title: Mediating and moderating effects of social support in the study of child abuse and adult physical and mental health.
abstract: A number of cross-sectional and a few longitudinal studies have shown a developmental relationship between child abuse and adult physical and mental health. Published findings also suggest that social support can lessen the risk of adverse outcomes for some abused children. However, few studies have investigated whether social support mediates or moderates the relationship between child abuse and adult physical and mental health. Structural equation modeling was used to examine data on these topics from a longitudinal study of more than 30 years. While a latent construct of physical and emotional child abuse did not predict adult health outcomes directly, child abuse did predict outcomes indirectly through social support. A test of variable moderation for child abuse and social support was nonsignificant. Results suggest that social support may help explain the association between child abuse and health outcomes at midlife. Implications of the findings for prevention and treatment are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors: School of Social Work, University of Washington.
authors: Todd I
authors: TI
authors: Herrenkohl
authors: School of Social Work, University of Washington.
authors: Hyunzee
authors: H
authors: Jung
authors: Social Development Research Group, School of Social Work, University of Washington.
authors: J Bart
authors: JB
authors: Klika
authors: Boys Town, National Research Institute for Child and Family Studies.
authors: W Alex
authors: WA
authors: Mason
authors: Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Prevention Science and Community Health, University of Miami.
authors: Eric C
authors: EC
authors: Brown
authors: Child Development Studies Team, Division of Human Development and Disability, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
authors: Rebecca T
authors: RT
authors: Leeb
authors: Department of Sociology and Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences, Lehigh University.
authors: Roy C
authors: RC
authors: Herrenkohl
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008603:Mental Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support