Wechsler, A., Kaur, H., Patterson, C., Kearney, C. (2009, November). The additive traumatic effects of neglect on maltreated adolescents. Poster presented at the 2009 U.S. Psychiatric and Mental Health Congress, Las Vegas, Nevada.Read less
![Child Neglect and Trauma: The Additive Traumatic Effects of Neglect on Maltreated Adolescents Adrianna Wechsler, Harpreet Kaur, Christina Patterson, Christopher Kearney University of Nevada, Las Vegas Child maltreatment affects millions of youths in the United States and poses numerous detrimental effects to individuals, families, and the community. Neglect is the most commonly reported yet least studied form of child maltreatment. All types of child maltreatment may result in negative outcomes, but the chronic and pervasive nature of child neglect poses a significant threat to child development. No studies have been published evaluating the role of child neglect in the development of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and PTSD-related symptoms. This study examined whether neglect has an additive traumatic effect on maltreated adolescents. The first hypothesis was that adolescent s who had experienced only neglect, in the absence of other maltreatment, would exhibit PTSD, dissociation, and depression symptoms similar to peers who had a history of other maltreatment. The second hypothesis was that adolescent s who had experienced neglect in concert with other maltreatment would exhibit more severe symptoms of PTSD, dissociation, and depression than adolescent s who had experienced maltreatment without neglect. The third hypothesis was that gender, age, and specific family factors will influence symptom severity of PTSD, dissociation, and depression symptoms. INTRODUCTION CONCLUSIONS REFERENCES ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],METHODS RESULTS: ONE-WAY ANOVA Study findings indicate that adolescents who experienced neglect exhibited PTSD-related symptoms similar to adolescents who experienced other forms of maltreatment. Results did not support the notion that neglect has an additive traumatic effect on maltreated youth. However, this study disproves the misconception that neglect is a benign form of maltreatment. Neglected youth are as likely to develop PTSD, depression, and dissociation symptoms as their physically, sexually, and otherwise abused peers. Female participants exhibited significantly more PTSD, depression, and dissociative symptoms than male participants. Results also indicate that specific family factors and social supports relate to PTSD and may influence symptom expression. Results should be interpreted with caution due to specific study limitations. Limitations include a relatively small sample size, potential misinformation from youths, lack of parental reports, lack of biological measures, reliance on a shelter-based population, and incomplete records. Figure 3: Means for CPTSD-I Symptoms by Maltreatment History *CPTSD-I E displayed a trend towards significance (p=.07). RESULTS: T-TESTS Administration on Children, Youth, and Families (2007). Child maltreatment 2005 (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services No. 16). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. Azar, S. T., & Wolfe, D. A. (2006). Child physical abuse and neglect. In E. Mash & R. Barkley (Eds.), Treatment of childhood disorders (3 rd ed.) (pp. 595-646). New York: Guilford. Hildyard, K. L., & Wolfe, D. A. (2002). Child neglect: Developmental issues and outcomes. Child Abuse and Neglect, 26 , 679-695. McSherry, D. (2007). Understanding and addressing the 'neglect of neglect': Why are we making a mole-hill out of a mountain? Child Abuse and Neglect, 31 , 607-614. National Research Council. (1993). Understanding child abuse and neglect . Washington, DC: National Academy Press. Retrieved from http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php. Wolock, I., & Horowitz, B. (1985). Child maltreatment as a social problem: The neglect of neglect. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 54 , 530-543. Figure 1: CPTSDI-I Scores by Maltreatment Types Figure 2: Self-report of Ethnic Identity (N=67 ) AA= Asian-American; NA= Native American Figure 4: Means for CDI and A-DES Symptoms by Maltreatment History *CDI D: Adolescents with a history of neglect only had means significantly lower than adolescents with a history of maltreatment alone or maltreatment in concert with neglect ** A-DES D: Adolescents with a history of neglect only had mean scores significantly lower than adolescents with a history of maltreatment alone or maltreatment in concert with neglect Figure 6: PTSD-Related Symptom Means by Neglect History Note: * = p<.05; ** = p< .01 Table 1: Dependent Variables of PTSD Related Symptoms CPTSD-I A-DES CDI Total Score Total Score Total Score A Situational Reactivity A Dissociative Amnesia A Negative Mood B Reexperiencing B Absorption/ B Interpersonal Imaginative Involvement Problems C Avoidance/Numbing C Passive Influence C Ineffectiveness D Increased Arousal D Depersonalization/ D Anhedonia Derealization E Significant Distress E Negative Self- Esteem Figure 5: PTSD-Related Symptom Means by Gend er Note: * = p<.05; ** = p<.01; *** = p<.001 Does not include the one male to female transgender participant](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/ptsdconferenceposter-12801769076465-phpapp02/85/PTSD-Conference-Poster-1-320.jpg)
