The role of protective self‐cognitions in the relationship between childhood trauma and later resource loss

Summary & key facts

Researchers followed 402 inner-city women who had experienced childhood abuse. They looked at PTSD symptoms, two protective self-views (self-esteem and self-efficacy), and later resource loss. The study found that childhood abuse was linked to more PTSD symptoms and more resource loss later on. Higher PTSD symptoms were tied to lower protective self-views, and those stronger protective self-views were tied to less later resource loss. The authors also tested a different model that looked at whether resource loss led to later PTSD symptoms.

Key facts:

• The study followed 402 inner-city women who reported childhood abuse.
• Childhood abuse was associated with greater PTSD symptoms and with more resource loss measured later on.
• The protective self-cognitions studied were self-esteem and self-efficacy.
• Higher PTSD symptoms were related to weaker protective self-cognitions (lower self-esteem and self-efficacy).
• Stronger protective self-cognitions were associated with less later resource loss.
• The authors also tested an alternative model that examined whether resource loss might predict later PTSD symptoms, rather than PTSD predicting resource loss.

Abstract

The authors examined a prospective model investigating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and protective self-cognitions (self-esteem and self-efficacy) with later resource loss among 402 inner-city women who experienced childhood abuse. They predicted that women with PTSD may fail to develop or sustain protective self-cognitions that could protect against future stress. Results from the hypothesized model suggest that child abuse was associated with greater PTSD symptoms and later resource loss. PTSD symptoms were also related to protective self-cognitions, which, in turn, were associated with less resource loss. The authors also examined an alternative model exploring the relationship between resource loss and later PTSD symptoms. Findings allude to the relationship of risk and resiliency variables among women with childhood trauma histories.

Topics

Child Abuse and Trauma Migration, Health and Trauma Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research

Categories

Clinical Psychology Psychology Social Sciences

Tags

Child abuse Childhood abuse Clinical psychology Cognition Developmental psychology Human factors and ergonomics Injury prevention Medical emergency Medicine Poison control Posttraumatic stress Psychiatry Psychology Self-esteem