Top

07-12-2024 | Empirical Research

Longitudinal Association Between Childhood Emotional Maltreatment and Gratitude in Chinese Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Parent-Child Attachment

Auteurs: Ao Ren, Ningzhe Zhu, Yuening Liu, Yifan Liu, Xiaoni Yang, Chengcheng Li, Feng Kong

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Youth and Adolescence

Abstract

Childhood emotional maltreatment is a crucial risk factor for gratitude in adolescents. However, previous research has not investigated the effects of two types of emotional maltreatment (i.e., emotional abuse and emotional neglect) on gratitude, and explored the underlying mechanisms. To address existing research gaps, this study investigated how childhood emotional maltreatment affected adolescent gratitude, as well as the potential role of parent-child attachment in the Chinese context. A total of 491 Chinese adolescents from a public high school (M_age = 16.19 years, SD = 0.50; 60.5% female) participated in this 10-month, three-wave longitudinal study. The path analysis revealed that cumulative childhood emotional maltreatment and childhood emotional neglect at T1 predicted lower levels of gratitude at T3, while childhood emotional abuse did not. Additionally, parent-child attachment at T2 mediated the relationship between cumulative childhood emotional maltreatment at T1 and gratitude at T3. These findings underscore the enduring negative impact of childhood emotional maltreatment on adolescent gratitude and highlight the crucial role of parent-child attachment in this relationship.

Aikins, J. W., Howes, C., & Hamilton, C. (2009). Attachment stability and the emergence of unresolved representations during adolescence. Attachment & Human Development, 11(5), 491–512. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616730903017019.CrossRef

Alfieri, S., Tagliabue, S., Marta, E., Aresi, G., Lanz, M., & Pozzi, M. (2018). Gratitude as a variable of mediation between parental support and self-esteem in adolescence. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 27, 1394–1401. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-017-1001-4.CrossRef

Armenta, C. N., Fritz, M. M., Walsh, L. C., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2022). Satisfied yet striving: Gratitude fosters life satisfaction and improvement motivation in youth. Emotion, 22(5), 1004–1016. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000896.CrossRefPubMed

Armsden, G. C., & Greenberg, M. T. (2020). The inventory of parent and peer attachment: Individual differences and their relationship to psychological well-being in adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 16(5), 427–454. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02202939.CrossRef

Bernstein, D. P., Stein, J. A., Newcomb, M. D., Walker, E., Pogge, D., Ahluvalia, T., Stokes, J., Handelsman, L., Medrano, M., Desmond, D., & Zule, W. (2003). Development and validation of a brief screening version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Child Abuse & Neglect, 27(2), 169–190. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0145-2134(02)00541-0.CrossRef

Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss. Random House

Bowlby, J. (2018). The Making and Breaking of Affectional Bonds. British Journal of Psychiatry, 130(5), 421–431. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.130.5.421.CrossRef

Christ, C., de Waal, M. M., Dekker, J. J. M., van Kuijk, I., van Schaik, D. J. F., Kikkert, M. J., Goudriaan, A. E., Beekman, A. T. F., & Messman-Moore, T. L. (2019). Linking childhood emotional abuse and depressive symptoms: The role of emotion dysregulation and interpersonal problems. PLoS One, 14(2), e0211882 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0211882.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Davila, J., Burge, D., & Hammen, C. (1997). Why does attachment style change? Journal of personality and social psychology, 73(4), 826 https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.73.4.826.CrossRefPubMed

Doi, S., Koyama, Y., Tani, Y., Murayama, H., Inoue, S., Fujiwara, T., & Shobugawa, Y. (2021). Do Social Ties Moderate the Association between Childhood Maltreatment and Gratitude in Older Adults? Results from the NEIGE Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(21). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111082.

