The Protective Effects of Intimate Partner Relationships on Depressive Symptomatology among Adult Parents Maltreated as Children

Details

• Alternative Title:
  J Adolesc Health
• Personal Author:
  Henry, Kimberly L. ; Thornberry, Terence P. ; Lee, Rosalyn D.
• Description:
  Purpose
  
  We examined whether intimate partner relationships in general, and satisfying and stable intimate partner relationships in particular, protect victims of child maltreatment from depressive symptoms during young adulthood.
  
  Methods
  
  Prospective, longitudinal data on 485 parents, 99 maltreated during childhood, were used. Longitudinal multilevel models (12 annual interviews, conducted from 1999 to 2010, nested in individuals) were specified to estimate the effects of relationship characteristics on depressive symptomatology by maltreatment status.
  
  Results
  
  Relationship characteristics operated as direct protective factors for maltreated and not maltreated individuals. Higher relationship satisfaction and stability were prospectively predictive of less depressive symptomatology. Models of inter and intra-individual variability were also consistent with significant direct protective effects. Between persons, a more satisfying and stable relationship was associated with fewer depressive symptoms. Within person, periods when an individual moved into a relationship, and periods of enhanced satisfaction and stability were associated with fewer depressive symptoms. Relationship satisfaction and stability operated as significant buffering protective factors for the effect of maltreatment on depressive symptoms in most models, suggesting that positive intimate partner relationships may reduce the risk that childhood maltreatment poses for adult depressive symptoms.
  
  Conclusions
  
  The CDC identifies safe, stable, and nurturing relationships (SSNRs) as key in preventing maltreatment and its consequences. This study adds to the evidence on the protective role of SSNRs by identifying intimate partner relationship factors that may protect parents who were maltreated during childhood from depressive symptoms.
  
  
• Keywords:
  Adolescent Adult Age Factors Child Child, Preschool Child Abuse Depression Female Humans Interpersonal Relations Male Middle Aged Parents Personal Satisfaction Prospective Studies Risk Factors Social Support Spouses United States Young Adult

  More +
• Source:
  J Adolesc Health. 2015; 57(2):150-156
• Pubmed ID:
  25912653
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC4515193
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  R01CE001572/CE/NCIPC CDC HHSUnited States/ ; R01 MH063386/MH/NIMH NIH HHSUnited States/ ; R01 CE001572/CE/NCIPC CDC HHSUnited States/ ; R01MH56486/MH/NIMH NIH HHSUnited States/ ; R01DA020195/DA/NIDA NIH HHSUnited States/ ; P30HD32041/HD/NICHD NIH HHSUnited States/ ; R24 HD041041/HD/NICHD NIH HHSUnited States/ ; R01MH63386/MH/NIMH NIH HHSUnited States/ ; R01 MH056486/MH/NIMH NIH HHSUnited States/ ; R01DA005512/DA/NIDA NIH HHSUnited States/ ; R01 DA020195/DA/NIDA NIH HHSUnited States/
• Volume:
  57
• Issue:
  2
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:e3d39c572c7bd528976f57ec0147efa17cf28d4eddac9bef4da9272f17792dd7
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/32434/cdc_32434_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 330.74 KB ]