Moderator Effects of Perceived Social Support and Perceived Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic of Psychopathology Symptoms in Young Adults with a History of Childhood Maltreatment
Conference Year
2023
Abstract
Individuals whom have experienced some form of childhood maltreatment are at greater risk for developing psychopathology in adulthood. Social support has been shown to moderate mental health outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic created and environment that forced isolation to avoid contracting the virus, therefore decreasing opportunities to socialize and receive social support. The relationship between social support and depression, anxiety, and PTSD during the start the COVID-19 pandemic was explored in a sample of young adults with and without childhood maltreatment. It was hypothesized that social support and the perceived impact of the pandemic moderated changes in psychopathology symptoms in a cohort of young adults with a history of childhood maltreatment. Results showed significant increases in both depression and PTSD symptoms at the start of the pandemic. No significant moderation effects were found for social support or perceived impact of the pandemic.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Matthew Price
Status
Undergraduate
Student College
College of Arts and Sciences
Second Student College
Patrick Leahy Honors College
Program/Major
Psychological Science
Primary Research Category
Social Science
Moderator Effects of Perceived Social Support and Perceived Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic of Psychopathology Symptoms in Young Adults with a History of Childhood Maltreatment
Individuals whom have experienced some form of childhood maltreatment are at greater risk for developing psychopathology in adulthood. Social support has been shown to moderate mental health outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic created and environment that forced isolation to avoid contracting the virus, therefore decreasing opportunities to socialize and receive social support. The relationship between social support and depression, anxiety, and PTSD during the start the COVID-19 pandemic was explored in a sample of young adults with and without childhood maltreatment. It was hypothesized that social support and the perceived impact of the pandemic moderated changes in psychopathology symptoms in a cohort of young adults with a history of childhood maltreatment. Results showed significant increases in both depression and PTSD symptoms at the start of the pandemic. No significant moderation effects were found for social support or perceived impact of the pandemic.