, and racial equity are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Child maltreatment is a global issue in need of intervention. This study investigated whether SafeCare, an evidence-based behavioral parenting program to prevent child neglect and physical violence, is desired and feasible to implement in Haiti birthing centers. Methods A total of four focus groups were conducted with 29 birthing center staff and mothers in two birthing centers in Haiti. Staff participants also completed the World Health Organization Readiness Assessment for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment written survey. Results Focus group findings suggest that SafeCare is a desired program by both caregivers attending the birth center and birth center staff. Findings also showed that the SafeCare curriculum needs cultural adaptations before delivery in Haitian birth centers. We also found that despite contextual challenges that pregnant mothers and birth center staff face in Haiti, birth centers continue to be a place for women to receive pre- and post-natal medical care and weekly education sessions. Conclusions Findings support that although there are contextual challenges to a SafeCare implementation in Haiti, birthing centers are ideal and feasible locations in which to deliver SafeCare. Birth center networks may be potential settings in which to disseminate and scale evidence-based programs for improved health outcomes for mothers and children.

Male child sexual abuse is over-represented in institutional settings. This realization has increasingly come into public focus in recent decades initially through lived experience, often with male survivors' stories told in the media and subsequently through court cases and government inquiries. Beginning at the turn of the century with the Irish Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (1999–2009), numerous national and state inquiries into institutional child abuse followed around the world. This scoping review asks the question: What is known from the research about the institutional child sexual abuse of males? Conducted in 2023 five databases were used (APA PsycINFO, CINAL, Medline, Scopus, Web of Science) producing 973 studies for screening. Applying the Arksey and O'Malley framework resulted in 29 studies meeting the inclusion criteria, which were analyzed. Of the 29 studies, 27 could be categorized into 3 broad areas of focus: survivor experience, impact, and disclosure. Two further studies considered: turning points and meaning making. The findings are discussed under the following headings: disclosure, impacts (emotional, mental health, alcohol, and other impacts), and what is helpful to victim/survivors. Implications for practice, policy, and research are examined along with limitations of the current research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study aim was to examine the perceptions and experiences of parents regarding corporal punishment of children during early childhood within the context of traditional families. Participants of this qualitative phenomenological study were parental pairings of 11 preschool-aged children living in Eyyübiye district of Şanlıurfa, Türkiye. Data were collected through participant interviews during home visits and content analysis was followed for data analysis. It was revealed through the findings that parents used various forms of corporal punishment as a means of protecting family dignity as well as disciplining their children. It was also pointed out those traditional and cultural elements including parental respect, patriarchal structure, parental responsibilities of children, religious beliefs, and intergenerational transmission, which shaped how parents utilized and perceived corporal punishment. Finally, our study results were discussed in light of the relevant literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The debate over whether intellectual giftedness acts as a protective or a risk factor for various socioemotional difficulties has persisted in gifted studies for almost a century, with two contrasting views of giftedness still coexisting in the literature. Our goal was to investigate if early adversity could contribute to reconcile these views, specifically by investigating if Early Adverse Experiences (ACEs) could account for some of the vulnerabilities (e.g., anxiety, daydreaming, heightened emotional reactivity) sometimes associated with intellectual giftedness (Intellectual Quotient, IQ ≥ 130). For that purpose, 245 intellectually gifted adults (Mage = 41.71, MIQ = 137.87) and 205 control adults (Mage = 33.36, MIQ = 116.11) were surveyed. Main results revealed comparable high rates of ACEs among both groups. Severe ACE exposure correlated with heightened anxiety (r = 0.23, p < 0.001) and absorption in thoughts (r = 0.26, p < 0.001). Heightened emotional reactivity was associated with the duration of exposure (r = 0.11, p < 0.05). Parental verbal abuse correlated with reduced scores in positive relationships with others (r = 0.12, p < 0.05) and purpose in life (r = 0.13, p < 0.05). Conversely, IQ was not associated with these difficulties, except for a small protective effect against absorption (r = − 0.10, p < 0.05). These findings suggest that ACEs contribute to distinguishing gifted adults who experience socioemotional issues. However, subthreshold Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms and the limited protective effect of IQ on this condition may have led to underestimating the clinical assessment of their early environment, and to conflate early adversity effects with intelligence-related traits. Despite limitations and some nuances in our results, this study was the first to assess maltreatment and neglect in gifted adults. By contributing to fill the gap between two historical views of giftedness, it may inform improved clinical practices with intellectually gifted adults while better understanding them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current commentary provides an introduction to the special issue examining COVID-19-related professional