Cognitive flexibility and perceived threat from COVID-19 mediate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and state anxiety

Abstract

Converging empirical evidence indicates that exposure to adversity in childhood is associated with increased vulnerability to mental health problems in adulthood. As early life adversity has the potential to alter an individual’s appraisal of threat, we hypothesized that individuals exposed to adversity in childhood may also exhibit increased threat from environmental stressors, which in turn may impact their state anxiety levels. We examined the relations between adverse childhood experiences, assessed using the Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale (ACEs), perceived threat from COVID-19, and state anxiety in a sample of adults. Additionally, flexibility is implicated in adaptive coping with life’s stressors so we also assessed participants’ cognitive flexibility. Parallel mediation regression analyses revealed that both perceived threat from COVID-19 and flexibility in the appraisal of challenges mediated the influence of maltreatment, but not household dysfunction, on state anxiety. Our data indicate that experience with early life adversity in the form of maltreatment is associated with increased perceived threat from COVID-19, which results in higher anxiety levels for the individual. In contrast, childhood maltreatment is associated with reduced flexibility in appraising challenges, which in turn mediates the relationship between maltreatment and anxiety. The findings of this study adds to the limited literature on the impact of early life adversity on cognitive flexibility and highlights the psychological toll of COVID-19 on individuals who have been exposed to adverse childhood experiences.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) associated with reduced cognitive flexibility in both college and community samples

“…No associations were found between CFI-Alternatives and ACEs ( r = -.04) [ 26 ], which may suggest that not all aspects of cognitive flexibility are associated with ACEs. Kalia and colleagues [ 27 ] also replicated these findings with a second sample of adults in a separate paper. Thus, there is some evidence to suggest that experiences of ELA, consistent with exposure to acute stress [ 28 , 29 ], may be differentially associated with aspects of cognitive flexibility in adulthood with some aspects of cognitive flexibility exhibiting impairment and others being unaffected.…”

“…As such, it is measured using a wide variety of tasks [ 5 , 31 ]. In their studies, Kalia and colleagues [ 24 , 27 ] used a self-report measure that provides insight about state levels of cognitive flexibility and was intended for clinical use in response to treatment [ 26 ]. Cognitive flexibility has also been assessed in the laboratory using neuropsychological measures [ 31 ], which appear to provide insight about pFC functioning [ 32 ].…”

“…We examined the association between ELA and cognitive flexibility in two separate samples: college students and adults. Based on prior research by Kalia and colleagues [ 24 , 27 ], our primary hypothesis was that increased exposure to ELA, assessed using the Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale (ACEs) [ 25 ], would be negatively associated with cognitive flexibility measured using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test [ 33 ]. Since ELA dysregulates the normative stress response system resulting in an increased allostatic load [ 14 ], our second hypothesis was that the number of ACEs reported would correlate positively with perceived chronic stress levels.…”

The Psychological Impacts During the Initial Phase of the COVID-19 Outbreak, and its Associated Factors Among Pastoral Community in West Omo Zone, South-West Ethiopia, 2020: A Community-Based Study

“…This finding was in line with a similar study done in Iran, 41 and the United States where the prevalence of depression, and stress was more common among respondents with positive perceived life threat. 42 The reason might be due to the pandemic causing feelings of susceptibility and loss of control of self, and family life could be complicated. It is likely that people within such an outbreak are afraid of contracting the coronavirus, have a fear of falling sick, suffering with feelings of hopelessness, worry about stigma and even death.…”

The Impact of the Corona Pandemic on the Psychological and Social Resilience of Kindergarten Children from the Point of View of Parents

“…Childcare and job security may help improve the psychological/mental state of children. The study (Kalia, Knauft, & Hayatbini, 2020) recognizing the mediation of cognitive flexibility and the perceived threat of COVID-19, the relationship between child abuse and state anxiety, the Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale (ACEs), the perceived threat of COVID-19, and status anxiety were used in A sample of adults. It assesses the participants' cognitive flexibility.…”