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Child maltreatment is often studied as a general category or individually as a subtype, but maltreatment subtypes are rarely studied simultaneously. Despite a breadth of research in the effects of child maltreatment on emotional competence, discrepant findings emerge when child maltreatment subtypes are explored. The present study aims to better understand the differential effects of childhood maltreatment subtypes on facets of emotion regulation and the recognition of specific emotions.A sample of 573 emerging adults (87% female) aged 18-25 was recruited to complete an online survey that asked about child maltreatment history, difficulty with emotion regulation, and involved an emotion recognition task.Path analyses indicated that emotional maltreatment had a global effect on the facets of emotion regulation and the recognition of negatively valanced emotions (anger, fear, and sadness). Neglect predicted difficulties with managing impulsive behavior; sexual abuse predicted difficulties engaging in goal-directed behavior. Physical abuse was associated with poorer recognition of fear. Multigroup analysis suggested that patterns did not differ between clinically distressed and nondistressed participants.These results highlight the importance of including a standard set of child maltreatment subtypes in prediction models of emotional competence to avoid the misattribution or overestimation of the effects of child maltreatment subtype on emotional competence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Sexual abuse trauma can have long-term implications for individuals in terms of psychological functioning, relationships, and socio-environmental circumstances, all of which are elements that could explain the CSA intergenerational continuity phenomenon. There are few empirical studies drawing comparisons between families to identify factors associated with the intergenerational (dis)continuity of CSA. The objectives of this study are to compare mother and emerging adult dyads to determine differences between cycle maintainers, cycle breakers, cycle initiators, and a control group in terms of maternal maltreatment histories, mental health, attachment, and socio-environmental characteristics. A sample of 186 dyads was recruited across Canada to participate in an online study. The study represents a cross-sectional design and bivariate and multivariate analyses were used. The results support prior research that there is a higher risk of CSA in dyads where the mother experienced CSA (

BackgroundBoth prospective and retrospective measures of child maltreatment predict mental health problems, despite their weak concordance. Research remains largely based on retrospective reports spanning the entire childhood due to a scarcity of prospectively completed questionnaires targeting maltreatment specifically.ObjectiveWe developed a prospective index of child maltreatment in the Québec Longitudinal Study of Child Development (QLSCD) using prospective information collected from ages 5 months to 17 years and examined its concordance with retrospective maltreatment.Participants and SettingThe QLSCD is an ongoing population-based cohort that includes 2,120 participants born from 1997-1998 in the Canadian Province of Quebec.MethodsAs the QLSCD did not have maltreatment as a focal variable, we screened 29,600 items completed by multiple informants (mothers, children, teachers, home observations) across 14 measurement points (0-17 years). Items that could reflect maltreatment were first extracted. Two maltreatment experts reviewed these items for inclusion and determined cut-offs for possible child maltreatment. Retrospective maltreatment was self-reported at 23 years.ResultsIndicators were derived across preschool, school-age and adolescence periods and by the end of childhood and adolescence, including presence (yes/no), chronicity (re-occurrence), extent of exposure and cumulative maltreatment. Across all developmental periods, the presence of maltreatment was as follows: physical abuse (16.3-21.8%), psychological abuse (3.3-21.9%), emotional neglect (20.4-21.6%), physical neglect (15.0-22.3%), supervisory neglect (25.8-44.9%), family violence (4.1-11.2%) and sexual abuse (9.5% in adolescence only).ConclusionsIn addition to the many future research opportunities offered by these prospective indicators of maltreatment, this study offers a roadmap to researchers wishing to undertake a similar task.HighlightsIn this longitudinal cohort, maltreatment experts retained 251 of 29,600 items availableProbable maltreatment indicators were derived: presence, chronicity, extent of exposure, and cumulative maltreatmentPrevalence rates vary from 3.3% and 44.9% across developmental periods, and 16.5-67.3% by the end of adolescenceProspective and retrospective maltreatment identify different groups of individualsAs most studies use retrospective data, findings suggest that the representation of child maltreatment is incomplete and retrospective reports should be complimented by prospective data, whenever possible

Child maltreatment (CM) in one generation can predict CM in the next generation, a concept known as intergenerational continuity. Yet, the form taken by the intergenerational continuity of CM remains unclear and fathers are mostly absent from this literature. This longitudinal study aimed to document patterns of intergenerational continuity of substantiated CM, on the maternal and paternal sides, by examining the presence of: homotypical CM, which is the same type of CM in both generations; and heterotypical CM, which is different CM types in both generations. The study included all children substantiated for CM with the Centre Jeunesse de Montréal between 1 January 2003, and 31 December 2020, with at least one parent who was also reported to that agency during their childhood (n = 5861 children). The cohort was extracted using clinical administrative data, and logistic regression models were tested with the children’s CM types as the dependent variables. Homotypical continuity was found for: (1) physical abuse on the paternal side; (2) sexual abuse on the maternal side; and (3) exposure to domestic violence on the maternal side. Heterotypical continuity was also prevalent, but to a lesser extent. Interventions helping maltreated parents overcome their traumatic past are essential to foster intergenerational resilience.

