Associations Between Complex Trauma Exposure in Childhood/Adolescence and Psychopathology in Older Age: The Role of Stress Coping and Coping Self-Perception

Abstract

Complex trauma exposure in childhood and/or adolescence is common and has repeatedly been linked to mental ill-health across the lifespan. While the correlates of complex trauma and mental health are well-studied in individuals up to middle adulthood, correlates in older adulthood, as well as potential mediators of this relationship, such as stress coping, are insufficiently studied. Therefore, this study aimed to (a) examine the mental health of Swiss older adults affected by complex trauma exposure in childhood and/or adolescence, in comparison to non-affected individuals; and (b) to examine the potential mediating role of coping strategies and coping self-perception. Data from N = 257 participants (complex trauma [CT] group: n = 161; Mage = 69.66 years, 48.4% female; non-complex trauma [nCT] group: n = 96; Mage = 72.49 years, 42.7% female) were assessed using self-report questionnaires and a clinical interview. The CT group presented with significantly more current and lifetime mental health disorders, more disadvantageous coping strategies, and significantly lower coping self-perception, compared to the nCT group. Mediation analyses revealed that maladaptive coping and coping self-perception were relevant mediators of the relationship between complex trauma exposure and psychopathology. Results suggest that complex trauma exposure in childhood and/or adolescence can have a lasting impact on mental health in later life and can be negatively associated with stress coping. Findings emphasize the relevance of a lifespan perspective in research and clinical practice for addressing consequences of complex trauma exposure.

Internalizing Mental Health Disorders and Emotion Regulation: A Comparative and Mediational Study of Older Adults With and Without a History of Complex Trauma Exposure

“…The current study extends existing literature in several ways. First, the study adds to the limited body of research on the long-term correlates of CTE in childhood and/or adolescence and mental health in older adulthood (e.g., Pfluger et al, 2021 ). Specifically, this study builds on the literature by focusing on internalizing mental health disorders, a highly prevalent category of mental health disorders in the older adult population (Mühlig et al, 2015 ).…”

“…Child maltreatment, and particularly CTE, is an extremely detrimental experience that has a high potential to affect mental health and self-regulation abilities across the life span (e.g., Cook et al, 2005 ; Pfluger et al, 2021 ). The present study investigated the long-term correlates of CTE in childhood and/or adolescence by focusing on internalizing mental health disorders and emotion regulation in two groups of Swiss older adults (i.e., a CTE group and a control group).…”

“…The publication by Thoma et al ( 2021 ) investigated mental health disparities in a risk group of older CSMP survivors compared to a non-affected control group. The publication by Pfluger et al ( 2021 ) investigated overall psychopathology and stress coping in older individuals with and without a history of CTE.…”

“…Moreover, combining this research with a lifespan perspective could provide knowledge on the still insufficiently understood topic of mental health disparities in older age (e.g., Thoma et al, 2021 ). Finally, despite the broad consensus between researchers and practitioners for a dose-response relationship of child maltreatment and psychopathology (Cook et al, 2005 ; Putnam et al, 2013 ), comparative studies are scarce (e.g., Lewis et al, 2021 ; Pfluger et al, 2021 ). Further comparative evidence is needed, particularly on the long-term correlates of CTE, to coherently integrate findings into the existing trauma literature.…”

Impact of trauma exposure and depression comorbidity on response to transdiagnostic behavioral therapy for pediatric anxiety and depression

“…Over two-thirds of adolescents report exposure to at least one traumatic event by age 16, such as physical or sexual abuse, being a victim to or witnessing a violent crime, or being involved in a car accident that caused injury 12 . Childhood trauma exposure incurs an increased risk of developing depression and anxiety 16 – 18 . Indeed, over 24% of youths exposed to a traumatic event develop depression, and they are three times more likely to develop a depressive disorder compared to youth without trauma exposure 12 , 19 .…”