OBJECTIVE: Child abuse is an important risk for adult psychiatric morbidity. However, not all maltreated children experience mental health problems as adults. The aims of the present study were to address the extent of resilience to adult psychopathology in a representative community sample, and to explore predictors of a good prognosis. METHODS: Data are drawn from a follow-up of the Isle of Wight study, an epidemiological sample assessed in adolescence and at midlife. Ratings of psychiatric disorder, peer relationships and family functioning were made in adolescence; adult assessments included a lifetime psychiatric history, personality and social functioning assessments, and retrospective reports of childhood sexual and physical abuse. RESULTS: Ten percent of individuals reported repeated or severe physical or sexual abuse in childhood. Prospective measures revealed increased rates of adolescent psychiatric disorders in this group. Rates of adult psychopathology were also high. A substantial minority of abused individuals reported no mental health problems in adult life. Resilience of this kind was related to perceived parental care, adolescent peer relationships, the quality of adult love relationships, and personality style. CONCLUSION: Good quality relationships across childhood, adolescence and adulthood appear especially important for adult psychological well being in the context of childhood abuse.
OBJECTIVE:Child abuse is an important risk for adult psychiatric morbidity. However, not all maltreated children experience mental health problems as adults. The aims of the present study were to address the extent of resilience to adult psychopathology in a representative community sample, and to explore predictors of a good prognosis. METHODS: Data are drawn from a follow-up of the Isle of Wight study, an epidemiological sample assessed in adolescence and at midlife. Ratings of psychiatric disorder, peer relationships and family functioning were made in adolescence; adult assessments included a lifetime psychiatric history, personality and social functioning assessments, and retrospective reports of childhood sexual and physical abuse. RESULTS: Ten percent of individuals reported repeated or severe physical or sexual abuse in childhood. Prospective measures revealed increased rates of adolescent psychiatric disorders in this group. Rates of adult psychopathology were also high. A substantial minority of abused individuals reported no mental health problems in adult life. Resilience of this kind was related to perceived parental care, adolescent peer relationships, the quality of adult love relationships, and personality style. CONCLUSION: Good quality relationships across childhood, adolescence and adulthood appear especially important for adult psychological well being in the context of childhood abuse.
Authors: Ronald C Kessler; Katie A McLaughlin; Jennifer Greif Green; Michael J Gruber; Nancy A Sampson; Alan M Zaslavsky; Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola; Ali Obaid Alhamzawi; Jordi Alonso; Matthias Angermeyer; Corina Benjet; Evelyn Bromet; Somnath Chatterji; Giovanni de Girolamo; Koen Demyttenaere; John Fayyad; Silvia Florescu; Gilad Gal; Oye Gureje; Josep Maria Haro; Chi-Yi Hu; Elie G Karam; Norito Kawakami; Sing Lee; Jean-Pierre Lépine; Johan Ormel; José Posada-Villa; Rajesh Sagar; Adley Tsang; T Bedirhan Ustün; Svetlozar Vassilev; Maria Carmen Viana; David R Williams Journal: Br J Psychiatry Date: 2010-11 Impact factor: 9.319
Authors: Moriah E Thomason; Hilary A Marusak; Maria A Tocco; Angela M Vila; Olivia McGarragle; David R Rosenberg Journal: Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci Date: 2015-04-02 Impact factor: 3.436
Authors: Marcelo F Mello; Alvaro A Faria; Andrea F Mello; Linda L Carpenter; Audrey R Tyrka; Lawrence H Price Journal: Braz J Psychiatry Date: 2009-10 Impact factor: 2.697