challenges, innovations, and implications for child maltreatment victims. The editors of the special issue provide a summary of the research presented as well as the implications for the field of child maltreatment research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children now are facing an increasing risk of early life stress (ELS), which leads to detrimental psychosocial outcomes. Behavior studies suggested that positive parental interactions might moderate the negative impact of ELS, but the related biological alteration remains unclear. This study aims to investigate whether positive parent–child interactions moderate the association between maltreatment (as a severe form of ELS) and hair cortisol concentration (HCC), as well as between HCC and psychosocial outcomes in young children. Participants were 6-year-old Chinese children (N = 257, Mage = 6.2, 121 were male) selected by stratified cluster random sampling from a Shanghai population representative cohort. Proximal 3 cm hair strands were analyzed using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry for HCC. Children's psychosocial outcome was evaluated using the parental report Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Parents also reported the frequency of positive parent–child interactions using the Chinese Parent–Child Interaction Scale (CPCIS) as well as the history of maltreatment. Multi-level logistic regression models adjusting for individual, kindergarten, and district confounders were used to evaluate the associations between maltreatment, HCC, and psychosocial outcomes. Interactions terms tested whether more frequent positive parent–child interactions moderates the association between maltreatment and HCC, as well as between HCC and psychosocial outcomes. Maltreated children exhibited higher levels of HCC (B = 1.20, 95% CI: 0.38,2.02; p = 0.004), and children with higher HCC exhibited poorer psychosocial outcomes (B = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.18,0.51; p < 0.001). Positive parent–child interactions did not have a moderating effect on the association between maltreatment and HCC, but they demonstrated a moderating effect on the association between increased HCC and psychosocial outcomes (interaction term: B = −0.42, 95% CI: −0.75,−0.10; p = 0.01). These findings provide evidence that positive parental interaction may serve as a moderator between chronic cortisol exposure and psychosocial problems. It highlights the importance of frequent parent–child interactions, especially among children under a high risk of ELS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mental health system is impacted by extreme delays in the provision of care, even in the face of suicidal behaviour. The failure to address mental health issues in a timely fashion result in a dependence on acute mental health services. Improvement to the mental health care system is impacted by the paucity of information surrounding client profiles admitted to inpatient settings. Using archival data from 10,865 adolescents 12–18 years of age (Mage = 14.87, SDage = 1.77), this study aimed to examine the characteristics of adolescents admitted to psychiatric inpatient services in Ontario, Canada. Multivariate binary logistic regression revealed that adolescents reporting interpersonal polyvictimization, greater family dysfunction and higher risk of suicide and self-harm had a greater likelihood of an inpatient mental health admission. The interRAI Child and Youth Mental Health assessment can be used for care planning and early intervention to support adolescents and their families before suicide risk is imminent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Risk-allele carriers of a Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene, shortallele (MAOA-S) in males and long-allele (MAOA-L) in females, in the presence of a negative environment, are associated with alcohol misuse. Whether MAOA-S/L alleles also present susceptibility to a positive environment to mitigate the risk of alcohol misuse is unknown. Thus, we assessed the association of the three-way interaction of MAOA, maltreatment, and positive parent-child relationship with alcohol consumption among adolescents. Methods: This prospective study included 1416 adolescents (females: 59.88%) aged 16-19 years from Sweden, enrolled in the "Survey of Adolescent Life in Västmanland" in 2012. Adolescents self-reported alcohol consumption, maltreatment by a family (FM) or non-family member (NFM), parent-child relationship, and left saliva for MAOA genotyping. Results and discussion: We observed sex-dependent results. Females carrying MAOA-L with FM or NFM and a good parent-child relationship reported lower alcohol consumption than those with an average or poor parent-child relationship. In males, the interactions were not significant. Results suggest MAOA-L in females, conventionally regarded as a "risk", is a "plasticity" allele as it is differentially susceptible to negative and positive environments. Results highlight the importance of a good parent-child relationship in mitigating the risk of alcohol misuse in maltreated individuals carrying genetic risk. However, the interactions were not significant after adjusting to several environmental and behavioural covariates, especially parent's alcohol use, negative parent-child relationship, and nicotine use (smoking and/or snus), suggesting predictor and outcome intersection. Future studies and frameworks for preventive strategies should consider these covariates together with alcohol consumption. More studies with larger sample sizes are needed to replicate the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abuse of children with disabilities occurs at significantly higher rates than for their majority population peers. Compounding this are complex barriers to effective professional safeguarding. Rather than viewing this as a matter exclusively about childhood, maltreatment ought to be conceptualized as occurring across a wider life course trajectory for children who are victimized. To achieve this broader perspective, lifespan