Intergenerational continuity of child maltreatment (CM) is a well-documented phenomenon of concern; however, its effects on the child’s level of exposure to CM, as well as subsequent trauma exposure and adult functioning remain undocumented. The present study aimed to further explore the intergenerational effects of CM by comparing emerging adults (EA; ages 18–25) on their exposure to CM, adult victimization, and psychological functioning according to their mother’s CM histories. One hundred and eighty-five mothers and their EA completed independently an online survey measuring sociodemographics, material deprivation, CM, adult victimization, and psychological functioning. The participating dyads (primarily White and female-identifying) were recruited online through social media, universities, and advertisements in non-profit organizations throughout Canada. Findings revealed that maternal histories of CM were associated with increased neglectful and physically abusive acts endured in childhood for maltreated EA. Maternal histories of CM, regardless of the EA’ victimization status, were associated with a higher EA’ number of adulthood interpersonal—but not non-interpersonal—traumas experienced. While a maternal history of CM was a risk factor for intimate partner violence (IPV) in maltreated EA, it was protective for non-maltreated EA. Maltreated EA with maltreated versus non-maltreated mothers presented more psychological difficulties, but only if they also reported material deprivation. Practitioners working with children at-risk or exposed to CM should document parents’ histories of CM and take that into account in their assessments and intervention practices. This study also provides further evidence to support social policies targeting the family system as a whole.

This integrative review aimed to synthesize both qualitative and quantitative research on the (re)experiencing of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms during the perinatal period for childhood sexual abuse (CSA) survivors. Whittemore and Knafl's framework, which includes problem identification, literature review, data evaluation, data analysis, and results dissemination, was used. A search in four databases (

The effects of child sexual abuse (CSA) have been found to surpass generations as maternal history of CSA is associated with increased difficulties in sexually abused children. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying this association. The present study aimed to test maternal mental health symptoms including psychological distress, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and dissociation as mediators of the relationship between maternal CSA and children’s internalizing, externalizing, and dissociation symptoms in a large sample of sexually abused children. A total of 997 sexually abused children aged 3-14 years old and their mothers were recruited at five specialized intervention centers offering services to sexually abused children and their families. The children were divided into two groups depending on their mothers’ self-reported history of CSA. Mothers completed a series of questionnaires assessing their mental health and children’s functioning. Maternal history of CSA was associated with increased maternal psychological distress, PTSD symptoms, and dissociation following children’s disclosure of CSA. In turn, maternal psychological distress and maternal dissociation were associated with increased child internalizing, externalizing, and dissociation symptoms. Maternal PTSD symptoms were associated with child internalizing symptoms. Maternal mental health difficulties mediated the association between maternal CSA and sexually abused children’s maladaptive outcomes. Clinicians should assess for possible history of CSA in mothers of sexually abused children and determine how best to support them to cope with the aftermaths of their child’s disclosure and with their own traumatic past.

Interpersonal revictimization, through sexual violence and psychological or physical dating violence, is one of the many consequences of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). This study examined how childhood maltreatment, sociodemographic characteristics, mental health, relational factors, and community factors are associated with 1) sexual revictimization 2) psychological dating violence victimization, and 3) physical dating violence victimization in a sample of young adults reporting a history of CSA. A sample of 190 young adults (18-25 y.o.) with self-reported experiences of CSA completed an online survey measuring childhood maltreatment (e.g. neglect, physical abuse, witness to domestic violence), sociodemographic characteristics (e.g. material deprivation, education), mental health (dissociation, posttraumatic stress symptoms), relational factors (e.g. insecure attachment style), and community factors (e.g. neighborhood disadvantage). Hierarchical logistic regressions indicated that once all risk factors were entered in the models, PTSD was positively associated with psychological dating violence, while dissociation was positively associated with physical dating violence. Physical abuse in childhood was positively associated with sexual revictimization. The present study shows the importance of simultaneously considering the impact of multiple characteristics surrounding CSA survivors when evaluating risks of revictimization. Additionally, it highlights the importance of providing CSA survivors with adequate mental health support for trauma-related disorders, as it may be crucial to prevent revictimization.

This study examined the transactional effects of parental physical and verbal aggression and children’s externalizing (EP) and internalizing problems (IP) from early school age to adolescence in lower-income community sample using a multi-informant perspective. Mother-child dyads (n = 175) from urban low socioeconomic backgrounds that are part of the Concordia Longitudinal Research Project, a prospective intergenerational study, participated. Children’s EP and IP were assessed by mothers and teachers at ages 6–8, 9–11, and 13–17-years-old (Child Behavior Checklist). Mothers also self-reported physical and verbal aggression toward their child (Conflict Tactics Scales Parent-Child). Results from cross-lagged analyses with mothers’ reports of EP and IP revealed a transactional process with EP and physical aggression, and a child-driven effect with IP and verbal aggression. EP at 6–8-years-old were associated with increased physical aggression at 9–11 years of age, that in turn were associated with increased EP in adolescence. IP at 6–8 years old were associated with increased verbal aggression at 9–11 years. Some effects were identified when using teachers’ reports of socioemotional difficulties, including a transactional process from verbal aggression at 6–8 years old, to increased EP at 9–11 years, to increased physical aggression at 13–17 years. Overall, parent-driven and child-driven effects were present, but results differed across informants and behaviour problem types. These results have important implications for research and intervention that are discussed in light of the developmental psychopathology and transactional models of development.

