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Impact of Childhood Maltreatment and Polyvictimization on Adult Revictimization

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Handbook of Interpersonal Violence and Abuse Across the Lifespan

Abstract

Childhood maltreatment is the term used to capture physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, or neglect perpetrated against persons under the age of 18 years. Each type of abuse can have immediate and harmful physical and psychological consequences and is associated with increased vulnerability to revictimization during childhood and into adulthood. For many children, victimization experiences involve more than one type of maltreatment or traumatizing event. In fact, a significant number of children experience a variety of repeated abuses or traumatizing events that become part of a pattern of polyvictimization. These are also referred to as complex forms of trauma. Childhood maltreatment and polyvictimization also lead to poorer physical and psychological health throughout adulthood and increased the likelihood of adult revictimization. To accurately determine the magnitude of the negative physical and psychological consequences of childhood maltreatment and polyvictimization, victimizing events must be considered in relation to their impact on the following: (1) normal neurological, intellectual, and social development; (2) early childhood acquisition and use of coping strategies that are relevant to the management of normative challenges and traumatic experiences occurring in adolescence and adulthood; (3) participation in risk behaviors that heighten exposure to physical and psychological injury; and (4) the physical and psychological health outcomes that distinguish adults with histories of child abuse and neglect from adults with no history of childhood maltreatment and polyvictimization. This chapter addresses the scope and significance of childhood maltreatment and polyvictimization, the impact of childhood maltreatment and polyvictimization on adult revictimization, pathways from childhood maltreatment and polyvictimization to adult revictimization, and interventions to manage lifelong patterns of maltreatment and polyvictimization.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, USA

    Melanie P. Duckworth, Megan Radenhausen & Kristel-Ann Galarce

  2. London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, Canada

    Tony Iezzi

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  1. Melanie P. Duckworth
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  2. Tony Iezzi
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  3. Megan Radenhausen
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  4. Kristel-Ann Galarce
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Melanie P. Duckworth .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma, Alliant International University, San Diego, CA, USA

    Robert Geffner

  2. School of Health and Human Sciences, University of North Carolina at Greensbo, Greensboro, NC, USA

    Jacquelyn W. White

  3. Dept of Family and Community Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    L. Kevin Hamberger

  4. Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA

    Alan Rosenbaum

  5. Ethelyn R. Strong School of Social Work, Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA, USA

    Viola Vaughan-Eden

  6. Education and Research, Zero Abuse Project, St. Paul, MN, USA

    Victor I. Vieth

Section Editor information

  1. Consultant and Trainer, Trauma Psychology and Treatment, Bethany Beach, Delaware, USA

    Christine A. Courtois

  2. Department of Counseling and Human Development, George Washington University, Washington, DC, UK

    Sylvia A Marotta-Walters PhD

  3. School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA

    Carlos A. Cuevas

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Duckworth, M.P., Iezzi, T., Radenhausen, M., Galarce, KA. (2020). Impact of Childhood Maltreatment and Polyvictimization on Adult Revictimization. In: Geffner, R., White, J.W., Hamberger, L.K., Rosenbaum, A., Vaughan-Eden, V., Vieth, V.I. (eds) Handbook of Interpersonal Violence and Abuse Across the Lifespan. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62122-7_236-1

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