Effects of Childhood Emotional Maltreatment on Adulthood Relationships of Minority Women- A Qualitative Study

Childhood Emotional Maltreatment (CEM), which encompasses both childhood abuse and childhood neglect, exerts various adverse effects on brain development and response to diverse situations, particularly in relationships. Drawing from Bowlby's attachment theory, this study investigated how childhood emotional maltreatment (CEM) may jeopardize relationships, focusing on its effects on parental and romantic relationships in adulthood. Through interviews, the emotion regulation and attachment patterns of four racial or ethnic minority women aged 20 to 27 in Appalachia were explored all of whom experienced emotional maltreatment during childhood to discern the roles these components play in their parental and romantic relationships. On average, participants scored 6 out of 10 on the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) scale. Qualit ... continue reading->

Keywords: Childhood Emotional Maltreatment; romantic relationships; parental relationships; minority women