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Long-Term Effects of Child Abuse and Neglect on Emotion Processing in Adulthood

NCJ Number
248089
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 38 Issue: 8 Dated: August 2014 Pages: 1369-1381
Author(s)
Joanna C. Young; Cathy S. Widom
Date Published
August 2014
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study determined whether child maltreatment has a long-term impact on the ability to process emotions in adulthood, as well as whether IQ, psychopathology, or psychopathy mediate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and emotion processing in adulthood.
Abstract
The International Affective Picture System was used to measure emotion processing. Under this system, pictures are displayed of people expressing emotions through facial expressions. Viewers' processing of emotions is measured by their accuracy in identifying the emotion reflected in the facial expressions. The study found that individuals with a history of childhood maltreatment were less accurate than matched controls without such a history in emotion processing overall and in processing positive and neutral emotions displayed in the facial pictures. Childhood physical abuse predicted less accuracy in identifying neutral emotions, and childhood sexual abuse and neglect predicted less accuracy in recognizing positive emotion. Major depression Disorder, General Anxiety Disorder, and IQ predicted overall picture recognition accuracy; however, of the mediators examined, only IQ acted to mediate the relationship between child maltreatment and emotion processing deficits. Although previous research has focused on emotion processing in maltreated children, the new findings of the current study show an impact of child maltreatment on emotion processing into the middle adulthood. The prospective cohort design involved children ages 0-11(N=908) who were matched with non-maltreated children during 1967-1971 and followed into adulthood. Of the original sample, 83 percent were located, and 1,196 (76 percent) participated in the 1989-1995 interview. 5 tables, 77 references, and appended table with descriptive characteristics of the images in the International Affective Picture System

Grant Number(s)
86-IJ-CX-0033
89-H-CX-0007
HD40774
MH40467
MH58386
DA17842
DA10060
AA11108
Sponsoring Agency
National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
Address

999 N. Capitol St. NE, Washington, DC 20531, United States

US Dept of Health and Human Services
Address

5635 Fishers Lane, MSC 9304, Rockville, MD 20892-9304, United States

National Institute on Drug Abuse
Address

National Institutes of Health, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 5213, Bethesda, MD 20892-9561, United States

National Institute of Mental Health
Address

6001 Executive Boulevard, Bethesda, MD 20852, United States

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Address

Bldg 31, Room 2A32, MSC 2425, 31 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-2425, United States

Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
Address

Headquarters & Grantmaking Programs, 650 Fifth Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10019, United States

Publication Format
Article
Publication Type
Research (Applied/Empirical)
Report (Study/Research)
Report (Grant Sponsored)
Language
English
Country
United States of America