The ripple effect: a cross-sectional study on the repercussions of child maltreatment among Egyptian college students

Abstract

Abstract Background Child maltreatment is a global risk factor for mental health. The burden of child maltreatment is heaviest in low- and lower-middle-income countries, where most of the world’s children live. This study sheds light on the occurrence of child maltreatment within Egypt’s upper social class stratum, countering a long-held belief that violence against children only occurs within low-income households. In addition, the study examines the association between exposure to child maltreatment and psychopathology, life satisfaction and resilience among emerging adults in Egypt, and whether emotion dysregulation mediates these relationships. Participants were 171 college students who were selected based on a series of questionnaires about exposure to child abuse and neglect, psychopathology, satisfaction with life, and resilience, as well as difficulties in emotion regulation. Results A rate of 48% of exposure to at least one type of child maltreatment before the age of 18 was found. Experiencing antipathy and/or sexual abuse was most strongly associated with PTSD and depression, while exposure only to antipathy contributed to lower life satisfaction and resilience. Emotion dysregulation mediated the associations between antipathy and PTSD, depression, life satisfaction, and resilience, as well as the associations between sexual abuse and PTSD and depression. Conclusions The present study hints at a comparably high rate of exposure to child maltreatment among the higher social class stratum, producing data that highlights the association between child maltreatment and mental health in emerging adults in Egypt. These findings emphasize that child maltreatment transcends social class, and that attempting to address the issue requires changing social and cultural belief systems that bolster violent behavior.