Peer-Reviewed Articles in Scientific JournalsInstitutionalisierte Kindesbetreuung im Vorschulalter und berichtete Misshandlungen: Eine Befragung in Ostdeutschland
Helmert, Claudia; McLaren, Thomas; Fleischer, Toni; Ulke, Christine; Altweck, Laura; Hahm, Stefanie; Muehlan, Holger; Kriechel, Lisa; Beutel, Manfred E.; Schmidt, Silke; Schomerus, Georg; Brähler, Elmar; Speerforck, Sven (2024)
Psychiatrische Praxis (online first)
DOI: 10.1055/a-2416-0998
Child abuse increases the risk of adult mental health problems. Limited research explores the association of early institutional childhood care in the GDR with experienced childhood abuse and mediates anxiety and depression in adulthood. The sample includes N=1743 individuals born in the GDR (1949–1983). In multi-group path analyses (stratified men/women), we analysed the influence of pre-school care as a predictor and experienced child abuse (CTS) as a mediator variable for anxiety (GAD-7) and depression (PHQ-9) in adulthood. There are no direct effects of pre-school care on anxiety and depression. Childhood trauma significantly affected current mental health (women β=0.253–0.610; men β=0.092–0.439). Analyses suggest no link between early institutional care and childhood abuse. Considering other contextual factors in childcare is crucial for establishing population-wide prevention strategies for child safety.