The association between childhood adversity and hippocampal volumes is moderated by romantic relationship experiences.
Saved in:
| Title: | The association between childhood adversity and hippocampal volumes is moderated by romantic relationship experiences. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Acosta, H. (AUTHOR), Jansen, A. (AUTHOR), Kircher, T. (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | European Journal of Neuroscience. Jan2025, Vol. 61 Issue 1, p1-17. 17p. |
| Subjects: | Hippocampus (Brain), Relationship breakup, Gray matter (Nerve tissue), Pathological psychology, Adverse childhood experiences, Mental illness, Romantic love, Cruelty |
| Abstract: | Reduced hippocampal volumes are a feature of many mental disorders. Childhood maltreatment is a known risk factor for the development of psychopathology and has consistently been linked to hippocampal volume reductions in adults, but not in children and adolescents. We propose that maltreatment‐related difficulties in coping with developmental tasks in adolescence and young adulthood might underlie the delayed emergence of hippocampal volume reductions in maltreated individuals. In a study with 196 healthy young adults (mean age [years]: 24.0 ± 3.2, 50% female, 20.6% living with a partner (missings: n = 2)), we investigated the interaction between childhood maltreatment (Childhood Trauma Screener) and the breakup of a steady romantic relationship (List of Threatening Experiences Questionnaire) on hippocampal magnetic resonance imaging grey matter volumes. The experience of a romantic relationship breakup moderated the association between childhood maltreatment and bilateral hippocampal volumes, revealing more negative associations with hippocampal volumes in participants with at least one breakup compared to those with no breakup experience (right hippocampus: β = − 0.05 ± 0.02, p = 0.031, p (FDR) = 0.031; left hippocampus: β = −0.06 ± 0.02, p = 0.005, p (FDR) = 0.009). Moreover, our findings provide some evidence that childhood maltreatment is related to smaller bilateral hippocampal volumes only in those adults who suffered from a relationship breakup (right hippocampus: β = −0.23 ± 0.10, p = 0.018, p (FDR) = 0.018; left hippocampus: β = −0.24 ± 0.10, p = 0.016, p (FDR) = 0.018;). Our study highlights the interaction of adult social bonds with early adversity on vulnerability to psychopathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of European Journal of Neuroscience is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| Abstract: | Reduced hippocampal volumes are a feature of many mental disorders. Childhood maltreatment is a known risk factor for the development of psychopathology and has consistently been linked to hippocampal volume reductions in adults, but not in children and adolescents. We propose that maltreatment‐related difficulties in coping with developmental tasks in adolescence and young adulthood might underlie the delayed emergence of hippocampal volume reductions in maltreated individuals. In a study with 196 healthy young adults (mean age [years]: 24.0 ± 3.2, 50% female, 20.6% living with a partner (missings: n = 2)), we investigated the interaction between childhood maltreatment (Childhood Trauma Screener) and the breakup of a steady romantic relationship (List of Threatening Experiences Questionnaire) on hippocampal magnetic resonance imaging grey matter volumes. The experience of a romantic relationship breakup moderated the association between childhood maltreatment and bilateral hippocampal volumes, revealing more negative associations with hippocampal volumes in participants with at least one breakup compared to those with no breakup experience (right hippocampus: β = − 0.05 ± 0.02, p = 0.031, p (FDR) = 0.031; left hippocampus: β = −0.06 ± 0.02, p = 0.005, p (FDR) = 0.009). Moreover, our findings provide some evidence that childhood maltreatment is related to smaller bilateral hippocampal volumes only in those adults who suffered from a relationship breakup (right hippocampus: β = −0.23 ± 0.10, p = 0.018, p (FDR) = 0.018; left hippocampus: β = −0.24 ± 0.10, p = 0.016, p (FDR) = 0.018;). Our study highlights the interaction of adult social bonds with early adversity on vulnerability to psychopathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0953816X |
| DOI: | 10.1111/ejn.16593 |
