Impact of Psychological Maltreatment during Childhood by One's Maternal Figure on the Mental and Physical Health of Older Adult Men
Abstract
This dissertation investigated the impact of maternal emotional maltreatment on older adult men with respect to mental, physical, substance abuse, and employment outcomes. The goal of this study was to explore and explain how the role of protective factors across the life span of older adult men who experienced psychological maltreatment from their maternal figures impacted their mental and physical health. Specifically, a secondary data analysis was conducted on the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) dataset to explore the overall aim of the study. This dissertation also investigated the intersection of demographics of advantaged and disadvantaged older adult men and these same outcomes. The presence of poorer mental and physical health outcomes, along with an increase in alcohol-related problems among these men was noted only when examining those who were more disadvantaged in terms of family configuration and financial wellbeing in early childhood. Results also found significant differences in individuals who attrited from the study on outcomes measures. Future research should explore way to combat attrition in populations who have experience trauma. Policy and practice approaches should utilize a trauma-informed approach to ensure a gender informed approach to prevent men from being re-traumatized. Furthermore, utilization of a public health model for prevention strategies as well as to identify and serve those at-risk is of utmost importance as emotional abuse is challenging social workers to identify.
Subject Area
Gerontology
Recommended Citation
Powell, Mebane E, "Impact of Psychological Maltreatment during Childhood by One's Maternal Figure on the Mental and Physical Health of Older Adult Men" (2017). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI10682882.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI10682882