Adults who have experienced child maltreatment report problems with emotion regulation (ER) and parenting difficulties, which have been associated with maladaptation in the next generation. However, parental emotion socialization is understudied in survivors of child maltreatment. The aim of the present study was to examine whether childhood polyvictimization would influence parental ER skills and parents’ use of unsupportive contingencies in response to anger, sadness, and anxiety. A secondary aim was to determine whether these variables would predict children’s emotional inhibition. Parents (n = 175) of children between the ages of 8 and 12 participated in an online study. Participants completed self-report measures assessing their child maltreatment history; their regulation and socialization of anger, sadness, and anxiety; and a measure of their child’s emotional inhibition. A sequential mediation model revealed that childhood polyvictimization predicted lower levels of parental ER skills, which in turn, increased the likelihood of parents reporting unsupportive contingencies. Further, parents’ use of unsupportive contingencies predicted higher levels of emotional inhibition in children. The present study provides preliminary evidence to support the relationship between a history of child maltreatment, parents’ use of unsupportive contingencies, and emotional inhibition in the next generation. Practitioners working with parents who have been maltreated should focus on enhancing parental ER in order to help parents scaffold healthy emotional development in their children.

Background Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a prevalent social problem associated with a plethora of difficulties in preschool children. Young victims are likely to show dissociation symptoms that may significantly impede their adaptation. Yet, mechanisms linking CSA with later dissociative symptoms remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to explore whether disorganized attachment and emotion dysregulation could act as mediators of the association between CSA and dissociation. Methods A sample of 424 preschool children (274 CSA victims, 150 comparison group children; 3.5–6 years old) and their parents were recruited. Parents reported on children's emotion dysregulation at initial assessment while attachment representations were assessed through children's narratives using the Attachment Story Completion Task (Bretherton et al., 1990) coded with the Q-Sort (Miljkovitch et al., 2004). Parents reported on children's dissociative symptoms one year later. Results Mediation analysis showed that disorganized attachment and emotion dysregulation mediated the association between CSA and dissociation. CSA was linked to greater disorganization scores that were associated with higher scores of emotion dysregulation. Emotion dysregulation was in turn associated with increased severity of dissociation symptoms in preschool children one year later. Limitations Given that attachment and emotion dysregulation were both assessed at T1, the temporal sequencing of mediators remains to be validated in a longitudinal design. Conclusions Findings highlight the relevance of fostering healthy parent-child relationships, as well as the development of optimal emotion regulation skills in young CSA victims to prevent the emergence of dissociation symptoms in this vulnerable population.

Childhood maltreatment is associated with pregnancy complications. This study aimed to systematically review and quantitatively synthesize the strength of the associations between maternal histories of childhood maltreatment and the risk of preterm delivery, low birth weight, and gestational diabetes.Subject Headings and keywords for childhood maltreatment and the pregnancy outcomes were searched in MEDLINE (Ovid; 1946-Present), PsycINFO (Ovid; 1806-Present), and Web of Science Core Collection. Original studies or dissertations that reported quantitative associations between childhood maltreatment and any of the pregnancy outcomes of interest were included. Two independent reviewers selected the pertinent studies, assessed the risk of bias, and extracted data. Pooled effect sizes were calculated for the three outcomes.Twenty-eight studies were reviewed and 22 were meta-analysed. Maternal childhood maltreatment was associated with preterm birth (OR = 1.27 95% CI: 1.06-1.52, p = 0.001), low birth weight (OR = 1.42 95% CI: 1.10-1.83, p = 0.001), and gestational diabetes (RR = 1.37 95% CI: 1.02-1.83, p = 0.030), however high levels of heterogeneity were found. Findings were insignificant for studies examining gestational age and birth weight as continuous variables.Findings confirm that under certain conditions, childhood maltreatment is associated with pregnancy outcomes. Future research should prioritize mediation and moderation models to clarify the mechanisms underlying these relationships. Trauma-informed care is needed to tailor the appropriate care for expecting mothers.

