Psychological Development and Education ›› 2024, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (6): 886-893.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2024.06.13

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of Abuse and Neglect on Depression in Adolescents: The Roles of Self-esteem and Self-disclosure

GONG Yuhan, YE Yingying, ZHOU Xiao   

  1. Department of Psychology and Behavioral Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058
  • Published:2024-11-13

Abstract: Childhood abuse and neglect were found to be related to more depression in adolescents. However, the specific mechanism of this relationship was not understood well. In light of the previous theoretical and empirical studies, this study inserted self-esteem and self-disclosure between abuse and neglect and depression, in order to examine the underlying mechanism of abuse and neglect to depression and elucidate the difference of mechanism underlying abuse and neglect affecting depression via self-esteem and-disclosure. Four thousand nine hundred and seventy-one adolescents were investigated by using the self-reported childhood trauma, self-esteem, self-disclosure, and depression questionnaires, and the structure equation model was used to carry out the data analysis. The results found that both the abuse and neglect had direct significant and positive effect on depression, had indirect significant and positive effect on depression via self-esteem and self-disclosure, respectively. Moreover, both abuse and neglect had a multiple indirect and positive effect on depression via the path from self-esteem to self-disclosure. However, the indirect effect of neglect on depression was stronger than that of abuse on depression. These findings suggested that the mechanism underlying abuse and neglect affecting depression was similar but not was in the effect size.

Key words: abuse, neglect, depression, self-esteem, self-disclosure

CLC Number: 

