Citation

Glaesmer H, Kuwert P, Braehler E, Kaiser M. Int. Psychogeriatr. 2017; 29(7): 1147-1156.

Affiliation

Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology,University of Leipzig,Leipzig,Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Cambridge University Press)

DOI

10.1017/S1041610217000369

PMID

28374655

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Children born of war are a common phenomenon of conflict. In the aftermath of World War II, more than 200,000 German occupation children (GOC) were fathered by occupation soldiers and born to local women. GOC often grew up under difficult conditions and showed high prevalence rates of mental disorders even decades later.

METHODS: Experiences of childhood maltreatment and their association with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, and somatization in GOC (N = 146) are investigated and compared with a representative birth-cohort-matched sample (BCMS) from the German general population (N = 920).

RESULTS: Outcomes show significantly higher prevalence rates of emotional abuse/neglect, physical, and sexual abuse in GOC compared to BCMS. All five subtypes of childhood maltreatment increase the risk of PTSD and somatoform syndrome; depressive syndromes are associated with emotional abuse/neglect and physical abuse. GOC were at high risk of childhood maltreatment.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings underline the complex, long-term impact of developmental conditions and childhood maltreatment on mental disorders even decades later.

Language: en

Keywords

childhood abuse and neglect; children born of war; depression; occupation children; post-traumatic stress disorder; somatization