Childhood socioeconomic status and childhood maltreatment: Distinct associations with brain structure

The present study examined the relationship between childhood socioeconomic status (SES), childhood maltreatment, and the volumes of the hippocampus and amygdala between the ages of 25 and 36 years. Previous work has linked both low SES and maltreatment with reduced hippocampal volume in childhood, an effect attributed to childhood stress. In 46 adult subjects, only childhood maltreatment, and not childhood SES, predicted hippocampal volume in regression analyses, with greater maltreatment associated with lower volume. Neither factor was related to amygdala volume. When current SES and recent interpersonal stressful events were also considered, recent interpersonal stressful events predicted smaller hippocampal volumes over and above childhood maltreatment. Finally, exploratory analyses revealed a significant sex by childhood SES interaction, with women’s childhood SES showing a significantly more positive relation (less negative) with hippocampus volume than men’s. The overall effect of childhood maltreatment but not SES, and the sex-specific effect of childhood SES, indicate that different forms of stressful childhood adversity affect brain development differently

Descriptive statistics of caregiver education and childhood maltreatment scores for analytic sample (n = 46).

<p>Descriptive statistics of caregiver education and childhood maltreatment scores for analytic sample (n = 46).</p

Hippocampal volume as a function of childhood SES for males and females., adjusted for childhood maltreatment, current SES, recent negative interpersonal events, age, total brain volume, and BMI.

<p>Hippocampal volume as a function of childhood SES for males and females., adjusted for childhood maltreatment, current SES, recent negative interpersonal events, age, total brain volume, and BMI.</p

Correlation matrix.

<p>Correlation matrix.</p

Hippocampal volume as a function of childhood maltreatment, adjusted for childhood SES, current SES, recent negative interpersonal events, sex, age, total brain volume, and BMI.

<p>Hippocampal volume as a function of childhood maltreatment, adjusted for childhood SES, current SES, recent negative interpersonal events, sex, age, total brain volume, and BMI.</p

Results from hierarchical multiple linear regression using control variables (age, sex, BMI, total brain volume), variables of interest (childhood SES, childhood maltreatment, current SES, and recent negative interpersonal events), and interactions of these variables with sex, to predict volume of the hippocampus and amygdala.

<p>Results from hierarchical multiple linear regression using control variables (age, sex, BMI, total brain volume), variables of interest (childhood SES, childhood maltreatment, current SES, and recent negative interpersonal events), and interactions of these variables with sex, to predict volume of the hippocampus and amygdala.</p