The Indirect Effect Of Child Maltreatment Severity On Adult Ptsd Symptoms Through Anxiety Sensitivity

Keywords

anxiety sensitivity; Child abuse; child neglect; posttraumatic stress disorder; psychopathology; trauma

Abstract

Although the rate of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among survivors of child maltreatment is high, individuals differ in symptom severity and many do not experience clinically significant levels of psychopathology. The present study tested the indirect effects of child maltreatment severity on adult PTSD, suicidal ideations, and alcohol dependence via anxiety sensitivity. A sample of 336 participants (mean age of 22.81 years, SD = 8.93; 70.2% female) completed an online survey of child abuse and neglect, anxiety sensitivity, PTSD symptom severity, suicidal ideation severity, and alcohol dependence severity. The results revealed significant indirect effects of child maltreatment on PTSD symptom severity through cognitive and social concerns, but not physical concerns. No direct or indirect effects were demonstrated for suicidal ideations or alcohol dependence severity. These findings elucidate mechanisms in the robust relationship between child maltreatment and adult PTSD symptoms and can potentially inform future research on mechanisms of change in psychotherapy.

Publication Date

8-18-2018

Publication Title

Journal of Child Sexual Abuse

Volume

27

Issue

6

Number of Pages

682-698

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1080/10538712.2018.1488333

Socpus ID

85052010679 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85052010679

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