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Quality of life in maltreated children and adult survivors of child maltreatment: a systematic review

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Abstract

Purpose

To review data on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in individuals with childhood trauma, including psychological maltreatment, physical maltreatment, sexual abuse, and neglect.

Methods

The literature search was conducted with pre-defined keywords using the following electronic bibliographic databases: EMBASE, PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsyINFO, PSYNDEX, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Further databases were searched for relevant dissertations. Study selection and data extraction were completed by two independent reviewers.

Results

The literature search yielded 1568 entries. Nineteen articles met all inclusion criteria and were retained for further analysis. Findings quite consistently showed significant negative associations between child maltreatment and both self- and proxy-rated HRQoL. Effect sizes range from small to large. Number of types of maltreatment and HRQoL were found to be negatively related.

Conclusion

Data on HRQoL for maltreated children are still rare. Studies often investigate adult survivors of child maltreatment. Considering HRQoL in children and adolescents who suffered maltreatment would allow the planning of effective interventions and the evaluation of treatments to improve HRQoL of these children.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the Perspectives Foundation, SwissLife, the Anna Mueller Grocholski Foundation the Olga Mayenfisch Foundation, and the Swiss Foundation for the Health of Children and Adolescents. We want to thank the following researchers who provided us with additional information about their published data (in alphabetical order): Agorastos Agorastos, Oswaldo Almeida, and Brian Draper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child Protection Group, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    S. Weber & A. Jud

  2. Department of Psychosomatics and Psychiatry, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    M. A. Landolt

  3. Department of Child and Adolescent Health Psychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    M. A. Landolt

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  1. S. Weber
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  2. A. Jud
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  3. M. A. Landolt
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Correspondence to M. A. Landolt.

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Weber, S., Jud, A. & Landolt, M.A. Quality of life in maltreated children and adult survivors of child maltreatment: a systematic review. Qual Life Res 25, 237–255 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-015-1085-5

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