ImportanceIndividuals who have been sexually abused are at a greater risk for poor health, but associations with economic outcomes in mid-life have been overlooked.ObjectivesWe investigated associations between child sexual abuse (≤18 years) and economic outcomes at 33-37 years, while considering type of report (official/retrospective) and characteristics of abuse (type, severity, and chronicity).DesignThis cohort study used data collected for the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Kindergarten Children.SettingThe Quebec Longitudinal Study of Kindergarten Children is a population-based sample.ParticipantsParticipants were 3,020 boys and girls attending kindergarten in the Canadian Province of Quebec in 1986/88 and followed up until 2017.Main outcome/MeasuresChild sexual abuse (0-18 years old) was assessed using both retrospective self-report questionnaires and objective reports (notification to Child Protection Services). Information on employment earnings was obtained from government tax return records. Tobit regressions were used to test associations of sexual abuse with earnings adjusting for sex and family socioeconomic background.ResultsOf the 3,020 participants 1,320 [43.7%] self-reported no sexual abuse, 1,340 [44.3%] had no official report but were missing on the retrospective questionnaire, 340 [11.3%] reported retrospective sexual abuse, and 20 [0.7%] had official report. In the fully adjusted model, individuals who retrospectively reported being sexually abused earned US$4,031 (CI=-7,134 to -931) less per year at age 33-37 years, while those with official reports earned US$16,042 (CI=-27,465 to -4,618) less, compared to participants who were not abused. Among individuals with retrospectively reported abuse, those who experienced intra-familial abuse earned US$4,696 (CI=-9,316 to -75) less than individuals who experienced extra-familial abuse, while participants who experienced penetration earned US$6,188 (CI=-12,248 to -129) less than those who experienced non-contact abuse.Conclusion and RelevanceChild sexual abuse puts individuals at risk for lasting reductions in employment earnings in adulthood. Early identification and support for sexual abuse victims could help reduce the economic gap and improve long-term outcomes.Key PointsQuestionIs child sexual abuse associated with lower mid-life employment earnings?FindingsIn a large population-based cohort (n=3,020), children exposed to sexual abuse had lower annual employment earnings from age 33-37 years than children nonexposed, after adjustment for childhood socioeconomic circumstances. These differences were more pronounced for individuals with official Child Protection Service reports compared to those with retrospective reports, and for individuals who experienced more severe forms of sexual abuse (i.e., penetration, intra-familial).MeaningChildren exposed to sexual abuse are at risk of poor socioeconomic outcomes in mid-adulthood; interventions and support to improve long-term economic participation should be considered.

Maternal mental health problems and poor parenting are thought to account for the intergenerational transmission of poor outcomes to offspring of mothers who have experienced child maltreatment.Given that emotion regulation (ER) difficulties have been linked to adult psychopathology and maladaptive parenting, the goal of the present study was to examine the mechanisms through which a maternal history of child maltreatment, and subsequent difficulties with ER, might contribute to unsupportive emotion socialization and the intergenerational transmission of ER difficulties.Mothers and their young adult children (aged 18-25) were recruited from across Canada to participate in an online study (N = 185 dyads).Mothers responded to questionnaires assessing their child maltreatment histories and ER difficulties. Young adults retrospectively reported on their mothers' emotion socialization behaviours in adolescence as well as their own difficulties with ER.A moderated mediation analysis revealed that mothers who endorsed more types of child maltreatment were described as using more unsupportive contingencies, but only in the context of high levels of maternal ER difficulties. The indirect effect of maternal child maltreatment on young adults' ER difficulties was only significant for mothers with high levels of ER difficulties. More specifically, maternal difficulties with impulse control and emotional clarity contributed to more unsupportive contingencies.Mothers who have experienced multiple forms of child maltreatment may be more likely to struggle with ER and engage in unsupportive emotion socialization behaviours, which may increase the risk of emotional difficulties in their children. Survivors of child maltreatment should have access to interventions that promote ER skills to improve their own well-being and to prevent the transmission of ER difficulties to future generations.

Childhood maltreatment (CM) is linked to impairments in various domains of social functioning. Here, we argue that it is critical to identify factors that underlie impaired social functioning as well as processes that mediate the beneficial health effects of positive relationships in individuals exposed to CM. Key research recommendations are presented, focusing on: (1) identifying attachment-related alterations in specific inter- and intrapersonal 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 affected by CM; (2) identifying internal (e.g., current emotional state) and external situational factors (e.g., cultural factors, presence of close others) that modulate alterations in specific social processes; and (3) identifying mechanisms that explain the positive health effects of intact social functioning. Methodological recommendations include: (1) assessing social processes through interactive and (close to) real-life assessments inside and outside the laboratory; (2) adopting an interdisciplinary, lifespan perspective to assess social processes, using multi-method assessments; (3) establishing global research collaborations to account for cultural influences on social processes and enable replications across laboratories and countries. The proposed line of research will contribute to globally develop and refine interventions that prevent CM and further positive relationships, which – likely through buffering the effects of chronic stress and corresponding allostatic load – foster resilience and improve mental and physical health, thereby reducing personal suffering and the societal and economic costs of CM and its consequences. Interventions targeting euthymia and psychological well-being are promising therapeutic concepts in this context.

This study explored the pathways underlying the relationships between child maltreatment (CM) subtypes (i.e., physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and neglect) and factors associated with a heightened risk of pregnancy complications by examining post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms as a potential mediator.A sample of 98 pregnant parents between the ages of 18 and 29 years was recruited through social media and community organizations throughout Canada. Participants completed a series of surveys on their exposure to CM, PTSD symptoms, and pregnancy experiences on a secure online platform. Following data cleaning procedures, 85 participants were included in this study.Four separate mediation analyses were conducted with child neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse as factors associated with a heightened risk of pregnancy complications (i.e., a congregate score of limited prenatal care, weight gain concerns, smoking, second-hand smoke, alcohol consumption, substance use, and insufficient food intake during pregnancy). Each CM subtype was associated with increased PTSD symptoms, which were in turn associated with the presence of more factors known for increasing the risk of pregnancy complications. Neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse were all indirectly associated with the presence of more factors associated with a heightened risk of pregnancy complications through their association with PTSD symptoms.Findings from this study could encourage prenatal care providers to screen for CM history and PTSD symptoms. Furthermore, mental health treatment early in the prenatal period may improve pregnant parents' health and lower their risk of pregnancy complications.

