Open AccessLinking childhood emotional abuse and depressive symptoms: The role of emotion dysregulation and interpersonal problems
Author(s) -
Carolien Christ,
Marleen M. de Waal,
Jack Dekker,
Iris van Kuijk,
Digna J. F. van Schaik,
Martijn Kikkert,
Anna E. Goudriaan,
Aartjan Beekman,
Terri L. Messman-Moore
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0211882
Subject(s) - psychological abuse , physical abuse , sexual abuse , psychology , emotional dysregulation , clinical psychology , child abuse , mental health , poison control , psychiatry , interpersonal communication , depression (economics) , psychological intervention , interpersonal relationship , suicide prevention , medicine , medical emergency , social psychology , economics , macroeconomics
Childhood abuse is a major public health problem that has been linked to depression in adulthood. Although different types of childhood abuse often co-occur, few studies have examined their unique impact on negative mental health outcomes. Most studies have focused solely on the consequences of childhood physical or sexual abuse; however, it has been suggested that childhood emotional abuse is more strongly related to depression. It remains unclear which underlying psychological processes mediate the effect of childhood emotional abuse on depressive symptoms. In a cross-sectional study in 276 female college students, multiple linear regression analyses were used to determine whether childhood emotional abuse, physical abuse, and sexual abuse were independently associated with depressive symptoms, emotion dysregulation, and interpersonal problems. Subsequently, OLS regression analyses were used to determine whether emotion dysregulation and interpersonal problems mediate the relationship between childhood emotional abuse and depressive symptoms. Of all types of abuse, only emotional abuse was independently associated with depressive symptoms, emotion dysregulation, and interpersonal problems. The effect of childhood emotional abuse on depressive symptoms was mediated by emotion dysregulation and the following domains of interpersonal problems: cold/distant and domineering/controlling. The results of the current study indicate that detection and prevention of childhood emotional abuse deserves attention from Child Protective Services. Finally, interventions that target emotion regulation skills and interpersonal skills may be beneficial in prevention of depression.