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27-09-2022 | Original Article

Associations Between Childhood Trauma Characteristics and Theory of Mind in Adults: Results From a Large, Diverse Sample

Auteurs: Claire S. Peterson, Yiwen Zhu, Laura T. Germine, Erin C. Dunn

Gepubliceerd in: Child Psychiatry & Human Development | Uitgave 3/2024

Abstract

Theory of mind (ToM) is an essential social cognitive process encompassing abilities to represent and understand others’ mental states. Although previous reports linked childhood trauma to social cognitive deficits, how characteristics of trauma exposure, such as subtype or timing, affect ToM remains unaddressed. Using data from a diverse adult sample (n = 2200), we tested whether exposure type and first exposure timing of common childhood trauma associated with ToM. Neither interpersonal loss (β = − 0.25, p = 0.170, [− 0.61, 0.10]) nor child maltreatment (β = − 0.21, p = 0.369, [− 0.66, 0.25]) was associated with lower ToM. There was no effect of timing of age at which trauma was experienced (F = 2.19, p = 0.087). While we did not identify age-dependent effects, future studies should examine links between timing or chronicity of prospectively reported childhood trauma and social cognition. Understanding of how childhood experiences shape ToM could reveal mechanisms underlying social cognition development and inform prevention efforts.

vorige artikel Psychometric Properties of the Parent and Youth Versions of the Inadequate Boundaries Questionnaire in Community and Clinical Samples of Adolescents

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Titel: Associations Between Childhood Trauma Characteristics and Theory of Mind in Adults: Results From a Large, Diverse Sample
Auteurs: Claire S. Peterson
Yiwen Zhu
Laura T. Germine
Erin C. Dunn
Publicatiedatum: 27-09-2022
Uitgeverij: Springer US
Gepubliceerd in: Child Psychiatry & Human Development / Uitgave 3/2024
Print ISSN: 0009-398X
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-3327
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-022-01442-4

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