Background: An association between child sexual abuse (CSA) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been documented. However, the temporal relationship between these problems and the roles of trauma-related symptoms or other forms of maltreatment remain unclear. This review aims to synthesize available research on CSA and ADHD, assess the methodological quality of the available research, and recommend future areas of inquiry. Methods: Studies were searched in five databases including Medline and PsycINFO. Following a title and abstract screening, 151 full texts were reviewed and 28 were included. Inclusion criteria were sexual abuse occurred before 18 years old, published quantitative studies documenting at least a bivariate association between CSA and ADHD, and published in the past 5 years for dissertations/theses, in French or English. The methodological quality of studies was systematically assessed. Results: Most studies identified a significant association between CSA and ADHD; most studies conceptualized CSA as a precursor of ADHD, but only one study had a longitudinal design. The quality of the studies varied greatly with main limitations being the lack of (i) longitudinal designs, (ii) rigorous multimethod/ multiinformant assessments of CSA and ADHD, and (iii) control for two major confounders: trauma-related symptoms and other forms of child maltreatment. Discussion: Given the lack of longitudinal studies, the directionality of the association remains unclear. The confounding role of other maltreatment forms and trauma-related symptoms also remains mostly unaddressed. Rigorous studies are needed to untangle the association between CSA and ADHD.

Maltreatment among school-aged children is associated with negative impacts on development and can contribute to the onset of psychological difficulties, including early depressive symptoms. Maltreatment can have devasting consequences, thus it is important to better understand the mechanisms contributing to children’s psychological outcomes. Purpose: The objective of this study was to examine children’s personality functioning (ego control and ego resiliency) as mediators of the association between substantiated maltreatment and depression. Methods: A total of 300 school-aged children were followed over the course of 3 years in the context of a summer camp (168 maltreated children; 132 non-maltreated children). Maltreatment status was determined through cases referred by the Monroe County Department of Social Services, New York. Ego control and ego resiliency at year 2 (T2), as measured by camp counselors using the California Child Q-Set, were tested as mediators. Children’s depressive symptoms were self-reported using the Childhood Depression Inventory at year 3 (T3). A parallel mediation model was tested using Mplus. Results: Maltreatment was not directly associated with depression at either time point, but significantly predicted both mediators. Ego undercontrol significantly predicted increased depressive symptoms at T3, while there was no significant prediction by ego resiliency. Conclusions: These findings point to the longitudinal paths to early depressive symptoms in maltreated children and the mediating effect of children’s ego control which could be a target for intervention.

According to the developmental psychopathology framework, adverse childhood experiences, including child sexual abuse (CSA), may alter the course of normal development in children. Attachment security has been identified as a protective factor against psychopathology and may thus play a critical role in predicting victims’ adaptation. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the mediating effect of attachment representations in the relation between CSA and behavior problems over a 1-year period. The sample consisted of 391 children (251 sexually abused) aged 3.5 to 6 years. The Attachment Story Completion Task and the Child Behavior Checklist were used. Disorganized attachment partially mediated the relation between CSA and children's internalizing and externalizing behavior problems 1 year following the initial assessment. This mediation effect was not found for ambivalent nor secure attachment dimensions. Child gender was found to moderate the association between CSA and disorganization, with larger effects of CSA among boys. These findings underscore the importance of considering attachment representations in treatment programs for preschool victims. Evidence-based practice focusing on trauma could be combined with an attachment-based intervention targeting the parent–child relationship. Moreover, interventions should be gender sensitive, as CSA appears to affect boys and girls differently.

Objectives The aim of the present study was to explore sleep problems in sexually abused preschoolers over a year. Methods The sample consisted of 224 abused children and 83 nonabused children aged 3 to 6 years old at enrolment into the study (T1), and 85 abused children and 73 nonabused children at the second evaluation, approximately 1 year later (T2). Sleep problems were assessed using parental reports on the Child Behavior Checklist - Preschool Version. Results Multivariate analysis of covariance revealed that sexually abused preschoolers presented higher scores of sleep problems than nonabused children on all items related to sleep problems at T1. Results from a regression analysis revealed that sexual abuse remained associated with higher levels of sleep problems after controlling for sociodemographical variables. At T2, abused preschoolers still presented more sleep problems than nonabused children on all but one of the sleep items. Results from a repeated measure one-way analysis of covariance revealed that abused preschoolers presented higher total sleep scores at both measurement times. Time was not associated with levels of sleep problems and sleep problems did not evolve differently for abused and nonabused children. Conclusions Sexually abused preschoolers are at risk of presenting with sleep problems. These results are worrisome given the negative impacts of sleep problems on child development. Research and clinical implications are discussed.