Dye, H. (2018). The impact and long-term effects of childhood trauma. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 28(3), 381–392. https://doi.org/10.1080/10911359.2018.1435328.CrossRef

Ellis, B. J., Sheridan, M. A., Belsky, J., & McLaughlin, K. A. (2022). Why and how does early adversity influence development? Toward an integrated model of dimensions of environmental experience. Development and Psychopathology, 34(2), 447–471. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579421001838.CrossRefPubMed

Evans, G. W., Li, D., & Whipple, S. S. (2013). Cumulative risk and child development. Psychological Bulletin, 139(6), 1342–1396. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031808.CrossRefPubMed

Froh, J. J., Kashdan, T. B., Ozimkowski, K. M., & Miller, N. (2009). Who benefits the most from a gratitude intervention in children and adolescents? Examining positive affect as a moderator. The journal of positive psychology, 4(5), 408–422. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760902992464.CrossRef

Froh, J. J., Yurkewicz, C., & Kashdan, T. B. (2008). Gratitude and subjective well‐being in early adolescence: Examining gender differences. Journal of Adolescence, 32(3), 633–650. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2008.06.006.CrossRefPubMed

Fu, H., Feng, T., Qin, J., Wang, T., Wu, X., Cai, Y., Lan, L., & Yang, T. (2018). Reported prevalence of childhood maltreatment among Chinese college students: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One, 13(10), e0205808 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0205808.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Gibb, B. E., Wheeler, R., Alloy, L. B., & Abramson, L. Y. (2001). Emotional, physical, and sexual maltreatment in childhood versus adolescence and personality dysfunction in young adulthood. Journal of Personality Disorders, 15(6), 505–511. https://doi.org/10.1521/pedi.15.6.505.19194.CrossRefPubMed

Gilbert, R., Widom, C. S., Browne, K., Fergusson, D., Webb, E., & Janson, S. (2009). Burden and consequences of child maltreatment in high-income countries. The Lancet, 373(9657), 68–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(08)61706-7.CrossRef

Halberstadt, A. G., Langley, H. A., Hussong, A. M., Rothenberg, W. A., Coffman, J. L., Mokrova, I., & Costanzo, P. R. (2016). Parents’ understanding of gratitude in children: A thematic analysis. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 36, 439–451. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2016.01.014.CrossRef

Hu, L., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 6(1), 1–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705519909540118.CrossRef

Hughes, M., & Cossar, J. (2016). The relationship between maternal childhood emotional abuse/neglect and parenting outcomes: A systematic review. Child Abuse Review, 25(1), 31–45. https://doi.org/10.1002/car.2393.CrossRef

Hussong, A. M., Coffman, J. L., & Halberstadt, A. G. (2021). Parenting and the development of children’s gratitude. Child Development Perspectives, 15(4), 235–241. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12434.CrossRef

Hovens, J. G. F. M., Giltay, E. J., van Hemert, A. M., & Penninx, B. W. J. H. (2016). Childhood maltreatment and the course of depressive and anxiety disorders: The contribution of personality characteristics. Depression and Anxiety, 33(1), 27–34. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22429.CrossRefPubMed

Kong, F., Zhu, N., Ye, Y., Li, C., Zhang, L., & Li, W. (2023). Childhood emotional but not physical or sexual maltreatment predicts prosocial behavior in late adolescence: A daily diary study. Child Abuse & Neglect, 139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106123.

Kwok, S. Y. C. L., Gu, M., & Cheung, A. (2019). A longitudinal study on the relationship among childhood emotional abuse, gratitude, and suicidal ideation of Chinese adolescents. Child Abuse & Neglect, 94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.104031.

Li, S. (2015). Chinese Parents’ Role Modeling: Promoting Gratitude. Childhood Education, 91(3), 190–197. https://doi.org/10.1080/00094056.2015.1047310.CrossRef

Li, S. (2015). A mechanism for gratitude development in a child. Early Child Development and Care, 186(3), 466–479. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2015.1043911.CrossRef

Li, S., Liu, J., Pan, Y., & Chen, X. (2023). The Longitudinal Relationship between Parent-Child Attachment and Adolescents’ Gratitude: The Mediating Role of Perceived Parental Communal Strength. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 52(12), 2661–2671. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-023-01857-9.CrossRefPubMed

Lindert, J., von Ehrenstein, O. S., Grashow, R., Gal, G., Braehler, E., & Weisskopf, M. G. (2014). Sexual and physical abuse in childhood is associated with depression and anxiety over the life course: systematic review and meta-analysis. International journal of public health, 59(2), 359–372. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-013-0519-5.CrossRefPubMed