  • B844
Abramson, L. Y., Metalsky, G. I., & Alloy, L. B. (1989). Hopelessness depression: A theory-based subtype of depression. Psychological Review, 96(2), 358-372.
Aron, A., Melinat, E., Aron, E. N., Vallone, R. D., & Bator, R. J. (1997). The experimental generation of interpersonal closeness: A procedure and some preliminary findings.Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 23(4), 363-377.
Beck, A. T. (1967).Depression: Clinical, experimental, and theoretical aspects. New York: Harper and Row.
Beck, A. T. (1976).Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorders. New York, NY: International Universities Press.
Beck, A. T. (1987). Cognitive models of depression.Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 1(1), 5-37.
Berber, Ç. Ç., & Odacı, H. (2020). Does child abuse have an impact on self-esteem, depression, anxiety and stress conditions of individuals. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 66(2), 171-178.
Bernichon, T., Cook, K. E., & Brown, J. D. (2003). Seeking self-evaluative feedback: The interactive role of global self-esteem and specific self-views. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(1), 194-204.
Bernstein, D. P., Ahluvalia, T., Pogge, D., & Handelsman, L. (1997). Validity of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire in an adolescent psychiatric population.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 36(3), 340-348.
Cameron, J. J., Holmes, J. G.,& Vorauer, J. D. (2009). When self-disclosure goes awry: Negative consequences of revealing personal failures for lower self-esteem individuals. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 45(1), 217-222.
Campbell J. D. (1990). Self-esteem and clarity of the self-concept. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59(3), 538-549.
Chaudoir, S. R., & Fisher, J. D. (2010). The disclosure processes model: Understanding disclosure decision making and post-disclosure outcomes among people living with a concealable stigmatized identity. Psychological Bulletin, 136(2), 236-256.
Cohen, J.A., Mannarino, A.P., & Deblinger, E. (2006).Treating Trauma and Traumatic Grief in Children and Adolescents. New York, The Guilford Press.
Cohen, S., & Wills, T. A. (1985). Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis.Psychological Bulletin, 98(2), 310-357.
Cossar, J., Belderson, P., & Brandon, M. (2019). Recognition, telling and getting help with abuse and neglect: Young people’s perspectives. Children and Youth Services Review, 106, 104469. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.104469
DeHart, T., & Pelham, B. W. (2007). Fluctuations in state implicit self-esteem in response to daily negative events. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 43(1), 157-165.
DePaulo, B. M., Kashy, D. A., Kirkendol, S. E., Wyer, M. M., & Epstein, J. A. (1996). Lying in everyday life.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70(5), 979-995.
Feigelman, W., Cerel, J. & Sanford, R. (2017). Disclosure in traumatic deaths as correlates of differential mental health outcomes.Death Studies, 42(7), 456-462.
Fendrich, M., Weissman, M. M., & Warner, V. (1990). Screening for depressive disorder in children and adolescents: Validating the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children.American Journal of Epidemiology, 131(3), 538-551.
Gong, J., & Chan, R. C. K. (2018). Early maladaptive schemas as mediators between childhood maltreatment and later psychological distress among Chinese college students.Psychiatry Research, 259, 493-500.
Flynn, M., & Rudolph, K. D. (2014). A prospective examination of emotional clarity, stress responses, and depressive symptoms during early adolescence.The Journal of Early Adolescence, 34, 923-939.
Hearty, K. L. (2011). The relationship between abuse and depression.Nursing Clinics of North America, 46(4), 437-44.
Hill, J., Pickles, A., Burnside, E., Byatt, M., Rollinson, L., Davis, R., & Harvey, K. (2001). Child sexual abuse, poor parental care and adult depression: Evidence for different mechanisms. British Journal of Psychiatry, 179(2), 104-109.
Howe, N., Aquan-Assee, J., Bukowski, W. M., Rinaldi, C. M., & Lehoux, P. M. (2000) Sibling self-disclosure in early adolescence. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 46(4), 653-671.
Infurna, M. R., Reichl, C., Parzer, P., Schimmenti, A., Bifulco, A., & Kaess, M. (2016). Associations between depression and specific childhood experiences of abuse and neglect: A meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 190, 47-55.
Jessar, A. J., Hamilton, J. L., Flynn, M., Abramson, L. Y., & Alloy, L. B. (2017). Emotional clarity as a mechanism linking emotional neglect and depressive symptoms during early adolescence.The Journal of Early Adolescence, 37(3), 414-432.
Ju, S., & Lee, Y. (2010). Experience of family maltreatment by Korean children in Korean National Protective Services. Child Abuse & Neglect, 34(1), 18-27.
