Betrayal Trauma Theory and Perpetrator Status: Internalizing and Externalizing Symptoms Across Dimensions of Child Maltreatment
Restricted (Penn State Only)
- Author:
- Such, Sara
- Graduate Program:
- Psychology
- Degree:
- Master of Science
- Document Type:
- Master Thesis
- Date of Defense:
- July 29, 2022
- Committee Members:
- Yo Jackson, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Christian Michael Connell, Committee Member
Kristin Buss (She/Her), Program Head/Chair
Karen Linn Bierman, Committee Member - Keywords:
- child maltreatment
foster care
betrayal trauma
internalizing
externalizing - Abstract:
- Experiences of child maltreatment are linked to an increased risk of internalizing and externalizing difficulties among youth, particularly those in foster care. Research has identified various dimensions of maltreatment (i.e., type, frequency, and severity) as important predictors of mental health outcomes. Yet, youth in foster care exposed to maltreatment do not always face such internalizing and externalizing problems. As child maltreatment, by definition, occurs within a relationship, the current study examined perpetrator-victim relationships as a potential contributor to youth mental health when considering maltreatment characteristics of type, frequency, and severity. A sample of 498 youth in foster care (M¬age = 13.14, SD = 3.08) and their current primary caregiver were included in the study. It was predicted that high betrayal relationships (i.e., caregiver-child) would be associated with greater internalizing and externalizing symptoms compared to low betrayal (i.e., non-caregiver) relationships with the child. Further, it was predicted that the magnitude of maltreatment dimensions would vary as a function of youths’ relationship to their perpetrator(s). Using case file report of maltreatment histories and caregiver report of youth mental health, findings showed no difference in externalizing problems between youth who experienced high betrayal compared to low betrayal. The results indicated that internalizing problems were significantly higher among mixed betrayal relationships than among high betrayal relationships. Further, the magnitude of the effects of severity and sexual abuse on internalizing symptoms varied as a function of mixed betrayal. Contrary to the study’s predictions, findings suggest the need to consider the unique impact of mixed betrayal relationships on youth in foster care. Given a common goal is reunification, the study has implications on policy and potential involvement of individuals outside of parent-child dyads in the healing process upon exiting foster care.