NCJ Number
238310
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 36 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2012 Pages: 118-126
Date Published
February 2012
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study examined factors that might affect the relationship between childhood maltreatment and the later development of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.
Abstract
Findings from the study indicate that the following set of factors - cortisol reactivity, respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), and experiential avoidance - mediated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and the later development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. When each factor was measured, it was found that experiential avoidance contributed most significantly to the mediation effect, as compared to RSA and cortisol reactivity. The main focus of this study was to examine whether a specific set of factors mediated the relationship between an individual's experiences of childhood maltreatment and the later development of PTSD symptoms. Data for the study were obtained from a sample of adolescent females (n=110), aged 14-19 in which 46 percent of the sample (n=51) had substantiation of child maltreatment. The study used a multiple mediator model to determine whether a specific set of factors - cortisol reactivity, RSA, and experiential avoidance - affected the relationship between and adolescent's experiences of child maltreatment and the development of PTSD symptoms. The findings show that of the three factors, experiential avoidance can have a significant impact on mediating the relationship between child maltreatment and the development of PTSD symptoms. Study limitations are discussed. Figure, tables, and references