week 1 - child abuse

Childhood Maltreatment

Any act of commission or omission by a caregiver that results in harm, potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child.

Physical Abuse

Involves intentional physical force (e.g., hitting, burning) that causes or could cause injury.

Sexual Abuse

Any attempted or completed sexual act, sexual contact, or non-contact sexual interaction with a child, typically by a caregiver or trusted adult.

Emotional Abuse

Actions that make a child feel worthless, unloved, or endangered, such as frequent insults or isolation.

Neglect

Failing to meet a child’s basic physical (e.g., nutrition, hygiene), educational, or emotional needs.

Psychological Disorders

Mental health conditions that may arise from childhood maltreatment, such as mood disorders, PTSD, and personality disorders.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

A personality disorder associated with childhood maltreatment, characterized by emotional instability and severe interpersonal challenges.

Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD)

A personality disorder linked to childhood maltreatment, associated with disregard for the rights of others and social norms.

HPA Axis

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which regulates the body’s response to stress, can be dysregulated due to childhood maltreatment.

Traumatic Sexualization

A distorted view of sexuality and relationships following childhood sexual abuse, leading to unhealthy behaviors and vulnerabilities.

Chronic Health Issues

Health problems linked to childhood maltreatment, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and asthma.

Transdiagnostic Symptoms

Symptoms that span multiple disorders, commonly present in individuals with a history of childhood maltreatment, such as low self-esteem and dissociation.

Compounded Convergence of Mechanisms

A model proposing that various biological, psychological, and social mechanisms interact in survivors of childhood sexual abuse, increasing psychopathology risk.

Resilience

The capacity to adapt and thrive despite adverse experiences, important in understanding recovery after childhood maltreatment.

Global Prevalence of Maltreatment

About 25% of children globally experience some form of maltreatment in their lifetime.

Intergenerational Transmission

The passing down of maltreatment patterns across generations, occurring in about 30% of cases.

Research Limitations

Key issues in studying childhood maltreatment, including reliance on retrospective self-reports and difficulty isolating maltreatment effects.

Dose-Response Relationship

The concept that the impact of childhood maltreatment increases with its severity, frequency, and duration.

Emotional Neglect

A form of maltreatment that is often underreported but can lead to chronic mental health issues.

Neurobiological Alterations

Changes in brain structure and function resulting from childhood maltreatment, linked to heightened stress responses.

Treatment Response

Individuals with a history of childhood maltreatment often respond less effectively to treatments for mood disorders.

Hypervigilance to Threat

A heightened sensitivity to perceived danger seen in individuals who have experienced maltreatment.

Social Behavior

The influence of childhood maltreatment on trust, attachment, and intimacy in interpersonal relationships.

Suicide Risk

The significant link between childhood maltreatment and increased risk of suicidal ideation and attempts.

Timing of Maltreatment

The timing of maltreatment can influence the type and severity of psychological outcomes.

Coping Behaviors

Maladaptive coping mechanisms, such as substance abuse and self-harm, often adopted by survivors of childhood maltreatment.