Publication Type
Journal Article
Version
publishedVersion
Publication Date
1-2020
Abstract
Background: Childhood emotional abuse and neglect is linked with a host of adverse outcomes later in life, including depression. However, potential psychological resources that may mitigate the adverse outcomes of childhood emotional abuse and neglect are not well-understood. Aims: Drawing from the insight that having a sense of purpose can help individuals deal with setbacks and difficulties better, we propose that purpose in life can also help sufferers of childhood maltreatment cope more effectively and reduce the onset of depressive symptoms. Methods: Participants were drawn from two large, nationally representative studies comprising a total of 3664 respondents. Purpose in life, childhood emotional abuse and neglect, and depressive symptoms were measured with validated scales. Results: We found convergent evidence that purpose in life attenuates the effect of childhood emotional abuse and neglect on subsequent depressive symptoms across a range of measures of mood and depression. Conclusions: The current study highlights the important role played by purpose in life in building resilience, coping against adverse life events, and psychological well-being.
Keywords
Purpose in life, childhood emotional abuse, childhood emotional neglect, depression, psychological well-being
Discipline
Developmental Psychology | Social Psychology
Research Areas
Psychology
Publication
Journal of Mental Health
Volume
29
Issue
4
First Page
473
Last Page
482
ISSN
0963-8237
Identifier
10.1080/09638237.2020.1714005
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Citation
HARTANTO, Andree, YONG, Jose C., LEE, Sean T. H., NG, Wee Qin, & TONG, Eddie M. W..(2020). Putting adversity in perspective: Purpose in life moderates the link between childhood emotional abuse and neglect and adulthood depressive symptoms. Journal of Mental Health, 29(4), 473-482.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/3120
Copyright Owner and License
Publisher
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Additional URL
https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2020.1714005