The Impact of Child Abuse on Relationships between Resource Loss and Posttraumatic Stress: A Cross-Lagged Panel Analysis

Childhood abuse is a serious and prevalent public health concern, both in the United States and around the world. The association between child abuse and adverse outcomes in adulthood is well-established, with those experiencing abuse more likely to be diagnosed with mental health disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), into adulthood. One way to conceptualize the relationship between trauma and adverse mental health outcomes in adulthood is through resource loss. Previous research indicates that individuals who have experienced childhood abuse may not adequately develop resources, such as tangible (e.g., money) and intangible (e.g., emotional) support systems, with the loss of these resources associated with decreased ability to cope with distress. The current study investigated the relationship between resource loss and symptoms of posttraumatic stress longitudinally in a sample of women who had experienced both childhood abuse and a mass-shooting event. Results demonstrated that experiencing childhood physical abuse and sexual abuse predicted symptoms of posttraumatic stress after controlling for exposure to the mass-shooting event. Additionally, symptoms of posttraumatic stress and resource loss predicted each other at two time points after the shooting. Findings demonstrate the bidirectional nature of the relationship between posttraumatic stress and resource loss, as well as highlight how effects of childhood abuse can be long-standing and negatively impact psychosocial functioning in women throughout adulthood.