This study examined the effects of child abuse on depression/ anxiety, aggression, and social withdrawal of the victims. The mediating or moderating effects of ego-resiliency, received social support, and approach/avoidance coping styles were also exa...
This study examined the effects of child abuse on depression/ anxiety, aggression, and social withdrawal of the victims. The mediating or moderating effects of ego-resiliency, received social support, and approach/avoidance coping styles were also examined. The data from 669 participants were in the 5th or 6th grade from and elementary school in Pusan were used in the analysis.
First, the results of the study showed that the emotional abuse and neglect experience related to the children's adjust level. That is, the emotional abuse and neglect positively correlated the children's depression/anxiety, aggression, and social withdrawal. Especially, emotional abuse was most strongly related to children's adjust level. However, the physical abuse experience related only with the victims' aggression. Such findings suggest that the abuse experience without any visible physical marks can seriously affect the children's adjustment.
Secondly, a covariance structure modeling with Amos 4.0 revealed that ego-resiliency acted as the moderating factor on the abused children's adjust level. And it was also found that ego-resiliency, perceived social support, and the avoidance coping style worked as the mediating factors in the abuse effect on the victims' depression/ anxiety, aggression, and social withdrawal. Especially, ego-resiliency was the most important mediating factor in the pathway. Such findings support the previous research on how the ego-resiliency can act a buffer of stress in general and of child abuse in particular.
The implications and limitations of this study were discussed.