The Effects of Maltreatment in Childhood on Working Memory Capacity in Adulthood

Date

2017

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Europe's Journal of Psychology

Abstract

The aim of this study was to research the relation between exposure to maltreatment in childhood and working memory capacity in adulthood. A survey among 376 females in the age between 16 and 67 was administered. Exposure to maltreatment in childhood (sexual, physical and psychological abuse, neglect and witnessing family violence) was assessed retrospectively using the Child Maltreatment Questionnaire (Karlović, Buljan-Flander, & Vranić, 2001), whilst the Working Memory Questionnaire (Vallat-Azouvi, Pradat-Diehl, & Azouvi, 2012) was used to assess working memory capacity (recalling verbal information, numerical information, attention ability and executive functioning). The results suggest a significantly greater prevalence of physical abuse and witnessing family violence in comparison to other forms of maltreatment in childhood. Psychological abuse and witnessing family violence have shown themselves to be statistically significant predictors for deficits in total working memory capacity, verbal recall and attention ability. The results suggest that traumatic experiences during childhood, such as abuse, may trigger particular cognitive changes which may be reflected in adulthood. It is, therefore, exceedingly important to conduct further research in order to contribute to the understanding of the correlation between cognitive difficulties and maltreatment in childhood. (Author Abstract)

Description

Keywords

child abuse, long term effects, psychological effects, research, International Resources, Croatia

Citation

Dodaj, Arta ; Krajina, Marijana ; Sesar, Kristina ; Simic, Natasa. (2017). The Effects of Maltreatment in Childhood on Working Memory Capacity in Adulthood. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 13(4), 618–632.

DOI