Surviving and Coping with Emotional Abuse in Childhood

Abstract

A B S T R A C T Emotional abuse, even when it is the sole form of abuse, can be psychologically harmful, but there are a number of internal and environmental factors that may protect children from ultimate damage. External factors are of importance to practitioners because they are more amenable to positive change through intervention. The objective of the research was to explore what factors in emotionally abused children's environments might be important in helping them cope with their abusive childhoods. The method of inquiry was through in-depth, unstructured interviews with 14 adults who had survived significant emotional abuse in childhood. Although a number of external factors was identified by the interviewees, the non-abusing parent did not feature as one of these factors. Other family members, including siblings, grandparents and, particularly aunts, provided support to the majority of interviewees. Friends, teachers and other professionals were all helpful, while religious groups had a positive role for some. Non-human lifelines such as pets, toys and books were important to several children. The implications of these findings for intervention are discussed.K E Y W O R D S child protection, emotional abuse, psychological maltreatment, surviving abuse

Associations between childhood maltreatment and sex work in a cohort of drug-using youth

“…The current prohibitive framework of sex work in the Canadian setting has been shown to displace sex workers to dark and deserted areas and further from social supports, thereby decreasing sex workers' ability to protect themselves and increasing vulnerability to violence and assault (Goodyear, Lowman, Fischer, & Green, 2005). Previous studies have shown that enhanced social support and reduced social isolation are important protective mechanisms against past emotional abuse (Doyle, 2001). Socio-legal policy reforms that reduce harms and the social isolation faced by sex workers and that facilitate sex workers' ability to negotiate their situation may be crucial in engaging this population and countering the adverse impacts of past emotional abuse.…”

“…Socio-legal policy reforms that reduce harms and the social isolation faced by sex workers and that facilitate sex workers' ability to negotiate their situation may be crucial in engaging this population and countering the adverse impacts of past emotional abuse. In addition, given the increased distrust among those with a history of emotional abuse (Doyle, 2001; coupled with high levels of stigma and criminalization of sex work, innovative strategies and policy reforms that actively engage drug using youth in the development and implementation of interventions will likely be effective in facilitating access to social support and building trust among emotionally-abused drug-using youth. Finally, childhood emotional abuse has been shown to result in low self-efficacy and self-care (Spertus, et al, 2003), suggesting that capacity-building and low threshold employment and skills training may help to mediate the adverse impacts of past emotional abuse among this population of street youth.…”

“…Childhood maltreatment is pervasive and known to be associated with a variety of adverse effects on health and social functioning (Allen, Simpson, Lalonde, & Phaneuf, 1998;Briere & Elliott, 2003;Doyle, 2001). Recently, the United Nations released the findings of its first comprehensive, global study of violence against children (Pinheiro, 2006), in which 131 governments worldwide participated.…”

Abuse History is related to Autonomic Regulation to Mild Exercise and Psychological Wellbeing

“…These maladaptive coping strategies may initially be functional but, in the long-term, result in detrimental consequences such as substance abuse, eating disorders, and suicide (Doyle 2001). Thus, the current study will also evaluate whether abuse history is related to the use of dysfunctional coping strategies.…”

Adolescent perceptions of the importance of teachers as a therapeutic support in coping with their problems

“…A study by Pulakos (1989), for instance, which looked generally at sources of support, found adolescents more likely to turn to friends, rather than siblings. Doyle (2001), in a study, which examined children's coping behaviour in the face of emotional abuse, found other non abusing family members such as siblings, grandparents, and particularly aunts, were important. Yet another source of support which has received recognition is the family pet, for as Melson (2003) notes, over seventy per cent.…”