NCJ Number
213398
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 30 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2006 Pages: 157-170
Date Published
February 2006
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study investigated the associations among childhood maltreatment, maturity of defense styles in adulthood, and psychopathological symptoms in adulthood.
Abstract
In focusing on the similarities between two different patient populations with regard to immature psychological defense styles and adult psychopathology in relation to childhood maltreatment, it was found that reported sexual and/or physical abuse was associated with a higher amount of somatization, and immature psychological defense styles were associated with somatization and psychological distress. However, reported history of childhood sexual and/or physical abuse was not associated with the maturity of defense styles. The results point to the close relationship of psychological defense styles with adult psychopathology. In other words, within the framework of this study, immature defense styles were associated with psychopathological symptoms in adulthood in two different patient populations. In an examination of 266 consecutive inpatients in the psychosomatic department and 109 consecutive inpatients who had been treated for lower back pain in a German hospital, this study explored the link between reported sexual and/or physical abuse and psychological defense styles, as well as association of both with psychological distress in adulthood. Figures, references