Citation

McCullough C, Miller E, Johnson JG. J. Child Adolesc. Trauma 2010; 3(3): 224.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1080/19361521.2010.500989

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Although prior research has examined the consequences of childhood maltreatment, little research has focused specifically on the associations of childhood emotional abuse and cruel physical punishment with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder during adolescence. This study was conducted to investigate these associations. Childhood emotional abuse, cruel physical punishment, and anxiety disorder symptoms were assessed in a multisite sample of 194 adolescent primary care patients. Results indicated that both childhood emotional abuse and cruel physical punishment were significantly correlated with elevated levels of generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder symptoms. Findings were consistent with the hypothesis that childhood emotional abuse and cruel physical punishment may be correlated with elevated risk for adolescent anxiety symptoms.

Keywords: emotional abuse; cruel physical punishment; generalized anxiety disorder; panic disorder; adolescent development