Child maltreatment and allostatic load: Consequences for physical and mental health in children from low-income families

Fred A. Rogosch · Melissa N. Dackis · Dante Cicchetti

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Child Abuse and Trauma Child Welfare and Adoption Stress Responses and Cortisol

Abstract

Child maltreatment and biomarkers of allostatic load were investigated in relation to child health problems and psychological symptomatology. Participants attended a summer research day camp and included 137 maltreated and 110 nonmaltreated low-income children, who were aged 8 to 10 years (M = 9.42) and racially and ethnically diverse; 52% were male. Measurements obtained included salivary cortisol and dehydroepiandosterone, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, and blood pressure; these indicators provided a composite index of allostatic load. Child self-report and camp adult-rater reports of child symptomatology were obtained; mothers provided information on health problems. The results indicated that higher allostatic load and child maltreatment status independently predicted poorer health outcomes and greater behavior problems. Moderation effects indicated that allostatic load was related to somatic complaints, attention problems, and thought problems only among maltreated children. Risks associated with high waist-hip ratio, low morning cortisol, and high morning dehydroepiandosterone also were related to depressive symptoms only for maltreated children. The results support an allostatic load conceptualization of the impact of high environmental stress and child abuse and neglect on child health and behavioral outcomes and have important implications for long-term physical and mental health.

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2022Adverse childhood experiences and allostatic load: A systematic review 2014Resilience and Positive Psychology 2016A Conceptual Framework for Understanding the Role of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Pediatric Chronic Pain 2014A Developmental Psychopathology Perspective on Child Maltreatment 2014Oxytocin receptor gene polymorphism, perceived social support, and psychological symptoms in maltreated adolescents

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