Childhood socio-economic position and affective symptoms in adulthood: The role of neglect.
Anxiety
Childhood adversity
Depression
Maltreatment
Poverty
Journal
Journal of affective disorders
ISSN: 1573-2517
Titre abrégé: J Affect Disord
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 7906073
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
01 05 2021
01 05 2021
Historique:
received:
16
12
2020
revised:
28
02
2021
accepted:
02
03
2021
pubmed:
23
3
2021
medline:
29
4
2021
entrez:
22
3
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Childhood neglect is more common within low-income families and can have long-term effects on mental health. Despite this, the extent to which it can mediate the well documented longitudinal inverse relationship between childhood socio-economic position (SEP) and adult affective symptoms is yet to be investigated. Data (9595 males and 8959 females) from participants of the National Child Development Study (NCDS) were used to investigate the extent to which prospectively measured neglect mediates the relationship between SEP (age 11) and affective symptoms (ages 23 and 50). Neglect partially mediated the relationship between childhood SEP and affective symptoms at ages 23 (b = -0.02, [-0.02, -0.02]) and 50 (b = -0.02, [-0.02, -0.01]), after controlling for other family-related adversities. In addition, gender moderated the direct effect of SEP on affective symptoms at both ages 23 (b = -0.06, t = -4.87, [-0.08, -0.03]) and 50 (b = -0.05, t = -3.86, [-0.07, -0.02]), with the relationship being stronger for females; but did not moderate the indirect effect of neglect at either age 23 (b = 0.01, t = 1.09 [-0.01, 0.02]) or 50 (b = 0.00, t = -0.60 [-0.02, 0.01]). Neglect in childhood should be viewed as having serious implications for the mental health of both men and women. Greater investments into social support interventions that reduce incidences of neglect are also warranted.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Childhood neglect is more common within low-income families and can have long-term effects on mental health. Despite this, the extent to which it can mediate the well documented longitudinal inverse relationship between childhood socio-economic position (SEP) and adult affective symptoms is yet to be investigated.
METHOD
Data (9595 males and 8959 females) from participants of the National Child Development Study (NCDS) were used to investigate the extent to which prospectively measured neglect mediates the relationship between SEP (age 11) and affective symptoms (ages 23 and 50).
RESULTS
Neglect partially mediated the relationship between childhood SEP and affective symptoms at ages 23 (b = -0.02, [-0.02, -0.02]) and 50 (b = -0.02, [-0.02, -0.01]), after controlling for other family-related adversities. In addition, gender moderated the direct effect of SEP on affective symptoms at both ages 23 (b = -0.06, t = -4.87, [-0.08, -0.03]) and 50 (b = -0.05, t = -3.86, [-0.07, -0.02]), with the relationship being stronger for females; but did not moderate the indirect effect of neglect at either age 23 (b = 0.01, t = 1.09 [-0.01, 0.02]) or 50 (b = 0.00, t = -0.60 [-0.02, 0.01]).
CONCLUSIONS
Neglect in childhood should be viewed as having serious implications for the mental health of both men and women. Greater investments into social support interventions that reduce incidences of neglect are also warranted.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33752041
pii: S0165-0327(21)00232-9
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.03.007
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
267-274Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.