Relationship between child abuse and emotional dysregulation

Child maltreatment (CM) is a worldwide social problem and a genuine public health issue, due to its frequency and impact on the physical and mental health of victims.To study the different forms of IM in the general Tunisian population and investigate the relationship between IM and emotional dysregulation (ED).We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study of 528 Facebook group members. We used the following scales: Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS).The mean DERS score was 46.74.The total DERS score was positively correlated with the CTQ score (r=0.422; p<0.001), as well as with all its subscales, the highest being with emotional abuse (r=0.473; p<0.001).This study highlights a positive association between different forms of IM, and ED. Thus, interventions for ED in adolescents may be more effective if they target underlying risk factors, such as abuse.

Autorentext

Dr. Mariem TURKI, Assistente Hospitalar Universitário de Psiquiatria, Departamento de Psiquiatria "B", CHU Hédi Chaker, Sfax, Tunísia