A Research Paper on The Relation Between Child Abuse and Depression

Child abuse, unfortunately, has become a common issue in society. Many children are subjected to various forms of abuse. The fortunate few are removed from their abusers and receive therapeutic help if available, while others continue to suffer in silence, especially in cases of emotional abuse which often go unreported as people tend to dismiss it. Emotionally abused individuals at a young age are more susceptible to depression because emotional neglect can lead to feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt, potentially triggering symptoms of depression. They may perceive themselves negatively due to the negativity around them, rather than fostering a positive self-view. To explore this assertion, my research essay examines two studies on how child abuse might lead to depression or major depressive disorder (MDD), utilizing both correlational and experimental methods.

A Study on the Connection Between Child Abuse and Depression

Study 1: Longitudinal Correlational Study by Hanson, Hariri, & Williamson (2015)

The first research paper by Hanson, Hariri, & Williamson (2015) was a longitudinal correlational study investigating how emotional neglect (EN) and ventral striatum activity are correlated with depression. The ventral striatum, a subcortical structure, supports reward responsiveness and learning. It has been theorized to be linked with depression due to decreased reward-related activity. Psychological factors that protect against MDD, such as optimism and a positive self-concept, are linked with increased reward-related ventral striatum activity. Some studies have noted that low activity in the ventral striatum is present in abused children and adults who were abused as children. This study used longitudinal neuroimaging and behavioral data to test their hypothesis that changes in reward-related ventral striatum activity would be linked with emotional neglect (abuse) leading to depressive symptoms later in life. Higher levels of emotional neglect (abuse) would be related to a significant decrease in ventral striatum activity.

The study followed 106 participants initially recruited for a study on depression and alcohol use disorders. They completed in-person interviews, self-report behavioral assessments, and MRI scanning; they were recalled annually to complete follow-up interviews, questionnaires, and MRI scans. All participants had to be free of psychopathology except for anxiety, which was present in 16 participants. Depressive symptoms were measured using the child report version of the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire, known for its high consistency and test-retest reliability. Emotional neglect was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, with assessments conducted at the first and second scanning sessions, then averaged to create a measure for emotional neglect.

To assess ventral striatum reward-related activity, participants engaged in a card-guessing model involving three blocks: majority positive feedback, negative feedback, and no feedback; participants earned monetary rewards based on their performance. The results supported their hypothesis. Emotional neglect was associated with changes in ventral striatum activity. Lower ventral striatum activity correlated with higher reports of emotional neglect, while higher ventral striatum activity correlated with lower reports of emotional neglect. Depressive symptoms were also associated with low ventral striatum activity. Thus, high emotional neglect scores correlated with low ventral striatum scores, affecting mood and leading to depressive symptoms. The study further discusses how emotionally unavailable and unresponsive parents could lead to difficulty regulating emotions, negative self-feelings, and low self-esteem.

To potentially prevent depression in children with a history of maltreatment, the study's results suggest the possibility of using drugs, activities, or therapies that increase ventral striatum activity. If abused children could still respond to rewards or positive feedback, maintaining optimism and self-esteem, depression might be thwarted. However, abused children may fail to develop a positive mindset due to the negativity and irrational punishments they face. The study's limitation lies in the short follow-up period; extending it beyond two years might have altered the results. Furthermore, as a correlational study, it shows correlation, not causation, and neither proves nor disproves my claim.

Study 2: Experimental Study by Guyer et al., (2006)

To further understand how maltreatment affects children, I examined an experimental study by Guyer et al. (2006), where children played a game to guess for monetary rewards (positive feedback); their selection speed was recorded. Researchers recruited children with a maltreatment history from the Department of Children Services in Connecticut and a control group from advertisements; children were not randomly assigned. They obtained permission from each child's legal guardian and the children's consent. Children received $15, and parents received $25. The game involved choices prompting them to take risks for the greatest reward; they guessed the computer's choice, winning corresponding money if correct. The independent variable was the chance of winning, and the dependent variable was response time (choosing between a risky or safe choice).

The results showed that maltreated children were less likely to make risky choices compared to the control group. Maltreated children, including those with depressive disorders, chose options at similar speeds, while the control group took longer for higher risk options, with time decreasing as the chance of winning increased. Maltreated children with depressive disorders took longer for risky options than the control and other maltreated children.

Though experimental, the study wasn't a true experiment due to the lack of random group assignment, preventing causal relationships between maltreatment and risk-taking or depression. However, it highlights that maltreated children, including those with depressive disorders, appear overly cautious in choices, possibly due to a lack of rewards and irrational punishments in life. They may fear risks because punishments outweigh benefits and lack optimism due to abuse and low ventral striatum activity.

Conclusion

After exploring these studies, it appears that encouraging abused children to make small decisions yielding rewards can prevent them from being overly fearful, passive, and developing depression, which can hinder major life decisions. Effective therapies might include cognitive therapy (training optimistic thinking), cognitive-behavioral therapy (changing thinking and behavior), and combining these with medication to boost reward-related ventral striatum activity. To prevent child abuse, parents ideally should receive education (parental classes) before considering children, or during pregnancy. These classes should be mandatory to prevent abuse and ideally be free and accessible to all.

References

• Hanson, J. L., Hariri, A. R., & Williamson, D. E. (2015). Blunted ventral striatum development in adolescents with familial depression risk. Journal of Neuroscience, 35(4), 1036-1045. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4076-14.2015
• Guyer, A. E., McClure, E. B., Adler, A. D., Brotman, M. A., Rich, B. A., Kimes, A. S., Pine, D. S., & Ernst, M. (2006). Specificity of facial expression labeling deficits in childhood psychopathology. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 48(9), 863-871. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2007.01758.x