Citation

Wadji DL, Oe M, Bartoli E, Martin-Soelch C, Pfaltz MC, Langevin R. Eur. J. Psychotraumatol. 2023; 14(2): e2264119.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, The Author(s), Publisher Co-action Publishing)

DOI

10.1080/20008066.2023.2264119

PMID

37830143

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Post-traumatic growth (PTG) and resilience, regarded as positive psychological change following a traumatic experience, are under-researched across cultures in people exposed to child maltreatment (CM).

OBJECTIVE: We investigated how experiences and the perceived acceptability of CM are related to resilience and PTG in countries with different cultures, living standards, and gross national income.

METHOD: A total of 478 adults from Cameroon (n = 111), Canada (n = 137), Japan (n = 108), and Germany (n = 122) completed an online survey with self-reported questionnaires, including the Brief Resilience Scale and the Post Traumatic Growth Inventory-Short Form.

RESULTS: Across countries, self-reported male gender and age were positively associated with resilience, while experiences of physical abuse and emotional maltreatment were negatively associated with resilience. Experiences of emotional maltreatment were positively associated with PTG. Higher levels of PTG and resilience were found amongst Cameroonian participants as compared to other countries.

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that positive changes following CM can vary significantly across cultures and that experiences of specific CM subtypes, but not the perceived acceptability of CM, may be important for a deeper understanding of how individuals overcome trauma and develop salutogenic outcomes. Our findings may inform CM intervention programmes for an enhanced cultural sensitivity.

Language: en

Keywords

resilience; Child maltreatment; posttraumatic growth; acceptability of child maltreatment; aceptabilidad del maltrato infantil; Crecimiento Postraumático; cultura; culture; Maltrato infantil; normas sociales percibidas; perceived social norms; resiliencia; 儿童虐待; 儿童虐待的可接受性; 创伤后成长; 心理韧性; 感知到的社会规范; 文化