From Childhood Maltreatment to Allostatic Load in Adulthood: The Role of Social Support

Prior to this study, research that had determined that social support acts as a protective factor for individuals exposed to trauma relied on assessments of social support at one point in time. The current study found that maltreated children are more likely to have unstable social support across the life span compared to matched controls. Social support across the life span partially mediated the relationship between child maltreatment and allostatic load in adulthood, although there were differences by race and sex. These findings have implications for interventions to prevent the negative consequences of child maltreatment. (Publisher abstract modified)