We hypothesized that child abuse (CA) will be
associated with decreased
social (e.g., high social support, low social
conflict) and personal (e.g., self-efficacy, self
esteem) resources in adulthood, which in turn,
would increase risk for current depression and PTSD
symptoms. Participants were inner-city women (N =
650). CA significantly predicted PTSD, and
decreased social and personal resources, but did
not predict depression. Social resources, but not
personal resources directly predicted PTSD and
depression. Social resources significantly mediated
the CA-PTSD and CA-depression relationships.
Personal resources impacted depression and PTSD
only through their significant relationship with
social resources. Ethnic differences on these
models were also observed. Depression and PTSD
mediated the association between CA and resources,
in reversed models. Overall, results suggest a
bidirectional relationship between resources and
psychopathology, which may be mutually reinforcing
and cyclically related over time.
associated with decreased
social (e.g., high social support, low social
conflict) and personal (e.g., self-efficacy, self
esteem) resources in adulthood, which in turn,
would increase risk for current depression and PTSD
symptoms. Participants were inner-city women (N =
650). CA significantly predicted PTSD, and
decreased social and personal resources, but did
not predict depression. Social resources, but not
personal resources directly predicted PTSD and
depression. Social resources significantly mediated
the CA-PTSD and CA-depression relationships.
Personal resources impacted depression and PTSD
only through their significant relationship with
social resources. Ethnic differences on these
models were also observed. Depression and PTSD
mediated the association between CA and resources,
in reversed models. Overall, results suggest a
bidirectional relationship between resources and
psychopathology, which may be mutually reinforcing
and cyclically related over time.