Kim, Y., Lee, H., & Park, A. (2022). Patterns of adverse childhood experiences and depressive symptoms: Self-esteem as a mediating mechanism. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 57(2), 331-341.
Laurenceau, J. P., Barrett, L. F., & Pietromonaco, P. R. (1998). Intimacy as an interpersonal process: The importance of self-disclosure, partner disclosure, and perceived partner responsiveness in interpersonal exchanges. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74(5), 1238-1251.
Lev-Wiesel, R., Gottfried, R., Eisikovits, Z., & First, M. (2014). Factors affecting disclosure among Israeli children in residential care due to domestic violence. Child Abuse & Neglect, 38(4), 618-626.
Linehan, M. M., & Kehrer, C. A. (1993). Borderline personality disorder. In D. H. Barlow (Ed.),Clinical handbook of psychological disorders (2nd ed., pp. 396-441). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
MacMillan, H. L., Fleming, J. E., Streiner, D. L., Lin, E., Boyle, M. H., Jamieson, E. … Beardslee, W. R. (2001). Childhood abuse and lifetime psychopathology in a community sample.American Journal of Psychiatry, 158(11), 1878-1883.
Mor, N., & Winquist, J. (2002). Self-focused attention and negative affect: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 128(4), 638-662.
Oshri, A., Carlson, M. W., Kwon, J. A., Zeichner, A., & Wickrama, K. K. (2017). Developmental growth trajectories of self-esteem in adolescence: Associations with child neglect and drug use and abuse in young adulthood. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 46(1), 151-164.
Papini, D. R., Farmer, F. F., Clark, S. M., Micka, J. C., & Barnett, J. K. (1990). Early adolescent age and gender differences in patterns of emotional self-disclosure to parents and friends. Adolescence, 25(100), 959-976.
Pennebaker, J. W., & Beall, S. K. (1986). Confronting a traumatic event: Toward an understanding of inhibition and disease.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 95(3), 274-281.
Pepping, C. A., O'Donovan, A., & Davis, P. J. (2013). The positive effects of mindfulness on self-esteem. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 8(5), 376-386.
Rose, D., Trevillion, K., Woodall, A., Morgan, C., Feder, G., & Howard, L. (2011). Barriers and facilitators of disclosures of domestic violence by mental health service users: Qualitative study.British Journal of Psychiatry, 198(3), 189-194.
Rosenberg, M. (1989).Society and the Adolescent Self-Image. Revised Edition. Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press.
Shapero, B. G., Black, S. K., Liu, R. T., Klugman, J., Bender, R. E., Abramson, L. Y., & Alloy, L. B. (2014). Stressful life events and depression symptoms: The effect of childhood emotional abuse on stress reactivity.Journal of Clinical Psychology, 70(3), 209-223.
Sohn, B. & Heo, K. (2016). Analysis of influencing variables on child’ self-esteem: Focusing on socio-demographic characteristics, health status, abuse, neglect, peer communication, and teacher relationship. Korean Journal of Youth Studies, 23(10), 317-337.
Somer, E., & Szwarcberg, S. (2001). Variables in delayed disclosure of childhood sexual abuse. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 71(3), 332-341.
Stoltenborgh, M., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J., Alink, L. R. A., & van IJzendoorn, M. H. (2015). The prevalence of child maltreatment across the globe: Review of a series of meta-analyses. Child Abuse Review, 24(1), 37-50.
Vincent, S., & Daniel, B. (2004). An analysis of children and young people's calls to ChildLine aboutabuse and neglect: A study for the Scottish Child Protection Review. Child Abuse Review, 13(2), 158-171.
Widom, C.S., Dumont, K.A., & Czaja, S.J. (2007). A prospective investigation of major depressive disorder and comorbidity in abused and neglected children grown up.Archives of General Psychiatry, 64(1), 49-56.
Wielaard, I., Hoyer, M., Rhebergen, D., Stek, M. L., & Comijs, H. C. (2018). Childhood abuse and late-life depression: Mediating effects of psychosocial factors for early- and late-onset depression. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 33(3), 537-545.
Woo, H., Tak, H. & Sung, Y. J. (2017). The relationship between self-esteem discrepancy and conspicuous self-expression on SNS. The Korean Journal of Consumer and Advertising Psychology, 18(3), 365-389.
Wood, J. V. & Forest A. L. (2016). Self-protective yet self-defeating: The paradox of low self-esteem people’s self-disclosure. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 53, 131-188.
Zhao, X., Zhang, Y., Li, L., & Zhou, Y. (2005). Evaluation on reliability and validity of Chinese version of childhood trauma questionnaire. Chinese Journal of Clinical Rehabilitation, 9(16), 209-211.
Zhen, R., Quan, L., & Zhou, X. (2018). How does social support relieve depression among flood victims? The contribution of feelings of safety, self-disclosure, and negative cognition. Journal of Affective Disorders, 229, 186-192.
