Childhood Abuse as a Predictor of Psychosocial Development

1. Childhood Abuse as a Predictor of Psychosocial Development Kathryn Cornell, Angela Youngs, Jana Hackathorn Murray State University

2. Research Objective • Examine how the certain aspects of social development of individuals who experienced abuse in childhood differ from individuals who did not experience abuse as a child.

3. Background • McCarthy and Taylor (2004): link between childhood abuse and troubled adult relationships • Colman & Widom (2004): early abuse associated with divorce and cohabitation • Yumbul, et al (2010): suggested a positive correlation between childhood trauma and infidelity, in that instances of abuse are linked to higher instances of infidelity • Meston, et al (1999): sexual attitudes linked with abuse; differs in males and females

4. Methodology • Adverse Childhood Events Score (ACE; Anda, 2005) • SociosexualOrientation Inventory (SOI; Simpson & Gangestad, 1991) • Experiences in Close Relationships – Revised Scale (Fraley, et al, 2000) • Perceptions of Dating Infidelity Scale (Wilson, et al, 2011)

5. Methodology

6. Abuse & Attachment • Avoidant attachment • β = .092 • p=.039 • M = 2.91 • Anxious attachment • β = .159 • p= .001 • M = 3.31

7. Abuse & SO β = 1.433, N = 199, M = 19.89, p < .001

8. Child Abuse on Perceptions of Infidelity as Moderated by Gender β = .29, N = 158, M = 3.26, Mf= 3.38, Mm= 3.26, p =.022

9. Implications • Adolescents and children • Self-esteem • Identity, self-concept • CBT, CPT, and DBT • Cognitive distortions • Interpersonal deficits • Changes views and beliefs • Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder • Treatment of couples • Interpersonal attachment • Deception

10. Limitations & Future Research • Small number of males • Males = 41 • Females = 158 • ACE Score – Abuse? • Types of abuse predict specific outcomes • Trauma focused therapies • Age of abuse

11. Questions?Thank you!