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The Role of Shame in Predicting Adult Anger and Depressive Symptoms Among Victims of Child Psychological Maltreatment

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Abstract

Previous research on child maltreatment and adult outcomes has failed to consider affective reactions to the maltreatment, which may play a critical role in victim outcomes. One such affective reaction—shame—may help to explain this relationship. In the context of maltreatment, feelings of shame are seen as a natural extension of the helplessness experienced by many victims of child maltreatment [Finkelhor, D., and Browne, A. (1986). Initial and long-term effects: A conceptual framework. In Finkelhor, D. (ed.), A Sourcebook on Child Sexual Maltreatment, Sage, Newbury Park, CA, pp. 180–198]. The current study examined the moderating role of shame in the relationship between victim reactions to child psychological maltreatment and adult anger and depressive symptoms. Results showed that shame moderated between child psychological maltreatment and adult anger for men but not for women, whereas shame moderated between child psychological maltreatment and depressive symptoms for adult women. Presence of gender-related differences suggests that gender should be considered in the design and development of therapeutic techniques for the treatment and prevention of anger and depression in adult survivors of child psychological maltreatment.

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Author notes

  1. Felicity W. K. Harper

    Present address: Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute/Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan

  2. Ileana Arias

    Present address: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia

    Felicity W. K. Harper & Ileana Arias

  2. Division of Violence Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, N.E., Mailstop K60, Atlanta, Georgia, 30341

    Ileana Arias

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  1. Felicity W. K. Harper
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  2. Ileana Arias
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Correspondence to Ileana Arias.

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Harper, F.W.K., Arias, I. The Role of Shame in Predicting Adult Anger and Depressive Symptoms Among Victims of Child Psychological Maltreatment. J Fam Viol 19, 359–367 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-004-0681-x

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