Abstract
Studies have documented the co-occurrence and cumulative impact of multiple types of child maltreatment on later psychosocial difficulties. Other research suggests that child abuse characteristics indicative of severity may also increase risk of later adjustment problems. However, little effort has been made to examine the co-occurrence of both multiple types of maltreatment and abuse severity within a single study. The present investigation examines self-reported child maltreatment and adult functioning in a geographically diverse sample of 1,396 undergraduate students. Results indicate that experiencing multiple types of maltreatment is positively associated with more severe abuse. Although increased maltreatment types and more severe abuse are each associated with greater trauma symptomatology, abuse severity is the stronger of the two predictors. Finally, number of maltreatment types and severity of maltreatment interact to predict greater levels of trauma symptomatology. These results highlight the importance of considering both co-occurring abuse types and severity in research and clinical work with adult victims.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 172-181 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Child Maltreatment |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 1 2007 |
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Keywords
- Child abuse
- Child maltreatment
- Long-term effects
- Multiple abuse
- Trauma
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
Cite this
Unique and combined contributions of multiple child abuse types and abuse severity to adult trauma symptomatology. / Clemmons, John C.; Walsh, Kate; DiLillo, David; Messman-Moore, Terri L.
In: Child Maltreatment, Vol. 12, No. 2, 01.05.2007, p. 172-181.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Unique and combined contributions of multiple child abuse types and abuse severity to adult trauma symptomatology
AU - Clemmons, John C.
AU - Walsh, Kate
AU - DiLillo, David
AU - Messman-Moore, Terri L.
PY - 2007/5/1
Y1 - 2007/5/1
N2 - Studies have documented the co-occurrence and cumulative impact of multiple types of child maltreatment on later psychosocial difficulties. Other research suggests that child abuse characteristics indicative of severity may also increase risk of later adjustment problems. However, little effort has been made to examine the co-occurrence of both multiple types of maltreatment and abuse severity within a single study. The present investigation examines self-reported child maltreatment and adult functioning in a geographically diverse sample of 1,396 undergraduate students. Results indicate that experiencing multiple types of maltreatment is positively associated with more severe abuse. Although increased maltreatment types and more severe abuse are each associated with greater trauma symptomatology, abuse severity is the stronger of the two predictors. Finally, number of maltreatment types and severity of maltreatment interact to predict greater levels of trauma symptomatology. These results highlight the importance of considering both co-occurring abuse types and severity in research and clinical work with adult victims.
AB - Studies have documented the co-occurrence and cumulative impact of multiple types of child maltreatment on later psychosocial difficulties. Other research suggests that child abuse characteristics indicative of severity may also increase risk of later adjustment problems. However, little effort has been made to examine the co-occurrence of both multiple types of maltreatment and abuse severity within a single study. The present investigation examines self-reported child maltreatment and adult functioning in a geographically diverse sample of 1,396 undergraduate students. Results indicate that experiencing multiple types of maltreatment is positively associated with more severe abuse. Although increased maltreatment types and more severe abuse are each associated with greater trauma symptomatology, abuse severity is the stronger of the two predictors. Finally, number of maltreatment types and severity of maltreatment interact to predict greater levels of trauma symptomatology. These results highlight the importance of considering both co-occurring abuse types and severity in research and clinical work with adult victims.
KW - Child abuse
KW - Child maltreatment
KW - Long-term effects
KW - Multiple abuse
KW - Trauma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34247341266&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=34247341266&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1077559506298248
DO - 10.1177/1077559506298248
M3 - Article
C2 - 17446570
AN - SCOPUS:34247341266
VL - 12
SP - 172
EP - 181
JO - Child Maltreatment
JF - Child Maltreatment
SN - 1077-5595
IS - 2
ER -