effects will be understood through the critical application of seminal developmental lifespan theories. Moving forward, the complexity that underlies persistence, in disproportionately higher rates of maltreatment of children with disabilities, should be considered relevant across a long and varied life course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child abuse and neglect includes any behavior that harms the child or hinders the child's development. The aim of this study was to determine the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with suspected child abuse or neglect in the pediatric emergency department. Between July 2017 and July 2022, patients admitted to our pediatric emergency department and consulted to the medical social services unit with a preliminary diagnosis of neglect and/or abuse were retrospectively scanned through the registry system. The patients were divided into five groups according to their victimization: physical, sexual, and emotional abuse; neglect; and medical child abuse (MCA)—Munchausen by proxy. A total of 371 children were included in the study. Two hundred twenty-two (59.8%) of the patients were female and the median age was 161 months [IQR (46–192)]. Then, 56.3% of the patients were in the adolescent age group. The most common admission time period was between 16.00 and 24.00 (n 163, 43.9%). Then, 24.2% of the patients were exposed to physical abuse, 8.8% to sexual abuse, 26.1% to emotional abuse, 50.4% to neglect, and 3.2% to MCA. One hundred eight (29.1%) patients were followed up as inpatients in the pediatric intensive care unit. Four of the patients (1%) had out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and the deaths were in patients under 2 years of age. Conclusion: Pediatric emergency departments are one of the important units visited by child maltreatment patients. Victimized children may reflect their silent screams with various clinical presentations. Infants are at the greatest risk of suffering serious or fatal injuries. Health professionals working in the emergency department have an important role in detecting, treating, and preventing recurrence of child neglect and abuse. What is Known: • The pediatric emergency department is an important entry point in the health care system for children who experience maltreatment. • It has a wide spectrum of physical, sexual, emotional abuse and neglect. What is New: • A high index of suspicion is required to diagnose cases of child maltreatment. • Infants are at the greatest risk of suffering serious or fatal injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child maltreatment and removal from home have been increasingly examined among marginalized groups but less so among multiracial youth. The present study examined 99 multiracial youth aged 11–17 (M = 14.18, SD = 1.79) years. Classification and regression tree analysis was conducted on demographic (age, gender, family religion, self-identified religious, English first language), type of maltreatment, and psychological (depression, dissociation, anger, post-traumatic cognitions) variables for three post-traumatic symptom clusters. Pathways of low and high risk were identified for reexperiencing symptoms, avoidance, and hyperarousal. The findings have implications for tailoring assessment and intervention processes for this highly vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human trafficking is a severe form of child abuse and maltreatment. Cases are pervasive and no demographic, socioeconomic status, community, or school is immune. The most effective response to human trafficking in school settings requires increased awareness and establishing policies, protocols, and procedures that support collaborative response to suspected human trafficking. School nurses are well equipped to lead these efforts. While the National Association of School Nurses acknowledges the importance of the role of the school nurse in child trafficking response in their Human Trafficking Position Statement, resources to aid school nurses in coordinated recognition and response efforts remain limited. This article reviews clinical guidance on human trafficking through a school-based lens, highlights indicators that should alert school nurses to the risk of trafficking, outlines best practices for response to abuse and exploitation, and provides additional tools and resources available to aid school nurses in their approach to caring for children experiencing trafficking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundMethodResultsConclusionsAlthough older adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities face high risks of maltreatment, there are few interventions available to reduce these risks. This study describes the development of a research-based intervention that aims to reduce the risks of maltreatment for this population.The development involved close collaboration with a program advisory board (PAB). It used a three-phase approach with a cross-cultural perspective: (1) performing a needs assessment, (2) determining content and design, and (3) evaluating the usability of the intervention.The needs assessment results and input from the PAB yielded critical information that helped shape the intervention’s development. Feedback from the trainers confirmed the intervention’s usefulness and revealed suggestions for enhancing its usability.The intervention developed appears to be promising for enhancing the knowledge and skills of older populations to reduce their exposure to maltreatment risks; future research should be conducted to assess its efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood: Wonder, joy, innocence, and hope are all evoked by the name alone. Children can experience trauma in many different ways, such as from serious illnesses or injuries, accidents, loss of a loved one, and natural catastrophes. Regarding the impact of early trauma on experiences in later life, a research topic was created. For the meta-analysis, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) criteria were applied. 