Lifetime Interpersonal Polyvictimization: Abuse Typologies and Mental Health Outcomes in a Nationally Representative Sample of Men from the United States

Background Interpersonal polyvictimisation experiences are a specific type of traumatic experience that include physical, sexual or psychological attacks against a person and much research has concentrated on female only or mixed samples. Being a victim of one form of victimisation experience increases the risk of further victimisation experience resulting in polyvictimisation, and elevates the likelihood on negative mental health outcomes. Objectives The current study seeks to establish interpersonal polyvictimisation typologies within a male sub-population of a large epidemiologic sample and establish associated risk of psychopathology across a range of mental health outcomes. Methods Using data from 15,794 adult males, aged over 18 years who completed the NESARC III, a Latent Class Analysis (LCA) of the endorsement of interpersonal victimisation experiences was conducted to establish latent profiles of interpersonal polyvictimisation. Subsequently regression analysis was conducted to establish risk of psychopathology across a series of DSM 5 diagnosed mental health conditions. Findings A three-class solution was deemed optimal in line with published fit statistics. Class 3 was categorised by low/no endorsement and was labelled ‘normative’, Class 2 was categorised by high endorsement of childhood indicators and was labelled ‘childhood’, class 1 showed a moderate endorsement across life-course victimisation indicators and was labelled ‘lifecourse’. Interpersonal polyvictimisation profiles showed increased risk of negative mental health outcomes in adulthood suggesting that distinct typologies of interpersonal polyvictimisation exist within the adult male only population. Conclusions Experiences of interpersonal polyvictimisation are robustly associated with adult psychopathology in males including elevated rates of the likelihood of PTSD, Anxiety and Depression in a dose response fashion. Interventions and support services should therefore be developed and implemented that are targeted to gender specific distinctiveness

Interpersonal polyvictimization and mental health in males

A consistent conclusion within the extant literature is that victimization and in particular polyvictimization leads to adverse mental health outcomes. A large body of literature exists as it pertains to the association between victimisation and mental health in studies utilising samples of childhood victims, female only victims, and samples of male and female victims; less research exists as it relates to males victims of interpersonal violence. The aim of the current study was therefore to identify profiles of interpersonal victimizations in an exclusively male sample and to assess their differential impact on a number of adverse mental health outcomes. Using data from 14,477 adult males from Wave 2 of the NESARC, we identified interpersonal victimization profiles via Latent Class Analysis. Multinomial Logistic Regression was subsequently utilized to establish risk across mental health disorders. A 4-class solution was optimal. Victimisation profiles showed elevated odds ratios for the presence of mental health disorders; suggesting that multiple life-course victimisation typologies exists, and that victimization is strongly associated with psychopathology. Several additional notable findings are discussed

Assessing childhood maltreatment and mental health correlates of disordered eating profiles in a nationally representative sample of English females

PURPOSE: Previous research suggests that childhood maltreatment is associated with the onset of eating disorders (ED). In turn, EDs are associated with alternative psychopathologies such as depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and with suicidality. Moreover, it has been reported that various ED profiles may exist. The aim of the current study was to examine the profiles of disordered eating and the associations of these with childhood maltreatment and with mental health psychopathology. METHODS: The current study utilised a representative sample of English females (N = 4206) and assessed for the presence of disordered eating profiles using Latent Class Analysis. Multinomial logistic regression was implemented to examine the associations of childhood sexual and physical abuse with the disordered eating profiles and the associations of these with PTSD, depression and suicidality. RESULTS: Results supported those of previous findings in that we found five latent classes of which three were regarded as disordered eating classes. Significant relationships were found between these and measures of childhood trauma and mental health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Childhood sexual and physical abuse increased the likelihood of membership in disordered eating classes and these in turn increased the likelihood of adverse mental health and suicidal outcomes