Leiden University Student Repository

Kamel, Nadia (2024)

Kindermishandeling en Psychotrauma: Het Gaat Niet Alleen om het Geweld: De Rol van Neuroticisme in Trauma-gerelateerde Problemen bij Slachtoffers van Kindermishandeling

Master thesis | Education and Child Studies (MSc)

The prevalence of psychotrauma among victims of childhood maltreatment is clearly elevated, yet the majority does not develop clinical PTSD symptoms. Current explanatory models imply and use the subjective perception of the victim’s experience. Despite the role of the personality trait neuroticism in the predisposition to perceive experiences negatively, little is known about its place in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and psychotrauma. This study aims to examine the relationship between child abuse and PTSD symptoms’ severity and the potential moderating effect of neuroticism. This correlational study (N = 229) compares groups of children (8-18 years) with and without trauma symptoms in the extent to which they have experienced child abuse, using a between-subjects analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Additionally, multiple regression analyses were conducted to further explore the relationship between child abuse and the severity of trauma symptoms, and to determine if...Show moreThe prevalence of psychotrauma among victims of childhood maltreatment is clearly elevated, yet the majority does not develop clinical PTSD symptoms. Current explanatory models imply and use the subjective perception of the victim’s experience. Despite the role of the personality trait neuroticism in the predisposition to perceive experiences negatively, little is known about its place in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and psychotrauma. This study aims to examine the relationship between child abuse and PTSD symptoms’ severity and the potential moderating effect of neuroticism. This correlational study (N = 229) compares groups of children (8-18 years) with and without trauma symptoms in the extent to which they have experienced child abuse, using a between-subjects analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Additionally, multiple regression analyses were conducted to further explore the relationship between child abuse and the severity of trauma symptoms, and to determine if this relationship is moderated by neuroticism. The results showed that children with (sub)clinical trauma symptoms experienced significantly more violence than children without trauma symptoms (p = .03; partial eta squared = .02). Child abuse was a significant positive predictor of the trauma score (β = .18; t = 2.67; p < .01). This was not moderated by neuroticism (p = .81), but regardless of child abuse, neuroticism had the greatest relative influence on the severity of PTSD symptoms (β = .49; t = 7.46; p <.01), partial r(198) = .47, p <.01. The final models explained 2.5% (child abuse) and 24% (child abuse and neuroticism) of the variance in trauma symptoms. The findings highlight the importance of further research into personality as a potential related factor in the relationship between child abuse and trauma, and provide indications for identifying neuroticism as a risk factor.Show less

Author

Kamel, Nadia

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

Orthopedagogiek

Supervisors

Aghajani, M.

ECTS Credits

20

Language

nl