Early trauma and associations with altruistic attitudes and behaviours among young adults.
Adverse childhood experiences
Altruism
Prosocial behaviour
Trauma
Young adult
Journal
Child abuse & neglect
ISSN: 1873-7757
Titre abrégé: Child Abuse Negl
Pays: England
ID NLM: 7801702
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
07 2021
07 2021
Historique:
received:
15
12
2020
revised:
20
04
2021
accepted:
28
04
2021
pubmed:
16
5
2021
medline:
25
11
2021
entrez:
15
5
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Childhood and adolescent traumas are exceptionally prevalent worldwide. Despite their high prevalence and substantial impact, little research has investigated the rates and specific types of early trauma by gender. It is also unknown whether the types of early trauma are differentially associated with heightened or hindered prosocial attitudes and behaviours. To address this gap, this study aims to explore the rates of different types of early trauma (i.e., abuse: sexual, physical, and emotional; neglect: physical and emotional) among young Australian adults and investigate whether these differ according to participant gender (female, male and transgender/gender diverse). The study will also examine the associations between the different types of early trauma and current altruistic attitudes and behaviours (including the affective, behavioural and cognitive altruism domains), among a young adult Australian cohort. Cross-sectional data was collected from 511 young Australians aged 18-20 years using an online self-report survey. Multiple regression analyses revealed that transgender/gender diverse individuals were over 3-times more likely to experience all types of maltreatment than females and over 3-times more likely to experience emotional and sexual abuse and emotional neglect than males. Experiencing one or more trauma types was negatively associated with the cognitive domain of altruism, experiencing physical neglect was associated with the affective domain, and having a family member involved in domestic violence was associated with the behavioural domain, after controlling for gender. Findings show how early traumatic experiences can influence individuals' attitudes and behaviours during the pivotal developmental period of young adulthood.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Childhood and adolescent traumas are exceptionally prevalent worldwide. Despite their high prevalence and substantial impact, little research has investigated the rates and specific types of early trauma by gender. It is also unknown whether the types of early trauma are differentially associated with heightened or hindered prosocial attitudes and behaviours.
OBJECTIVE
To address this gap, this study aims to explore the rates of different types of early trauma (i.e., abuse: sexual, physical, and emotional; neglect: physical and emotional) among young Australian adults and investigate whether these differ according to participant gender (female, male and transgender/gender diverse). The study will also examine the associations between the different types of early trauma and current altruistic attitudes and behaviours (including the affective, behavioural and cognitive altruism domains), among a young adult Australian cohort.
METHODS
Cross-sectional data was collected from 511 young Australians aged 18-20 years using an online self-report survey.
RESULTS
Multiple regression analyses revealed that transgender/gender diverse individuals were over 3-times more likely to experience all types of maltreatment than females and over 3-times more likely to experience emotional and sexual abuse and emotional neglect than males. Experiencing one or more trauma types was negatively associated with the cognitive domain of altruism, experiencing physical neglect was associated with the affective domain, and having a family member involved in domestic violence was associated with the behavioural domain, after controlling for gender.
CONCLUSIONS
Findings show how early traumatic experiences can influence individuals' attitudes and behaviours during the pivotal developmental period of young adulthood.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33991899
pii: S0145-2134(21)00164-2
doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105091
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
105091Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.