Distinct pathways to psychopathology: Examining differential effects of threat vs. deprivation

• In Event: 2-147 - Is there more to childhood adversity than cumulative stress? Distinguishing threat/ deprivation in large-scale studies

Integrative Statement

Whether the effects of maltreatment on psychopathology differ as a function of the exact nature of the experience is a matter of scientific debate. A recent theoretical proposition and first empirical results challenge previous theories that deemphasize the importance of the type of experience (Sheridan & McLaughlin, 2014). The theory proposes that experiences of threat are more closely linked to emotional symptoms, whereas experiences of deprivation impede cognitive development, which, in turn, predisposes to conduct problems. While first empirical results support this assumption (Miller et al., 2018), empirical research has not been extended to high-risk maltreated samples where little evidence for subtype-specific effects have emerged (Vachon, Krueger, Rogosch, & Cicchetti, 2015). For the first time, the present study uses structural equation modeling to examine these findings in a large-scale sample of maltreated and nonmaltreated children and adolescents. We expect deprivation during childhood to be associated with only externalizing symptoms and threat experiences to be related to both externalizing and internalizing symptoms.
The study population consisted of 853 children and adolescents (47.6 % girls) aged 3-16 (M = 10;2, SD = 3;2), 325 of whom experienced maltreatment. Maltreatment was assessed with the Maltreatment Classification System (Barnett, Manly, & Cicchetti, 1993) using parent reports and child protection services records (if applicable). Chronicity, severity and number of different neglect (i.e. failure to provide, lack of supervision as well as moral-legal and educational neglect) or abuse subtypes (i.e. physical and sexual abuse) were included in the deprivation or threat dimension, respectively. Multi-informant reports of children’s psychopathological symptoms in the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (Goodman, Ford, Simmons, Gatward, & Meltzer, 2000) were included from three different sources: fathers, mothers, and teachers. Structural equation models were conducted to examine the influence of deprivation and threat experiences on internalizing and externalizing symptoms in the participating children and adolescents.
The model fit was good (RMSEA = .042; CFI = .965; SRMR = .036). The dimensions deprivation and threat were significantly correlated. Whereas both deprivation and threat experiences predicted higher externalizing symptoms during childhood and adolescence, only threat was associated with higher internalizing symptoms (see Figure 1). In the model, effects were controlled for age, gender and socioeconomic status.
The present study replicates recent findings supporting the proposed distinction between deprivation and threat. Adding to the ongoing debate, the results argue for distinct developmental outcomes following specific dimensions of childhood maltreatment.

Authors

• Charlotte Catharina Schulz, University of Leipzig
  Presenting Author

• Susan Sierau, University of Leipzig
  Non-Presenting Author

• Andrea Michel, University of Leipzig
  Non-Presenting Author

• Annette Klein, University of Leipzig
  Non-Presenting Author

• Lars O. White, University of Leipzig
  Non-Presenting Author