Child sexual abuse (CSA) during the preschool period can seriously undermine children's ability to develop emotional competency. Narrative tasks, such as the MacArthur Story Stem Battery (MSSB), are particularly adapted to gain a better understanding of young children's self-regulation processes. To explore the emotion regulation competencies of sexually abused preschoolers, we developed a coding grid and undertook a detailed analysis of abused and non-abused children's narratives using the MSSB. A sample of 62 sexually abused and 65 non-abused preschoolers 3½ to 6½ years old was recruited and children were presented with nine stories and an expressive vocabulary test. Analyses were performed to compare abused and non-abused children's narratives and to assess the contribution of CSA to children's narratives. CSA was associated with fewer demonstrations of empathy, help, and comfort, and less coherent and resolved stories. The narratives of CSA victims also included less emotions and emotional variations. The influence of CSA appeared the strongest in the stories involving fear. These findings suggest the presence of emotion dysregulation among sexually abused preschoolers, but also insecure attachment, and a sense of betrayal, isolation, and powerlessness.

Child maltreatment tends to show intergenerational continuity. However, a significant proportion of maltreated parents break these cycles. Since several studies have investigated risk and protective factors associated with the intergenerational continuity of child maltreatment over the past decades, and no systematic review of the literature is available, this scoping review aimed to summarize studies documenting associated psychosocial risk and protective factors. A secondary objective was to document the prevalence of this phenomenon. A search in six major databases (PsycINFO, Scopus, Medline, Social Work Abstracts, ProQuest Dissertations/Theses, and Web of Science) was conducted. Studies involving human participants, presenting original findings, written in French or English, and of any type of design were included. There was no limit regarding the date of publication, except for theses/dissertations (5 years). A final sample of 51 papers was retained, 33 providing data on risk and protective factors and 18 providing only prevalence data. Results indicate that parents’ individual characteristics (e.g., mental health, age), childhood adversity (e.g., multiple forms of adversity), relational (e.g., couples’ adjustment, attachment, social support), and contextual factors (e.g., disadvantage, community violence) are relevant to the intergenerational continuity of child maltreatment. Prevalence rates of continuity ranged from 7% to 88%. Major limitations of reviewed studies are discussed. Continued efforts to uncover the mechanisms associated with the intergenerational continuity of child maltreatment using strong methodological designs are necessary. Knowledge in this area could lead to the development of effective prevention strategies (e.g., mental health services for parents, family/dyadic interventions) to break harmful intergenerational cycles of violence.

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is associated with a host of deleterious impacts, yet little is known about the short-term correlates in children. This study aimed to investigate the association between dissociation and sleep problems in a sample of preschool-age sexual abuse victims while controlling for potentially confounding variables, including gender, age, polytrauma, CSA characteristics, and parental distress.The sample consisted of 179 children (ages 3-6 years) and their non-offending parents. Parents completed questionnaires assessing their child's dissociative symptoms and sleep problems as well as their own level of psychological distress.Regression analyses revealed that sleep problems were significantly associated with dissociative symptoms over and above all other control variables (children's gender and age, polytrauma, and parental distress). A longer duration of sexual abuse also predicted greater dissociative symptoms in preschool children.Findings highlight the association between sleep problems and dissociation in preschool-age victims of CSA. Further research is needed to understand their impact on children's development to design appropriate treatment and prevention initiatives aimed at fostering resilience in young vulnerable children.

Sexually abused children present a host of psychological difficulties, including dissociation and post-traumatic stress (PTSD) symptoms. Negative repercussions associated with sexual abuse may interfere with children's ability to interact competently with their peers, and might put them at risk for peer victimization. The aims of the study were 1) to describe peer victimization experiences of sexually abused children using a multi-informant approach (self, parents, teachers), and 2) to examine if peer victimization experiences are associated with clinical levels of PTSD and dissociation after controlling for relevant variables.Participants were 158 children (104 girls and 54 boys; Mean age=9.10) and their non-offending parents consulting after the disclosure of sexual abuse. Children, parents, and teachers completed a measure assessing peer victimization (Self-Report Victimization Scale). Measures of trauma-related symptoms (PTSD and dissociation) were used as outcome variables.More than half (60%) of sexually abused children reported being picked on, 51% reported sustaining verbal victimization and a third (35%) physical victimization by peers in the school context. Inter-informant agreement was higher between parents and teachers than between self-reports and adults' reports. Peer victimization experiences increased the odds by up to three-fold for clinical levels of dissociation and PTSD symptoms.Our findings are based on cross-sectional data, and therefore, causal relationships cannot be inferred. No control group was included in the study.Results have significant relevance for prevention and intervention. Clinicians should include assessment of peer victimization experiences when evaluating sexually abused school-aged children. Prevention initiatives in terms of peer victimization could indirectly prevent worsening of symptoms in abused children.

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is associated with emotion regulation deficits in childhood. Parents play a crucial role in the development of emotion regulation in their children, especially at younger ages. Close to 50% of mothers of sexually abused children report having been sexually victimized themselves as children. They are consequently at risk of experiencing significant distress following the disclosure of sexual abuse of their child. Parents' distress could interfere with their ability to provide support and to foster development of emotion regulation in their children. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship of parental factors (history of sexual victimization in childhood and the current level of distress) to sexually abused preschoolers' emotion regulation competencies. Emotion regulation was assessed in 153 preschoolers by their parents with the Emotion Regulation Checklist; 75 of these children were abused (14 boys); 78 were not abused (21 boys) and were part of a comparison group. Parents reported their level of distress using the Psychiatric Symptom Index. Results indicated that parental factors contributed to some dimensions of preschoolers' emotion regulation (namely displays of underregulation of emotion) above and beyond children's victimization status and gender (Cohen's ƒ(2) = .15). Identifying parental distress and history of sexual victimization as positively associated with emotional dysregulation in preschool children victims of CSA has important research and clinical implications.