Little, R. J. A. (1988). A Test of Missing Completely at Random for Multivariate Data with Missing Values. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 83(404), 1198–1202. https://doi.org/10.1080/01621459.1988.10478722.CrossRef

Liu, C., Chen, X., Song, P., Lu, A., Wang, L., Zhang, X., Huang, Z., & Zheng, D. (2018). Relationship Between Childhood Emotional Abuse and Self-Esteem: A Dual Mediation Model of Attachment. Social Behavior and Personality: an international journal, 46(5), 793–800. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.6655.CrossRef

Luke, N., & Banerjee, R. (2013). Differentiated associations between childhood maltreatment experiences and social understanding: A meta-analysis and systematic review. Developmental Review, 33(1), 1–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2012.10.001.CrossRef

McCullough, M. E., Kilpatrick, S. D., Emmons, R. A., & Larson, D. B. (2001). Is gratitude a moral affect? Psychol Bulletin, 127(2), 249–266. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.127.2.249.CrossRef

McLaughlin, K. A., & Sheridan, M. A. (2016). Beyond Cumulative Risk. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 25(4), 239–245. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721416655883.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

McLaughlin, K. A., Sheridan, M. A., & Lambert, H. K. (2014). Childhood adversity and neural development: Deprivation and threat as distinct dimensions of early experience. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 47, 578–591. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.10.012.CrossRef

Morgan, B., & Gulliford, L. (2017). Assessing influences on gratitude experience: Age-related differences in how gratitude is understood and experienced. In Developing gratitude in children and adolescents (pp. 65-88). Cambridge University Press.

Muthén, B., & Kaplan, D. (1985). A comparison of some methodologies for the factor analysis of non-normal Likert variables. British Journal of Mathematical and Statistical Psychology, 38(2), 171–189. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8317.1985.tb00832.x.CrossRef

Nelson, J. A., de Lucca Freitas, L. B., O’Brien, M., Calkins, S. D., Leerkes, E. M., & Marcovitch, S. (2012). Preschool‐aged children’s understanding of gratitude: Relations with emotion and mental state knowledge. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 31(1), 42–56. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-835X.2012.02077.x.CrossRefPubMed

Obeldobel, C. A., & Kerns, K. A. (2021). A literature review of gratitude, parent–child relationships, and well-being in children. Developmental Review, 61, 100948 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2021.100948.CrossRef

Pollak, S. D., Nelson, C. A., Schlaak, M. F., Roeber, B. J., Wewerka, S. S., Wiik, K. L., Frenn, K. A., Loman, M. M., & Gunnar, M. R. (2010). Neurodevelopmental Effects of Early Deprivation in Postinstitutionalized Children. Child Development, 81(1), 224–236. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2009.01391.x.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Preacher, K. J., & Hayes, A. F. (2008). Asymptotic and resampling strategies for assessing and comparing indirect effects in multiple mediator models. Behavior Research Methods, 40(3), 879–891. https://doi.org/10.3758/brm.40.3.879.CrossRefPubMed

Ranson, K. E., & Urichuk, L. J. (2008). The effect of parent–child attachment relationships on child biopsychosocial outcomes: a review. Early Child Development and Care, 178(2), 129–152. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430600685282.CrossRef

Renshaw, T. L., & Olinger Steeves, R. M. (2016). What good is gratitude in youth and schools? A systematic review and meta-analysis of correlates and intervention outcomes. Psychology in the Schools, 53(3), 286–305. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.21903.CrossRef

Repetti, R. L., Taylor, S. E., & Seeman, T. E. (2002). Risky families: family social environments and the mental and physical health of offspring. Psychological Bulletin, 128(2), 330 https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.128.2.330.CrossRefPubMed

Riggs, S. A. (2010). Childhood Emotional Abuse and the Attachment System Across the Life Cycle: What Theory and Research Tell Us. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 19(1), 5–51. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926770903475968.CrossRef

Riggs, S. A., & Kaminski, P. (2010). Childhood Emotional Abuse, Adult Attachment, and Depression as Predictors of Relational Adjustment and Psychological Aggression. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 19(1), 75–104. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926770903475976.CrossRef

