Childhood Emotional Abuse and Associated Psychopathology in College Students

Abstract

College students completed questionnaires regarding their abuse history and their current psychological functioning (Symptom Checklist 90-Revised). It was found that emotional abuse in childhood, even with no other type of abuse present, was significantly related to long-term negative consequences for these students. Survivors of childhood emotional abuse were significantly more depressed than subjects reporting no childhood abuse. Additionally, survivors reported significantly more general psychopathological symptoms than those who did not report childhood abuse experiences. Implications for the treatment of abused college students are discussed.