Interpersonal Mechanisms Between Child Maltreatment Timing and Young Adult Internalizing and Externalizing Symptomology

Objective Children who experience maltreatment are prone to exhibit interpersonal deficits and lack secure attachment, which can lead to internalizing and externalizing symptomology. This study investigated timing and chronicity of maltreatment and its impacts on psychopathology outcomes in young adulthood. We examined two interpersonal mediators: problems with peers and childhood attachment security. Method Children with and without maltreatment exposure were recruited to take part in a one-week research summer camp (N = 697; Mage = 11.29 [SD = .97]; 71.3% Black or African American; 50.5% male). Participants were re-contacted in young adulthood to complete a second wave of assessments (N = 427, Mage = 19.67 [SD = 1.16]; 78.0% Black or African American; 48.9% male). We used structural equation modeling to estimate indirect effects from child maltreatment timing to young adult internalizing and externalizing symptomology via childhood attachment security and peer problems. Results Findings highlighted the detrimental impact of chronic maltreatment, which was associated with higher levels of peer problems (β = .24, p < .001) and less secure attachment (β = -.13, p < .01) in childhood. We also found that lower attachment quality in childhood mediated the association between chronic maltreatment and self-reported internalizing (α*β = .02, p < .05) and externalizing symptomology (α*β = .02, p < .05). Additionally, childhood peer problems mediated the association between chronic maltreatment and caregiver-reported internalizing problems (α*β = .04, p < .05). Conclusion Chronic maltreatment is particularly harmful for children’s interpersonal outcomes. Mediation findings differed by who reported on psychopathology, showing the importance of considering multi-reporter measures of psychopathology.