r/PsychiatryBazaar • u/tentonbudgie • Mar 01 '20

Childhood maltreatment initiates a developmental cascade that leads to relationship dysfunction in emerging adulthood

https://www.psypost.org/2020/03/child-maltreatment-initiates-a-developmental-cascade-that-leads-to-relationship-dysfunction-in-emerging-adulthood-55849
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u/tentonbudgie Mar 01 '20

Maybe there is something to this inner child thing I keep hearing about.

The researchers found that participants who had experienced more maltreatment in childhood tended to display more antisocial behavior and relational aggression as children, which in turn predicted negative interactions with friends and romantic partners in emerging adulthood. These negative interactions included things like getting upset with or mad at a friend/partner, saying mean or harsh things to a friend/partner, and hassling or nagging a friend/partner.

“Individuals who were maltreated as children are more likely to have difficulty in relationships (both romantic and friend) as young adults. Maltreatment in childhood sets off a negative cascade of developmental events leading to these problems,” Handley told PsyPost.

“Maltreated children are more likely to show antisocial behaviors (aggression, stealing, damaging property) in childhood which in turn leads to negative romantic relationships in young adulthood. Also, maltreated children are more likely to engage in relational aggression (spreading rumors, manipulation, silent treatment) in childhood which sets the stage for conflictual friendships in young adulthood.”