Background Despite burgeoning interest in the phenomenon of intergenerational continuity, literature concerning risk and protective factors in the context of child sexual abuse (CSA) is still underdeveloped. Objective Since the identification of such risk and protective factors is essential in order to break these negative cycles, the present study aimed to identify specific multilevel factors associated with the continuity of CSA in a large sample of mother–child dyads using secondary analysis of data. Participants and setting Mother-child dyads (n = 1,250) were divided into four groups: 1) CSA Both (mother and child are victims); 2) CSA Mother (only mothers are victims); 3) CSA Neither (mother and child are not victims); and 4) CSA Child (only children are victims). Methods Mothers completed a series of self-report measures assessing maternal characteristics (e.g., history of intimate partner victimization, psychological functioning), parenting and familial characteristics (e.g., cohesion, conflicts, empowerment), and demographic variables (e.g., early maternity, income, education). Results The four groups were compared using analyses of variance and chi-square analyses. Overall, mothers in the CSA Both group showed an increased number of risk factors compared to the mothers in the other three groups; however, mothers in the CSA Child group also presented with high levels of risk factors. Conclusions Findings suggest that practitioners should be attentive to the needs of the mothers of young CSA victims they are serving, since mothers involved in the cycle of intergenerational continuity appear to be particularly vulnerable and distressed.

The objective this study was to investigate the relative contributions of gender, common mental health symptoms, and experiences of interpersonal violence to the presence of sleep disturbances in Youth in Care under Child Welfare Society admitted to residential facilities.A sample of 315 teenagers (14-18 years old) completed a self-reported questionnaire upon admission, followed by a medical consultation with a nurse and a physician. Information regarding experiences of interpersonal violence, mental health symptoms, and sleep disturbances was collected using a standardized questionnaire.Anxiety, ADHD symptoms, and sexual abuse were associated with sleep disturbances, F(10, 264) = 5.95, p 0.001. Results from hierarchical regression analyses revealed that experiences of interpersonal violence, more specifically sexual abuse, were associated with sleep disturbances over and beyond gender and the presence of mental health symptoms.These results highlight practical implications for health professionals in terms of assessment and intervention for vulnerable youth exposed to interpersonal violence. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Background Child sexual abuse is associated with a plethora of devastating repercussions. A significant number of sexually abused children are likely to experience other forms of maltreatment that can seriously affect their emotion regulation abilities and impede on their development. The aim of the study was to test emotion regulation and dissociation as mediators in the association between cumulative childhood trauma and internalized and externalized behavior problems in child victims of sexual abuse. Methods Participants were 309 sexually abused children (203 girls and 106 boys; Mean age = 9.07) and their non-offending parent. Medical and clinical files were coded for cumulative childhood trauma. At initial evaluation (T1), parents completed measures assessing children's emotion regulation abilities and dissociation. At Time 2 (T2), parents completed a measure assessing children's behavior problems. Mediation analyses were conducted with emotion regulation and dissociation as sequential mediators using Mplus software. Results Findings revealed that cumulative childhood trauma affects both internalized and externalized behavior problems through three mediation paths: emotion regulation alone, dissociation alone, and through a path combining emotion regulation and dissociation. Limitations Both emotion regulation and dissociation were assessed at T1 and thus the temporal sequencing of mediators remains to be ascertained through a longitudinal design. All measures were completed by the parents. Conclusions Clinicians should routinely screen for other childhood trauma in vulnerable clienteles. In order to tackle behavior problems, clinical interventions for sexually abused youth need to address emotion regulation competencies and dissociation.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the evolution of emotion regulation competencies in sexually abused preschoolers. Children's emotion regulation abilities and their emotional lability and negativity were assessed shortly after disclosure of sexual abuse and one year later, and compared to those of non-abused children. A sample of 47 sexually abused (37 girls, 10 boys) and 74 non-abused children (54 girls, 20 boys), aged 3-7 years (M=56.83months; SD=9.55), participated in the study. Parents and daycare educators or teachers completed the Emotion Regulation Checklist (Shields & Cicchetti, 1997) and an adapted version of the History of Victimization Form (Parent & Hebert, 2006). Parents reported more emotional lability/negativity in sexually abused children, with an increase of difficulties and a larger difference between groups at follow-up assessment conducted one year later. Parents of sexually abused children, especially those of boys, also reported lower emotion regulation competencies in their child than parents from the comparison group. According to educators, victims of sexual abuse had lower emotion regulation abilities, but their lability/negativity tended to subside over time. Various hypotheses are proposed to explain the differences between sexually abused boys' and girls' emotion regulation competencies, and between the two informants. Clinical implications are also discussed. Emotion regulation seems to be an important dimension to consider in future interventions for this specific population.