25 research articles covering various aspects of childhood trauma were taken into consideration. Early traumatic sorrow has long-lasting effects on current functioning, and unresolved traumatic grief and PTSD symptoms can resurface rapidly and powerfully in response to current stressors. It can affect how children view the world, themselves, and other people when they witness relationships that terrify or make them feel rejected. In reality, in some children, the healing of the trauma may mark the beginning of an endless cycle of trauma symptoms, functional impairment, and further trauma. The basis for forming relationships, trust, love, and support that will advance a person's growth in a safe environment is laid during early life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a frequent dilemma of treatment-seeking mothers suffering from complex posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that is related to exposure to maltreatment and other forms of interpersonal violence. Namely, that complex PTSD symptoms, including dissociative states in mothers that are triggered by normative child emotion dysregulation, aggression, and distress during early childhood, hinder the development of a productive psychotherapeutic process in more traditional psychodynamic psychotherapies for mothers and children. The article thus presents clinician-assisted videofeedback exposure (CAVE) that characterizes a recently manualized brief psychotherapy for this population, called CAVE-approach therapy (CAVEAT). CAVEAT can be used on its own or to preface a deeper process using child-parent psychotherapy or other non-videofeedback-enhanced psychodynamic models. A clinical illustration is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: The maltreatment of child labourers is a major public health concern. There is a dearth of research in Bangladesh on the intentional maltreatment of child labourers. This study explored the risk factors for the maltreatment of child labourers in rural Bangladesh based on the knowledge and understanding of experts; (2) Methods: Seventeen interviews were conducted with experts who were sampled using a purposeful approach. A thematic analysis was performed to analyse data using NVivo; (3) Results: Child labourers were exposed to maltreatment due to their demographic, their young age, dropping out of school, health complications, and excessive dependency on employers. Socio-cultural adversities such as corporal punishment practices, social stratification, and family disorganization pose risks of experiencing maltreatment. Economic poverty is also a factor. Child labourers were found to be victimized if they worked in violence prone sectors. Significantly, the unregulated market structure and the lack of monitoring has also led to the exploitation of children in the workplace. Gaps in public policies were also identified as risk factor for the maltreatment of child labourers; (4) Conclusion: There is a need for adequate evidence-based research on the determinants of the maltreatment of child labourers to formulate adequate policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Child maltreatment is any type of abuse or child negligence which results the concrete or prospective hurt for those under age of eighteen. It is a global issue which severely endangered children's physical, emotional, behavioral, developmental and mental well-being for immediate and later in life. Although, its magnitude and devastating burden are difficult to comprehend, much remains to be done to know its prevalence and comprehensive impact. This meta-analysis and comprehensive review will provide important light on the burden, consequences, and contributing factors for child maltreatment. Methods: This meta-analysis and comprehensive review was coded at Prospero number of CRD42024503799. Universal online databanks including PubMed, Cochrane, Google, Google Scholar, SCOPUS, and Web of Science and Global Health were used to search for articles. Microsoft Excel was used for data extraction, and STATA17 was used to analyze this systematic review and meta-analysis. A random effect model exploration was employed when heterogeneity among included studies were evidenced. Results: The pooled prevalence of childhood maltreatment was 57.0 % (95 % CI = 32.00, 83.00). Included studies revealed that childhood maltreatment has multiple child health-related consequences. Being female (AOR = 2.94, 95 % CI: 1.48, 4.41), being young (AOR = 1.22, 95%CI: 1.09, 3.35), paternal illiteracy (AOR = 2.16, 95%CI: 1.012, 3.302) and have an open family discussion about sexual matters (AOR = 0.381 (95%CI: 0.121, 0.884) were considerably associated with child maltreatment. Conclusion: This finding publicized that the burden and multiple consequences of childhood maltreatment need much attention. Childhood maltreatment has both immediate and life time consequences for children later in life. Being female, being young, having illiterate fathers, and open family discussion about sexual matters were associated factors of child maltreatment.

The Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is the result of a severe form of physical abuse inflicted on children under the age of 2, mostly by parents or other caregivers, to quiet their inconsolable crying. The violent shaking of the child results in devastating consequences up to death or can lead to serious neurological sequelae and/or compromise of their neurodevelopment. The clinical diagnosis of SBS is not always easy and immediate, especially in cases where the picture presents with subtle signs and symptoms not directly attributable to abuse: it is therefore fundamental that the family pediatrician is aware of this nosological entity, suspects it in the presence of certain risk factors, always considers it in the differential diagnosis like any other pathology, and above all prevents it through sensitization and education of parents and other caregivers to adequately manage their child's crying. This article aims to emphasize the role of primary care pediatricians in knowing, recognizing, and preventing the shaken baby syndrome.

