Multiplicity of child maltreatment and biopsychosocial outcomes in young adulthood: the moderating role of resiliency characteristics among female survivors

Abstract

This study examined the moderating role of resiliency characteristics in the relationship between multiplicity of child maltreatment and biopsychosocial outcomes (i.e., psychological, physical, and interpersonal distress) in young adulthood. Participants included 765 college women who completed surveys. Structural equation modeling showed that resiliency characteristics moderated the relationship between multiplicity of child maltreatment and psychological distress; at high levels of resiliency characteristics, there was a nonsignificant relationship between multiplicity of child maltreatment and psychological distress. There was no evidence of moderation for physical or interpersonal distress. However, for both interpersonal and physical distress, the main effects of multiplicity of child maltreatment were positively related to each form of distress, and the main effect of resiliency characteristics was negatively related to each form of distress. These findings underscore the importance of promoting resiliency characteristics among survivors of multiplicity of child maltreatment to promote optimal functioning.

Keywords: abuse; biopsychosocial; childhood maltreatment; interpersonal violence; multiplicity of child maltreatment; physical; psychological; resiliency characteristics; young adulthood.