Rowe, A., & Carnelley, K. B. (2003). Attachment style differences in the processing of attachment–relevant information: Primed–style effects on recall, interpersonal expectations, and affect. Personal relationships, 10(1), 59–75. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6811.00036.CrossRef

Scott, V., Verhees, M., De Raedt, R., Bijttebier, P., Vasey, M. W., Van de Walle, M., Waters, T. E. A., & Bosmans, G. (2020). Gratitude: A Resilience Factor for More Securely Attached Children. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 30(2), 416–430. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-020-01853-8.CrossRef

Shaffer, A., Yates, T. M., & Egeland, B. R. (2009). The relation of emotional maltreatment to early adolescent competence: developmental processes in a prospective study. Child abuse & neglect, 33(1), 36–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2008.12.005.CrossRef

Shonkoff, J. P., Garner, A. S., Siegel, B. S., Dobbins, M. I., Earls, M. F., Garner, A. S., McGuinn, L., Pascoe, J., & Wood, D. L. (2012). The Lifelong Effects of Early Childhood Adversity and Toxic Stress. Pediatrics, 129(1), e232–e246. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-2663.CrossRefPubMed

Spratt, E. G., Friedenberg, S., LaRosa, A., Bellis, M. D. D., Macias, M. M., Summer, A. P., Hulsey, T. C., Runyan, D. K., & Brady, K. T. (2012). The Effects of Early Neglect on Cognitive, Language, and Behavioral Functioning in Childhood. Psychology, 03(02), 175–182. https://doi.org/10.4236/psych.2012.32026.CrossRef

Steinberg, L. (2005). Cognitive and affective development in adolescence. Trends in cognitive sciences, 9(2), 69–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2004.12.005.CrossRefPubMed

Stoltenborgh, M., Bakermans‐Kranenburg, M. J., Alink, L. R. A., & van Ijzendoorn, M. H. (2014). The Prevalence of Child Maltreatment across the Globe: Review of a Series of Meta‐Analyses. Child Abuse Review, 24(1), 37–50. https://doi.org/10.1002/car.2353.CrossRef

Sun, J., Lunkenheimer, E., & Lin, D. (2023). Dimensions of child maltreatment and longitudinal diurnal cortisol patterns: The roles of resilience and child sex. Development and Psychopathology, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954579423001086.

Taylor, S. E., Lerner, J. S., Sage, R. M., Lehman, B. J., & Seeman, T. E. (2004). Early environment, emotions, responses to stress, and health. Journal of Personality, 72(6), 1365–1394. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2004.00300.x.CrossRefPubMed

Theisen, J. C., Fraley, R. C., Hankin, B. L., Young, J. F., & Chopik, W. J. (2018). How do attachment styles change from childhood through adolescence? Findings from an accelerated longitudinal Cohort study. Journal of Research in Personality, 74, 141–146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2018.04.001.CrossRef

Tomlinson, M., Norman, R. E., Byambaa, M., De, R., Butchart, A., Scott, J., & Vos, T. (2012). The Long-Term Health Consequences of Child Physical Abuse, Emotional Abuse, and Neglect: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLoS Medicine, 9(11). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001349.

Vachon, D. D., Krueger, R. F., Rogosch, F. A., & Cicchetti, D. (2015). Assessment of the Harmful Psychiatric and Behavioral Effects of Different Forms of Child Maltreatment. Journal of the American Medical Association Psychiatry, 72(11), 1135–1142. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2015.1792.CrossRefPubMed

van Eijck, F. E., Branje, S. J., Hale, W. W., & Meeus, W. H. (2012). Longitudinal associations between perceived parent-adolescent attachment relationship quality and generalized anxiety disorder symptoms in adolescence. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 40(6), 871–883. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-012-9613-z.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Wang, D., Wang, Y. C., & Tudge, J. R. H. (2015). Expressions of Gratitude in Children and Adolescents. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 46(8), 1039–1058. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022115594140.CrossRef

Wang, J., Yang, Y., Tang, Y., Wu, M., Jiang, S., & Zou, H. (2021). Longitudinal links among parent-child attachment, emotion parenting, and problem behaviors of preadolescents. Children and Youth Services Review, 121, 105797. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105797.CrossRef

Waters, E., Merrick, S., Treboux, D., Crowell, J., & Albersheim, L. (2000). Attachment Security in Infancy and Early Adulthood: A Twenty-Year Longitudinal Study. Child Development, 71(3), 684–689. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8624.00176.CrossRefPubMed

Watkins, P. C. (2014). Gratitude and the Good Life. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7253-3.

