Childhood maltreatment and the mental health of low-income women.

Low-income mothers were examined to determine whether childhood physical and sexual abuse would explain variance in adult mental health after controlling for other childhood and adult risk factors. Depressive symptoms and self-esteem were found to vary significantly with childhood maltreatment. Analyses of women abused in childhood revealed that social support and a less external locus of control were protective in function. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.