Childhood abuse can negatively impact behavioral and mental health among Black women in emerging adulthood.
Key Points
Rationale
Previous research showschildhood abuseputs individuals at risk for adverse behavioral and mental health outcomes later in life (Anda et al., 2006; Edwards et al., 2003).
However, fewer studies have examined mechanisms underlying this relationship or factors that might prevent/attenuate negative effects in at-risk groups.
Method
440 Black women aged 18-24, who reported drinking alcohol and having recent unprotected sex, were sampled from a larger HIV prevention trial.
One hundred fifty-nine women reported some form of abuse before age 18 (emotional, physical, sexual), while 281 reported no lifetime abuse. Measures assessed abuse history, adult attachment security, emotion dysregulation, coping strategies, mental health symptoms, substance use problems, and sexual risk behaviors.
Sample
Black cisgender women aged 18-24 (M=20.3 years) from a southeast U.S. city, all of whom reported recent alcohol use and unprotected sex.
Statistical Analysis
Multiple regression tested interaction effects between abuse and attachment security. Structural equation modeling examined
Results
However, high attachment security weakened the harmful effects that passed through coping and (to a lesser degree) emotional dysregulation.
Strengths
Limitations
Implications
Interventions for emerging adult women with abuse histories could teachemotion regulationand coping skills.
Bolstering attachment securitymay also mitigate post-abuse maladjustment across behavioral and mental health domains.
References
Primary reference
Gause, N.K., Sales, J.M., Brown, J.L., Pelham III, W.E., Liu, Y., & West, S.G. (2022). The protective role of secure attachment in the relationship between experiences of childhood abuse, emotion dysregulation and coping, and behavioral and mental health problems among emerging adult Black women: A moderated mediation analysis.Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science, 131(7), 716-726.https://doi.org/10.1037/abn0000772
Other references
Alink, L. R., Cicchetti, D., Kim, J., & Rogosch, F. A. (2009). Mediating and moderating processes in the relation between maltreatment and psychopathology: Mother-child relationship quality and emotion regulation. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 37(6), 831–843.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-009-9314-4
Anda, R. F., Felitti, V. J., Bremner, J. D., Walker, J. D., Whitfield, C., Perry, B. D., Dube, S. R., & Giles, W. H. (2006). The enduring effects of abuse and related adverse experiences in childhood. A convergence of evidence from neurobiology and epidemiology.European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 256(3), 174-186.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-005-0624-4
Edwards, V. J., Holden, G. W., Felitti, V. J., & Anda, R. F. (2003). Relationship between multiple forms of childhood maltreatment and adult mental health in community respondents: Results from the adverse childhood experiences study.The American Journal of Psychiatry, 160(8), 1453-1460.https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.160.8.1453
Heleniak, C., Jenness, J. L., Stoep, A. V., McCauley, E., & McLaughlin, K. A. (2016). Childhood maltreatment exposure and disruptions in emotion regulation: A transdiagnostic pathway to adolescent internalizing and externalizing psychopathology.Cognitive Therapy and Research, 40(3), 394–415.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-015-9735-z
Vilhena-Churchill, N., & Goldstein, A. L. (2014). Child maltreatment and marijuana problems in young adults: Examining the role of motives and emotion dysregulation.Child Abuse & Neglect, 38(5), 962–972.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2013.10.009
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Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc
BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of Education
Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.
Saul McLeod, PhD
BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester
Saul McLeod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.