Wekerle, C., & Wolfe, D. A. (1998). The role of child maltreatment and attachment style in adolescent relationship violence. Development and Psychopathology, 10(3), 571–586. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579498001758.CrossRefPubMed

Wood, A. M., Froh, J. J., & Geraghty, A. W. (2010). Gratitude and well-being: A review and theoretical integration. Clinical psychology review, 30(7), 890–905. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2010.03.005.CrossRefPubMed

Wu, H. T., Tseng, S. F., Wu, P. L., & Chen, C. M. (2016). The relationship between parent-child interactions and prosocial behavior among fifth-and sixth-grade students: gratitude as a mediating variable. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 4(10), 2373–2385. https://doi.org/10.13189/UJER.2016.041016.CrossRef

Wu, Q., Chi, P., Lin, X., & Du, H. (2018). Child maltreatment and adult depressive symptoms: Roles of self-compassion and gratitude. Child Abuse & Neglect, 80, 62–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.03.013.CrossRef

Yu, G., Li, S., & Zhao, F. (2020). Childhood maltreatment and prosocial behavior among Chinese adolescents: Roles of empathy and gratitude. Child Abuse & Neglect, 101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.104319.

Yu, Z., Zhao, A., & Liu, A. (2017). Childhood maltreatment and depression: a meta-analysis. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 49(1), 40 https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1041.2017.00040.CrossRef

Zeng, Y., Ling, Y., Huebner, E. S., He, Y., & Lei, X. (2017). The psychometric properties of the 5-item gratitude questionnaire in Chinese adolescents. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 24(4), 203–210. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpm.12372.CrossRefPubMed

Zhang, L., Roslan, S., Zaremohzzabieh, Z., Liu, K., Tang, X., Jiang, Y., & Mohamad, Z. (2023). A serial mediation model of negative life events on school adjustment of left-behind adolescents in rural china: the central role of hope and gratitude. BMC Psychiatry, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-05102-2.

Zhang, T. H., Chow, A., Wang, L. L., Yu, J. H., Dai, Y. F., Lu, X., Good, M.-J. D., Good, B. J., & Xiao, Z. P. (2013). Childhood maltreatment profile in a clinical population in China: A further analysis with existing data of an epidemiologic survey. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 54(7), 856–864. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2013.03.014.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Zhao, H., Zhang, M., Li, Y., & Wang, Z. (2023). The Effect of Growth Mindset on Adolescents’ Meaning in Life: The Roles of Self-Efficacy and Gratitude. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, ume 16, 4647–4664. https://doi.org/10.2147/prbm.S428397.CrossRef

Zhao, X., Zhang, Y., Li, L., & Zhou, Y. (2005). Evaluation on reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research, 9(3), 209–211.

Zhu, N., Ye, Y., Li, C., Wang, R., & Kong, F. (2024). Childhood Maltreatment and Gratitude: A Multilevel, Meta-Analytic Review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 25(2), 1496–1510. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380231185305.CrossRef

Titel: Longitudinal Association Between Childhood Emotional Maltreatment and Gratitude in Chinese Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Parent-Child Attachment
Auteurs: Ao Ren
Ningzhe Zhu
Yuening Liu
Yifan Liu
Xiaoni Yang
Chengcheng Li
Feng Kong
Publicatiedatum: 07-12-2024
Uitgeverij: Springer US
Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Youth and Adolescence
Print ISSN: 0047-2891
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-6601
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-024-02118-z

Bohn Stafleu van Loghum

Deel dit onderdeel of sectie (kopieer de link)

Abstract

Log in om toegang te krijgen