Despite global and developing countries' efforts to address maltreatment across various sectors, limited attention has been given to its impact on agriculture. This study investigates the effects of maltreatment of smallholder youth farmers specifically physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse on agricultural productivity among smallholder youth farmers. Employing a statistical research design, data from the Tanzania Integrated Labor Force Survey 2020/21 are analyzed. The study utilizes a Multivariate Probit (MVP) model to estimate determinants of maltreatment, and instrumental variable models (Two Stage Least Squares, Two Stage Residual Inclusion, and Control Function Approach) to estimate the effects of maltreatment on agricultural productivity with proximity to local law enforcement as an instrument to control endogeneity. The results reveal that Tanga (21.46%), Morogoro (17.08%), Kilimanjaro (17.06%), and Dodoma (15.00%) exhibit a high prevalence of maltreatment practices among youths, whereas Geita, Kusini Pemba, Kusini Unguja, Mjini Magharibi, Njombe, Rukwa, Simiyu, and Tabora display relatively few instances. Furthermore, factors such as gender, age, residence, and disabilities are key determinants of maltreatment. Additionally, maltreatment has varying effects in reducing agricultural productivity significantly such that physical abuse (β = −0.2315, p < 0.01), sexual abuse (β = −0.4281, p < 0.01), and emotional abuse (β = −0.1965, p < 0.01). This study implies that addressing maltreatment is crucial for enhancing the well-being and productivity of smallholder youth farmers. Moreover, it informs policy on the need for targeted interventions to mitigate maltreatment and recommends gender-sensitive agricultural policies, rural development initiatives, educational and skill-building programs, disability-inclusive policies, workplace support, and mental health resources, and the integration of technology for sustainable agricultural practices.

ObjectiveTo investigate child-parent concordance in reporting social victimization experiences and whether concordance was associated with child behavioral symptoms.MethodsThis was an observational study with data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study. The analytic sample was 11,235 9- or 10-year-old children from the United States. Exposure variables were demographic and protective factors (child perceptions of parental relationships, school protective factors, neighborhood safety). The outcome was parent-child concordance on 6 domains of child social victimization: conventional crime, peer victimization, witnessing violence, internet victimization, school victimization, and gun violence. Child behavior symptoms were measured using the Child Behavior Checklist.ResultsExposure to social victimization was low (9% of the sample). Concordance ranged from 18% to 50%. The highest levels of concordance were observed for conventional crime (k = 0.48, P < .001) and witnessing violence (k = 0.48, P < .001). Parents' perceptions of greater neighborhood safety was associated with lower odds of concordant conventional crime (odds ratio [OR] = 0.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.86-0.99) and witnessing violence (OR = 0.92, 95% CI0.84-0.99). Concordance was associated with more internalizing/externalizing behaviors.ConclusionsParents under-report social victimization in relation to children. Concordance in reporting social victimization may be an indicator of the severity of experiences, underscoring the need to consider child reports when screening for adversity.

Abstract The study aimed to examine the association of expanded adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with psychological distress in adulthood. The data from nation-wide online cohort was used for analysis. Community dwelling adults in Japan were included. The ACEs was assessed by 15 items of ACE-J, including childhood poverty and school bullying. Severe psychological distress was determined as the score of Kessler 6 over 13. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted, by using sample weighting. A total of 28,617 participants were analyzed. About 75% of Japanese people had one or more ACEs. The prevalence of those with ACEs over 4 was 14.7%. Those with ACEs over 4 showed adjusted odds ratio = 8.18 [95% CI 7.14–9.38] for severe psychological distress. The prevalence of childhood poverty was 29% for 50–64 year old participants and 40% of 65 or older participants. The impact of childhood poverty on psychological distress was less than other ACEs in these age cohorts. Bullying was experienced 21–27% in young generations, but 10% in 65 or older participants. However, the impact on psychological distress in adulthood was relatively high in all age groups. ACEs have impacted mental health for a long time. Future research and practice to reduce ACEs are encouraged.

Purpose In our previous study, we developed an assay system to evaluate antisocial maltreating behavior of conspecific mice using a perpetrator–victim paradigm. We also generated a mouse model for the maltreating behavior by mimicking child maltreatment or abuse. Here, we further investigate the antisocial behavior using anti-aggressive and antipsychotic drugs. Methods Model mice sequentially subjected to maternal separation (MS), social defeat (SD), and social isolation (SI) in that order (MS/SD/SI model) were subjected to a maltreating behavioral task. The MS/SD/SI mice were treated with oxytocin (OXY), clozapine (CLZ), haloperidol (HAL), and 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT). Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used for protein analysis. Results A substantial portion of the MS/SD/SI model mice (46% of males and 40% of females) showed a higher number of nose pokes than the control. OXY or 8-OH-DPAT treatment reduced the high number of nose pokes by the MS/SD/SI mice, whereas HAL increased it. CLZ did not affect the number of nose pokes by the MS/SD/SI mice. Interestingly, although the OXY level in the MS/SD/SI mice was similar to that in the control, the amount of OXY receptor was lower in the MS/SD/SI mice. The amount of 5-HT1A receptor was also decreased in the MS/SD/SI mice. Conclusion Chronic social stress in childhood might predispose a mouse to antisocial behavior. Our maltreating behavior assay system, including the MS/SD/SI model, is a good animal system for research on and drug screening for brain disorders associated with antisocial or psychotic behavior.

