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Stress sensitivity as a putative mechanism linking childhood trauma and psychopathology in youth's daily life
Author(s) -
Rauschenberg C.,
Os J.,
Cremers D.,
Goedhart M.,
Schieveld J. N. M.,
Reininghaus U.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/acps.12775
Subject(s) - psychopathology , anxiety sensitivity , clinical psychology , anxiety , psychology , affect (linguistics) , psychological resilience , mental health , neglect , sexual abuse , experience sampling method , young adult , child abuse , psychiatry , poison control , injury prevention , developmental psychology , medicine , psychotherapist , social psychology , environmental health , communication
Objective Childhood trauma ( CT ) is associated with a range of psychopathologies, including psychosis. However, evidence on underlying mechanisms remains limited. The study aimed to investigate whether CT impacts on youth mental health by modifying sensitivity to stress in daily life. Method The experience sampling method ( ESM ) was used to measure momentary stress, negative affect and psychotic experiences in 99 adolescents and young adults (43 help‐seeking service users, 16 siblings and 40 controls). Before ESM assessments, CT and depressive, anxiety and psychotic symptoms were assessed. Results Stress sensitivity, that is, the association between momentary stress and (i) negative affect and (ii) psychotic experiences, was modified by physical and emotional abuse and, partially, emotional and physical neglect, but not sexual abuse in service users and controls. While there was strong evidence for increased stress sensitivity in service users when high vs. low levels of CT were compared, a pattern of resilience was evident in controls, with attenuated, or no differences in, stress sensitivity in those with high vs. low CT levels. Less consistent findings were observed in siblings. Conclusions Stress sensitivity may be an important risk and resilience mechanism through which CT impacts on mental health in youth.