Additive interaction of child abuse and perinatal risk as signs of resiliency in adulthood.
To find the biological basis of resilience, we exploited data from a longitudinal community-based study of 1,748 adult children, followed from birth to adulthood. Results showed that those with both abuse and perinatal problems demonstrated synergistically impaired well-being, a higher rate of school dropout, lower sense of success, and lower income. Among abused adult children (n = 271), we found that those without, relative to those with, perinatal problems had lower risk for adult psychopathology. An examination of the biological base of resilience could be added in a multidimensional/multifactorial model to help researchers identify ways to promote resiliency even before birth.
Nomura
Yoko
Y
Child and Family Resilience Program, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1230, New York City, NY 10029, USA. yoko.nomura@mssm.edu
Chemtob
Claude M
CM
Fifer
William P
WP
Newcorn
Jeffrey H
JH
Brooks-Gunn
Jeanne
J
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D012307:Risk Factors