ABSTRACTBackground: Childhood maltreatment profoundly influences social and emotional development, increasing psychiatric risk. Alterations in the implicit processing of threat-related cues following early abuse and neglect represent a marker of mental health vulnerability. Less is known about how early adversity influences the perception of positive social cues, despite their central role in establishing and maintaining social interactions and their association with better mental health outcomes.Methods: The sample consisted of 42 children and adolescents with substantiated childhood maltreatment experiences and 32 peers (mean age 13.3), matched on age, pubertal status, gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and cognitive ability. A computerised experimental task assessed the perceived emotional intensity of positive (happy) and negative (fearful) facial expressions. Mental health symptoms were measured via self- and parental reports, and perceived social support was self-reported.Results: The experience of abuse and neglect was associated with heightened perceived intensity of positive facial cues. Cross-sectional post-hoc moderation and mediation analyses, employing a model-building approach, revealed that in maltreatment-exposed participants: (i) their increased response to positive facial cues was associated with lower symptoms; (ii) the presence of social support accounted for their heightened perceived intensity of positive facial cues; (iii) the presence of social support putatively contributed to lower symptoms by increasing the perceived intensity of positive facial cues. No group differences in perceived intensity of negative expressions were observed.Conclusions: These findings provide fresh insight into how positive faces are processed following maltreatment experience in childhood. Maltreatment experience was found to be associated with heightened perceived intensity of happy faces, which in turn was associated with better mental health and greater levels of social support. This suggests that heightened saliency of positive emotions acts protectively in children with maltreatment experience.

Study of fathers has gained significant traction over recent decades. However, the experience for men over the transition to parenthood remains focused on high‐socioeconomic and socially advantaged fathers. Researchers have yet to thoroughly investigate how fathers may uniquely experience this transition period with a history of childhood maltreatment, given that childhood abuse is known to impact several components of development and relationship functioning into adulthood. The current study endeavored to fill this gap by evaluating the associations between fathers' childhood experiences of physical and emotional abuse and their relationship functioning over the transition to parenthood in terms of both the couple relationship and social adjustment in relationships with others. Using data from 399 fathers who participated in a randomized control trial during pregnancy, the results from stepwise regressions indicate fathers with a history of emotional abuse experience particular declines in their external relationships (reductions in social support and increases in social stress) from prenatal (Wave 1) to postpartum (Wave 2) reports. However, no significant association emerged between fathers' history of maltreatment and their relationship functioning with their partners. These results underscore the importance of investigating the impact of different types of abuse on men in fatherhood. Moreover, we emphasize the need to study further fathers' social adjustment over the transition to parenthood beyond the couple relationship and broad social support to address the needs of men with a history of maltreatment in their new role as fathers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to examine the association of expanded adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with psychological distress in adulthood. The data from nation-wide online cohort was used for analysis. Community dwelling adults in Japan were included. The ACEs was assessed by 15 items of ACE-J, including childhood poverty and school bullying. Severe psychological distress was determined as the score of Kessler 6 over 13. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted, by using sample weighting. A total of 28,617 participants were analyzed. About 75% of Japanese people had one or more ACEs. The prevalence of those with ACEs over 4 was 14.7%. Those with ACEs over 4 showed adjusted odds ratio = 8.18 [95% CI 7.14–9.38] for severe psychological distress. The prevalence of childhood poverty was 29% for 50–64 year old participants and 40% of 65 or older participants. The impact of childhood poverty on psychological distress was less than other ACEs in these age cohorts. Bullying was experienced 21–27% in young generations, but 10% in 65 or older participants. However, the impact on psychological distress in adulthood was relatively high in all age groups. ACEs have impacted mental health for a long time. Future research and practice to reduce ACEs are encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined adults' interpretations of invitations using the word 'time'. Recent research has demonstrated that children may misunderstand these invitations as solely requesting temporal information (Friend et al., 2022). This study tested whether adults perceive the ambiguity in these invitations and whether they understand the source of children's pseudotemporal errors. We examined 401 adult participants' perceptions of invitations using the word 'time', varying the phrasing of the invitation (about the time vs. what happened) and whether the participant had exposure to a child's pseudotemporal response. Adults largely interpreted the invitations as requests for what happened during an event, not requests for when an event occurred. They rated the invitations as clear, not difficult and appropriate for elementary‐aged