The Impact of Maltreatment on Systemic Inflammation in Childhood

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Integrative Statement

Links between maltreatment and systemic inflammation in adulthood are well documented (e.g., Danese et al., 2009). Most of these studies have relied on adults to report retrospectively on experiences of childhood abuse, which is less ideal in light of evidence that retrospective reports may not be accurate (Reuben et al., 2016). One question that remains is: does exposure to maltreatment take time to “incubate,” giving rise to inflammation decades later, or is heightened inflammation observable in childhood, closer in time to the exposure? The present study examined this question in a sample of low-income children, half of whom had been exposed to maltreatment in childhood. We also examined whether children who had exposures across developmental periods had greater inflammation compared to those who experienced maltreatment in one period. Finally, given evidence that there may be gender differences in the sequelae associated with maltreatment exposure (McGloin & Widom, 2001), we tested whether there were gender differences in the extent to which maltreatment exposures were associated with elevated inflammation.

Participants included 155 children (Mage = 10.1yrs, 52.2% male) who attended a summer day camp research program in upstate New York designed for school-aged low income children (see Rosen et al., 2018, for study details). The sample included both maltreated children (n = 77) and nonmaltreated children. Maltreated children were recruited by a Department of Human Services (DHS) liaison, who identified children with a history of abuse or neglect. Nonmaltreated and maltreated children were matched on demographics.

Trained researchers coded DHS records to classify descriptions of maltreatment experiences using the Maltreatment Classification System (Barnett et al., 1993). The system identifies the presence of neglect, emotional maltreatment, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. Exposures were further classified as having occurred in infancy, toddlerhood, preschool, early school, and later school age. Children provided blood samples via antecubital venipuncture, and samples were later processed for C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10. These measures of inflammation were correlated (ps < .01), so scores were standardized and then averaged to create a composite measure of inflammation.

We conducted a univariate ANCOVA to examine how cumulative maltreatment exposure across developmental periods (from infancy to school age) was associated with a composite measure of systemic inflammation, and whether the effects of such exposure differed as a function of gender. After controlling for race, BMI, and age, we found a significant Gender × Cumulative Maltreatment interaction (see Figure 1). For girls, those who were exposed to maltreatment at two or more time periods had greater inflammation compared to girls who were not maltreated (Mdiff = .79, p = .002) and had marginally greater inflammation than girls who experienced maltreatment in one period (Mdiff = .47, p = .08). Similarly, girls who experienced maltreatment during one developmental period had marginally greater inflammation than girls who were not maltreated (Mdiff = .32, p = .08).

These findings add to the body of literature documenting the negative consequences of maltreatment. Additional research should examine whether girls may have greater vulnerability when exposed to abuse and neglect.

Authors

• Katherine B Ehrlich, University of Georgia
  Presenting Author

• Greg Miller, Northwestern University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Fred Rogosch, University of Rochester
  Non-Presenting Author

• Dante Cicchetti, University of Minnesota
  Non-Presenting Author