Zhou, X., Wu, X., & Zhen, R. (2018). Self-esteem and hope mediate the relations between social support and post-traumatic stress disorder and growth in adolescents following the Ya’an earthquake.Anxiety, Stress, and Coping, 31(1), 32-45.
姜红娟, 邓云龙, 潘辰, 黄莉. (2010). 儿童心理虐待和忽视与高职新生的心理健康:自尊、情绪稳定性的中介作用. 中国心理卫生杂志, 24(9), 705-710.
李琦, 王佳宁, 金童林, 赵思琦. (2018). 留守初中生自我表露与抑郁的关系:自我概念清晰性和应对方式的链式中介效应. 中国临床心理学杂志, 26(4), 747-751.
宋锐, 刘爱书. (2013). 儿童心理虐待与抑郁:自动思维的中介作用. 心理科学, 36(4), 855-859.
汪向东. (1993). 心理卫生评定量表手册.北京:中国心理卫生杂志社.
王瑶, 钱胜, 王文霞. (2008). 高中生的儿童期心理虐待与忽视、自我和谐和抑郁. 心理研究, 1(1), 85-88.
温忠麟, 张雷, 侯杰泰, 刘红云. (2004). 中介效应检验程序及其应用. 心理学报, 36(5), 614-620.
于增艳, 赵阿勐, 刘爱书. (2017). 儿童期受虐经历与抑郁的元分析.心理学报, 49(1), 40-49.
张雨晗, 李洁阳, 尹学琴, 王金良. (2022). 儿童期虐待类型与青少年焦虑抑郁关系的相对权重分析. 中国学校卫生, 43(3), 407-410.
周宗奎, 曹敏, 田媛, 黄淳, 杨秀娟, 宋友志. (2021). 初中生亲子关系与抑郁:自尊和情绪弹性的中介作用. 心理发展与教育, 37(6), 864-872.
[1] LI Yulin, WU Dehua, QING Yicheng, LI Dan, YIN Huazhan. The Relationship between Childhood Abuse and Subjective Well-being of Junior High School Students: The Longitudinal Mediating Role of Peer Attachment [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2026, 42(2): 254-263.
[2] WANG Manlu, WANG Zhi, SHAO Jingjin. The Effect of Childhood Neglect on the Development of Mid-adolescent Relational Victimization: The Longitudinal Mediating Role of Self-esteem [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2026, 42(2): 274-284.
[3] XIANG Yanhui, MA Liping, HU Yunqi, LI Xiaojun. The Relationship between Psychological Adaptation and Internal and External Aggression among Adolescents: Evidence from a Longitudinal Study and a Weekly Diary Method [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2026, 42(1): 85-97.
[4] ZHANG Minghao, WANG Junru, WANG Yan, YANG Zhaoli, ZHANG Yanfang, LOU Huilin, XU Xiaohui, XU Min. Influence of Environmental Unpredictability in Early Life on Depression among Junior Middle School Students: The Role of Life History Strategy and Resource Control Strategy [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(6): 881-891.
[5] ZHANG Shanshan, WU Jiayu, WANG Hongyi, LIU Zhihong. Longitudinal Association between Online Authentic Self-presentation and Depression among High School Students: Mediating Effect of Relatedness Needs and Moderating of Interpersonal Sensitivity [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(6): 903-912.
[6] TANG Jiayi, FU Chengyu, XU Wei. The Influence of Family Function on Adolescents’ Depression and Social Anxiety: The Mediating Role of Belief in a Just World [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(5): 701-709.
[7] TAN Deqin, DING Wan, SONG Shengcheng, WU Wei, LIN Xiuyun. The Intergenerational Transmission of Violence—The Influence of Parental Abuse on Bullying Perpetration: An Analysis Based on Latent Growth Model [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(3): 410-419.
[8] ZENG Zihao, HU Yiqiu, LIU Shuangjin, PENG Liyi, YANG Qin, WANG Hongcai, HE Zhen, YAO Xingxing. School Interpersonal Relationship and Cumulative Polygenic Genetic Risk of Serotonin System on Adolescent Depression [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(3): 436-447.
[9] LIAO Chenxi, WANG Dahua. The Influence of Attachment on Self-esteem and Interpersonal Adjustment in College Students [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(2): 196-205.
[10] WANG Yulong, LI Rong, CHEN Huilin, LIN Xiuyun. Impact of Parental Conflict on Non-suicide Self-injury in Early Adolescence: Longitudinal Mediating Effects of Depression [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(2): 276-283.
[11] LI Qiming, LI Qi. The Effect of Family Atmosphere on Self-esteem and Mental Health: A Three-year Longitudinal Study [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(1): 77-85.
[12] YU Bin, GUO Cheng, MIAO Hualing, PENG Yujue. The Association between Teacher-student Relationship and Aggressive Behavior in Elementary School Students: Roles of Self-esteem and Parent-child Cohesion [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(1): 99-108.
[13] ZHU Jingjing, ZHANG Zhenzhen, LI Yan. The Relation between Maternal Depression and Children’s Social Adjustment: The Mediating Roles of Maternal Distress Reaction and Parent-child Conflict [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2024, 40(5): 675-686.
[14] HONG Defan, XU Yijie, HU Qian, ZHANG Jiaying, HUANG Yingying, MAO Ran, CHEN Jing, JIANG Suo. Bullying Victimization and Suicide Ideation among Adolescents: Based on Latent Moderated Structural Equation [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2024, 40(5): 706-719.
[15] ZHANG Huiru, ZHU Haidong, JIA Xiaoshan, MA Chao. The Influence of Subjective Social Status on Adolescents’ Prosocial Risk-taking Behavior: A Regulated Chain Mediation Model [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2024, 40(4): 488-498.
Viewed
Full text


Abstract

Cited

  Shared   
  Discussed   
No Suggested Reading articles found!