children. However, they were more likely to rate about the time invitations as temporal compared to what happened invitations. Additionally, their perceptions of clarity and age appropriateness decreased when they were exposed to children's overtly pseudotemporal responses. These results suggest that although adults typically fail to identify the ambiguity in invitations using the word 'time', they are able to adjust their interpretation of the questions, at least when they are provided clear evidence of children's misinterpretation. Key Practitioner Messages: Recent research has demonstrated that invitations with the word 'time' can be confusing for witnesses, as these invitations can be misunderstood as requests for time.Using the phrasing 'about the time' in these invitations increases the rate of temporal misunderstanding. Therefore, when using invitations with the word 'time', interviewers should always phrase their question with 'what happened' language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To guide prevention and intervention efforts, the prevalence and impact of child sexual abuse (CSA) victimization among detained and incarcerated populations requires further examination, particularly with consideration of multi-type maltreatment experiences and sex-based variations. This longitudinal population-based study explores these relationships in an Australian birth cohort comprising all individuals born in Queensland in 1983 and 1984 (n = 82,409; 48.68% female). Data include all notified and substantiated harm(s) from child protection services (0 to 17 years), and sentences to youth detention and/or adult incarceration between ages 10 and 30. Findings indicate greater prevalence of CSA amongst detained/incarcerated individuals compared to the general population but emphasize the impact of cooccurring maltreatment (particularly neglect) on the likelihood of custodial outcomes. Important sex-based differences were noted in the intersection of CSA victimization and detention/incarceration. Findings reinforce the need for trauma-informed practices when working with custodial populations, particularly females, and highlight opportunities for prevention of detention/incarceration in at-risk populations, in line with a broader public health approach to child protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of children with maltreatment histories do not go on to develop depression in their adolescent and adult years. These individuals are often identified as being "resilient", but this characterization may conceal difficulties that individuals with maltreatment histories might face in their interpersonal relationships, substance use, physical health, and/or socioeconomic outcomes in their later lives. This study examined how adolescents with maltreatment histories who exhibit low levels of depression function in other domains during their adult years. Longitudinal trajectories of depression (across ages 13–32) in individuals with (n = 3,809) and without (n = 8,249) maltreatment histories were modeled in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. The same "Low," "increasing," and "declining" depression trajectories in both individuals with and without maltreatment histories were identified. Youths with maltreatment histories in the "low" depression trajectory reported lower romantic relationship satisfaction, more exposure to intimate partner and sexual violence, more alcohol abuse/dependency, and poorer general physical health compared to individuals without maltreatment histories in the same "low" depression trajectory in adulthood. Findings add further caution against labeling individuals as "resilient" based on a just single domain of functioning (low depression), as childhood maltreatment has harmful effects on a broad spectrum of functional domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to explore and gain insight into pediatric nurses' lived experiences in caring for children who experienced maltreatment. A qualitative descriptive phenomenological approach using Giorgi's method was used to support the inquiry of this study. Participants were recruited through the Society of Pediatric Nurses (SPN) and the International Association of Forensic Nursing (IAFN). To collect data, the research team conducted semi-structured interviews individually with each participant online via online video conferencing. A total of 21 nurses participated in the study. In the final analysis of data, six meaning units are found: (1) helplessly watching children relive the traumatizing events, (2) lack of knowledge and training on caring for children who experienced maltreatment, (3) adversarial relationship and resentment towards parents, (4) conflicting emotions and feelings, (5) long-lasting effects of trauma, and (6) feelings of isolation and loneliness. Pediatric and forensic nurses' experiences of caring for children who experienced maltreatment were highlighted by the fact that they lacked the knowledge of caring for these children and felt isolated. Implementing simulation training on nurses' knowledge and confidence in caring for children who experienced maltreatment is a paramount of importance. This in turn may improve nurses' sense of belonging and enhance the quality of care victims receive. • Watching victims of child abuse recover is a rewarding experience for nurses. • Nurses caring for victims of child abuse are lacking the knowledge. • Caring for victims of child abuse is an isolating experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Childhood trauma (CT) may increase vulnerability to psychopathology through affective dysregulation (greater variability, autocorrelation, and instability of emotional symptoms). However, CT associations with dynamic affect fluctuations while considering differences in mean affect levels across CT status have been understudied. Methods: 346 adults (age = 49.25 ± 12.55, 67.0% female) from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety participated in ecological