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is associated with emotion regulation deficits in childhood. Parents play a crucial role in the development of emotion regulation in their children, especially at younger ages. Close to 50% of mothers of sexually abused children report having been sexually victimized themselves as children. They are consequently at risk of experiencing significant distress following the disclosure of sexual abuse of their child. Parents' distress could interfere with their ability to provide support and to foster development of emotion regulation in their children. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship of parental factors (history of sexual victimization in childhood and the current level of distress) to sexually abused preschoolers' emotion regulation competencies. Emotion regulation was assessed in 153 preschoolers by their parents with the Emotion Regulation Checklist; 75 of these children were abused (14 boys); 78 were not abused (21 boys) and were part of a comparison group. Parents reported their level of distress using the Psychiatric Symptom Index. Results indicated that parental factors contributed to some dimensions of preschoolers' emotion regulation (namely displays of underregulation of emotion) above and beyond children's victimization status and gender (Cohen's ƒ(2) = .15). Identifying parental distress and history of sexual victimization as positively associated with emotional dysregulation in preschool children victims of CSA has important research and clinical implications.

Emotion regulation is closely related to mental health in children and adults. Low emotion regulation competencies have been found in school-aged sexually abused girls. The aim of the present study was to investigate emotion regulation competencies in sexually abused preschool girls and boys using a multi-informant approach. Emotion regulation was assessed in 62 sexually abused and 65 non-abused preschoolers using the Emotion Regulation Checklist and the MacArthur Story Stem Battery. Both parents and educators reported lower emotion regulation competencies in sexually abused preschoolers, especially boys, than in non-abused children. The narrative task completed by the children also revealed lower emotion regulation competencies in sexually abused boys. These findings could have an important impact on intervention programs offered to these at-risk children.

Maltreated children show poor emotion regulation competencies compared to non-maltreated children. Emotion regulation has been found to mediate the association between maltreatment and behavior problems in children. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationships among child sexual abuse (CSA), emotion regulation (ER), and internalized and externalized behavior problems in preschoolers using conditional process analyses. ER competencies were assessed in 127 children aged 41-79 months (62 abused, 65 non-abused) by their parents (N=124) and early childhood educators (N=88) using the Emotion Regulation Checklist (Shields & Cicchetti, 1995, 1997). Behavior problems were evaluated by parents using the Child Behavior Checklist (Achenbach & Rescorla, 2000, 2001). ER was found to completely mediate the relation between CSA and internalized behavior problems and partially mediate the relation between CSA and externalized behavior problems. Parents' and educators' evaluations of ER were also found to differ as a function of child gender. The discussion focuses on the relationships among CSA, ER, behavior problems, and child gender. The clinical implications of these findings are also examined. Promoting the optimal development of ER could prevent the emergence and exacerbation of behavior problems in these at-risk children and, in turn, foster resilience.

Objectives: Adults with a history of childhood maltreatment report problems with emotion regulation (ER) and parenting, which can contribute to maladaptive outcomes in offspring. The following narrative review consists of a theoretical and empirical synthesis of the literature examining child maltreatment, emotion regulation, and parenting, with an emphasis on parental emotion socialization. Method: Building upon the literature contained in the review, we developed a novel conceptual model that elucidates some of the mechanisms involved in the intergenerational transmission of emotion dysregulation among mothers with a history of childhood maltreatment. Taking into account risk and protective factors (e.g., socio-economic status, polyvictimization, teenage motherhood, access to social supports), our conceptual model highlights both direct (e.g., social learning) and indirect (e.g., ER difficulties) mechanisms through which child maltreatment contributes to problems with parental emotion socialization and ER difficulties in the next generation. Implications: Directions for future research and implications for intervention will be discussed with an emphasis on preventing the continuity of maladaptive parenting by promoting the development of parents’ ER abilities in a trauma-informed, resilience-focused framework.

Objectives: Child maltreatment is a serious problem worldwide associated with numerous developmental and psychological problems that can impede children’s short and long-term functioning. The negative effects of maltreatment may put children on a trajectory where they are likely to experience later abuse and even abuse their own children. While studies have focused primarily on the intergenerational transmission of maltreatment (victim-to-perpetrator cycles), there are studies, albeit fewer, documenting cycles of intergenerational continuity of maltreatment (victim-to-victim cycles; e.g., child sexual abuse). Clear theoretical frameworks are lacking from studies on intergenerational maltreatment. This review aimed to systematically identify theories, theoretical or conceptual frameworks that have been used to explain the victim-to-victim cycles of maltreatment.Methods: Searches were executed in PsychINFO, Medline, and Scopus. Fifteen papers were included in this review.Results: The most common theories used to explain the intergenerational continuity of maltreatment victimization were attachment theory and traumatic stress models. Other identified theories include those from social, developmental, and biological domains. Notably, there were only five papers on the intergenerational continuity of child sexual abuse, highlighting a lack of focus on the theoretical explanations of this issue. Based on the findings, a unified model of victim-to-victim cycles of maltreatment is proposed to guide future studies.Implications: Future research in this area could include testing and comparing theoretical explanations and advancing the current state of the literature by using qualitative and mixed methods.