Single versus Multi-Type Maltreatment

TLDR

The study aimed to determine the long‑term effects of different child abuse types and compare single versus multi‑type maltreatment. Three hundred eighty‑four college students reported histories of neglect, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse along with measures of depression, suicidality, self‑esteem, sexual behavior, substance use, and delinquency. Results showed that abuse types co‑occur frequently, all are linked to adverse symptoms, and experiencing multiple types leads to greater symptom severity than no abuse or a single type, highlighting the importance of considering all abuse types in research.

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to identify the long-term impacts of different types of child abuse and to assess differential effects of single versus multi-type maltreatment. Three hundred and eighty-four college students completed measures of child abuse history (neglect, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse), depression, suicidality, self-esteem, sexual behavior, drug and alcohol use, and delinquent behavior. The results demonstrate the high rates of co-occurrence of different types of abuse, with few differential effects identified. Rather, all types of abuse were associated with symptoms. Experiencing multiple types of abuse was associated with greater symptoms than experiencing no abuse or a single type of abuse. The results highlight the importance of considering all types of abuse when studying child maltreatment.