Different Types of Maltreatment in Childhood, Different Emotional Responses in Adolescence

Childhood maltreatment and other adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked to poor neurodevelopmental outcomes, psychopathology, and physical health problems in adulthood; individuals exposed to severe stressors during early development have altered brain structure and function. To determine whether different forms of maltreatment lead to distinct physiological or clinical outcomes, investigators looked for associations between childhood maltreatment and emotional responding in 116 adolescents (60% male; age range, 10–18 years), recruited from a residential care setting or the surrounding community.

To quantify maltreatment exposure, the researchers used a standardized self-report questionnaire capturing emotional, physical, or s…