Adult Psychological Distress and Self-Worth Following Child Verbal Abuse

• Published in: Journal of aggression, maltreatment & trauma Vol. 22; no. 4; pp. 394 - 407
• Main Authors: Coates, Erica E., Dinger, Tara, Donovan, Matthew, Phares, Vicky
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 01-04-2013; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Adult Children; Child Abuse; Child abuse & neglect; Child Neglect; child verbal abuse; Children; Emotional disorders; Mothers; Opposite Sex Relations; Psychological Distress; self-worth; Sex; Sex roles; Universities
• ISSN: 1092-6771; 1545-083X
• DOI: 10.1080/10926771.2013.775981

Despite the proliferation of child maltreatment research over the last 30 years, there remains a dearth of research examining the long-term effects of child psychological maltreatment (CPM), particularly child verbal abuse (CVA). Using a college sample of 173 participants from a Southeastern university, this study examined the role of gender and perpetrator relationship in predicting psychological distress and self-worth of adults exposed to CVA. Maternal CVA emerged as a significant predictor of lower levels of self-worth in adult daughters and sons as well as greater psychological distress in adult daughters. Paternal CVA did not emerge as a significant predictor of greater psychological distress or lower levels of self-worth in either adult daughters or sons.