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Exposure to early childhood maltreatment and its effect over time on social cognition

Crawford, Katherine M.; Choi, Karmel; Davis, Kathryn A.; Zhu, Yiwen; Soare, Thomas W.; Smith, Andrew D.A.C.; Germine, Laura; Dunn, Erin C.

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Authors

Katherine M. Crawford

Karmel Choi

Kathryn A. Davis

Yiwen Zhu

Thomas W. Soare

Laura Germine

Erin C. Dunn



Abstract

Social cognitive deficits can have many negative consequences, spanning social withdrawal to psychopathology. Prior work has shown that child maltreatment may associate with poorer social cognitive skills in later life. However, no studies have examined this association from early childhood into adolescence. Using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC; n = 4,438), we examined the association between maltreatment (caregiver physical or emotional abuse; sexual or physical abuse), assessed repeatedly (every 1-3 years) from birth to age 9, and social cognitive skills at ages 7.5, 10.5, and 14 years. We evaluated the role of both the developmental timing (defined by age at exposure) and accumulation of maltreatment (defined as the number of occasions exposed) using a least angle regression variable selection procedure, followed by structural equation modeling. Among females, accumulation of maltreatment explained the most variation in social cognitive skills. For males, no significant associations were found. These findings underscore the importance of early intervention to minimize the accumulation of maltreatment and showcase the importance of prospective studies to understand the development of social cognition over time.

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jul 29, 2020
Online Publication Date Oct 19, 2020
Publication Date 2022-02
Deposit Date May 6, 2021
Publicly Available Date May 13, 2021
Journal Development and Psychopathology
Print ISSN 0954-5794
Electronic ISSN 1469-2198
Publisher Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 34
Issue 1
Pages 409 - 419
DOI https://doi.org/10.1017/s095457942000139x
Keywords adversity; ALSPAC; sensitive periods; social cognition; structural equation modeling
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/7339381

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Licence
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Copyright Statement
This article has been published in a revised form in Development and Psychopathology https://doi.org/10.1017/S095457942000139X
This version is free to view and download for private research and study only. Not for re-distribution, re-sale or use in derivative works. Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press






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