momentary assessment. Positive and negative affect (PA, NA) were measured five times per day for two weeks by electronic diaries. Retrospectively-reported CT included emotional neglect and emotional/physical/sexual abuse. Linear regressions determined associations between CT and affect fluctuations, controlling for age, sex, education, and mean affect levels. Results: Compared to those without CT, individuals with CT reported significantly lower mean PA levels (Cohen's d = −0.620) and higher mean NA levels (d = 0.556) throughout the two weeks. CT was linked to significantly greater PA variability (d = 0.336), NA variability (d = 0.353), and NA autocorrelation (d = 0.308), with strongest effects for individuals reporting higher CT scores. However, these effects were entirely explained by differences in mean affect levels between the CT groups. Findings suggested consistency of results in adults with and without lifetime depressive/anxiety disorders and across CT types, with sexual abuse showing the smallest effects. Conclusions: Individuals with CT show greater affective dysregulation during the two-week monitoring of emotional symptoms, likely due to their consistently lower PA and higher NA levels. It is essential to consider mean affect level when interpreting the impact of CT on affect dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Schizotypy represents an index of psychosis-proneness in the general population, often associated with childhood trauma exposure. Both schizotypy and childhood trauma are linked to structural brain alterations, and it is possible that trauma exposure moderates the extent of brain morphological differences associated with schizotypy. Methods: We addressed this question using data from a total of 1182 healthy adults (age range: 18–65 years old, 647 females/535 males), pooled from nine sites worldwide, contributing to the Enhancing NeuroImaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) Schizotypy working group. All participants completed both the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire Brief version (SPQ-B), and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and underwent a 3D T1-weighted brain MRI scan from which regional indices of subcortical gray matter volume and cortical thickness were determined. Results: A series of multiple linear regressions revealed that differences in cortical thickness in four regions-of-interest were significantly associated with interactions between schizotypy and trauma; subsequent moderation analyses indicated that increasing levels of schizotypy were associated with thicker left caudal anterior cingulate gyrus, right middle temporal gyrus and insula, and thinner left caudal middle frontal gyrus, in people exposed to higher (but not low or average) levels of childhood trauma. This was found in the context of morphological changes directly associated with increasing levels of schizotypy or increasing levels of childhood trauma exposure. Conclusions: These results suggest that alterations in brain regions critical for higher cognitive and integrative processes that are associated with schizotypy may be enhanced in individuals exposed to high levels of trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interpersonal violence (IV) is associated with altered neural threat processing and risk for psychiatric disorder. Representational similarity analysis (RSA) is a multivariate approach examining the extent to which differences between stimuli correspond to differences in multivoxel activation patterns to these stimuli within each ROI. Using RSA, we examine overlap in neural patterns between threat and neutral faces in youth with IV. Participants were female adolescents aged 11–17 who had a history of IV exposure (n = 77) or no history of IV, psychiatric diagnoses, nor psychiatric medications (n = 37). Participants completed a facial emotion processing task during fMRI. Linear mixed models indicated that increasing hippocampal differentiation of fear and neutral faces was associated with increasing IV severity. Increased neural differentiation of these facial stimuli in the left and right hippocampus was associated with increasing physical abuse severity. Increased differentiation by the dACC correlated with increasing physical assault severity. RSA for most ROIs were not significantly associated with univariate activity, except for a positive association between amygdala RSA and activity to fear faces. Differences in statistically significant ROIs for physical assault and physical abuse may highlight distinct effects of trauma type on encoding of threat vs. neutral faces. Null associations between RSA and univariate activation in most ROIs suggest unique contributions of RSA for understanding IV compared to traditional activation. Implications include understanding mechanisms of risk in IV and trauma-specific treatment selection. Future work should replicate these findings in longitudinal studies and identify sensitive periods for neural alterations in RSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current article provides a contemporary review of the best practices for interviewing older adults about crimes they witnessed or experienced. Specifically, we provide a detailed overview of how investigators can use a range of interviewing adaptations and procedures to acquire detailed and accurate maltreatment disclosures from older adults. In addition to discussing well-established investigative interviewing practices (e.g. rapport building, free-recall, cognitive instructions and prompts), this article also summarizes more recent literature on the benefits of multidisciplinary investigations, use of assistive technology and interview accommodations, along with effective practices for working with minority and marginalized older adults. Lastly, several research, professional and policy recommendations are provided for supporting older adults during investigative interviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]