(PS4-D87) Post-trauma Cognitions as Intervening Variables in the Relation Between Chronic Child Abuse and Risk Factors for Psychopathology

Chronic abuse in childhood and adolescence is consistently linked to negative mental health outcomes later in life. Specifically, research provides evidence for associations of chronic abuse with a pair of risk variables originally developed in models of suicidal ideation and behavior: perceived burdensomeness (i.e., the belief that one is an inconvenience to others) and thwarted belongingness (i.e., feelings of alienation and being fundamentally different from others).  Additionally, models of post-trauma functioning identify shifts in fundamental beliefs about the self, the world, and perceptions of self-blame as central to the development of chronic psychopathology. The aim of the current study was to examine post-trauma cognitions as intervening variables in the relation between chronic abuse and elevations in burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness.

Participants (N = 380) included university students involved in an ongoing study of post-trauma functioning. Following initial screening, individuals reporting evidence of probable trauma completed a clinical interview to determine the presence, onset, and chronicity of Criterion-A exposure. Chronic abuse was defined as systematic victimization consistent with Criterion-A trauma occurring prior to age 18. Negative beliefs about the self, the world, and self-blame were quantified through responses to the Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory (PTCI). Burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness were measured using the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ-10). Structural equation modeling was used to assess specific indirect effects of chronic abuse status (0 = No, 1 = Yes) on burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness through trauma-related beliefs about the self, the world, and self-blame.

Approximately 27.9% of trauma-exposed students in this sample reported experiences consistent with chronic child and adolescent abuse. For the burdensomeness model, analyses indicated direct effects of chronic abuse on negative beliefs about the self (β = .12, p = .029) and the world (β = .15, p = .004). Negative beliefs about the self also evidenced a unique association with increased burdensomeness (β = .75, p < .001). Consistent with hypotheses, results demonstrated an indirect effect of chronic abuse on burdensomeness through negative self-beliefs (p = .035).

For thwarted belongingness, path analyses again identified direct effects of chronic victimization on negative cognitions about the self (β = .11, p = .035) and the world (β = .15, p = .004). Negative beliefs concerning the self (β = .71, p < .001), the world (β = .15, p = .001) and self-blame (β = .06, p = .275) demonstrated unique relations with elevations in thwarted belongingness. In this model, evidence for indirect paths of chronic victimization on thwarted belongingness was observed through both PTCI self (p = .037) and world (p = .026) scores.

Overall results identify trauma-related cognitions about the self and the world as potential intervening variables between chronic childhood victimization and later risk factors for psychopathology. Ultimately, this holds implications for the improvement of prevention and treatment methods for negative mental health outcomes among survivors of chronic childhood abuse.