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Impact of Long-Term Psychological Maltreatment by One's Maternal Figure: A Study of the Victim's Perspective

NCJ Number
207296
Journal
Journal of Emotional Abuse Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Dated: 2004 Pages: 27-51
Author(s)
Eugene M. DeRobertis
Date Published
2004
Length
25 pages
Annotation
Based on the perspectives of five adults, ages 18-25, who reported long-term childhood psychological maltreatment by their mothers, this study identified some of the psychological consequences of such maltreatment.
Abstract
Participants were screened for childhood psychological abuse based on Vissing et al.'s definition, i.e., verbal or nonverbal "communication intended to cause psychological pain to another person." Examples of such emotional abuse include criticisms, threats, derogatory remarks, slamming or smashing things, and stony silence. To be eligible for this study, such abuse had to begin prior to 11 years old and continue for 10 or more years. Participant's accounts of their maternal abuse and their reactions to it were obtained in both written and verbal form. Individual narratives of the abuse and reactions to it were analyzed for general themes and conclusions about the long-term significance of the childhood emotional abuse. For all participants, the ultimate feeling generated by the long-term abuse was of not being wanted or loved by their mothers, leading to the child's desperate sense of loneliness and isolation, coupled with an intense need to bond with their mothers. Themes that emerged in adulthood from this lack of bonding with their mothers due to abuse were feelings of worthlessness, inadequacy, self-dissatisfaction, and disempowerment. These feelings contributed to low self-esteem, aggression, self-directed anger, and pessimism about one's future. 5 tables and 47 references