Childhood abuse and neglect and adult intimate relationships: a prospective study

Colman, Rebecca A.; Widom, Cathy Spatz

doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2004.02.005

Cited by 444Child Abuse and TraumaChild Welfare and AdoptionIntimate Partner and Family Violence

Childhood abuse and neglect and adult intimate relationships: a prospective study

Colman, Rebecca A., Widom, Cathy Spatz·2004·Child Abuse & Neglect

DOI 10.1016/j.chiabu.2004.02.005

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Abstract

Objective The present study extends prior research on childhood maltreatment and social functioning by examining the impact of early childhood physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect on rates of involvement in adult intimate relationships and relationship functioning. Method Substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect from 1967 to 1971 were matched on gender, age, race, and approximate family class with non-abused and non-neglected children and followed prospectively into adulthood. Between 1989 and 1995, 1,196 participants (676 abused and neglected and 520 controls) were administered a 2-hour in-person interview, including a psychiatric assessment and a variety of standardized rating scales. Results Male and female abuse and neglect victims reported higher rates of cohabitation, walking out, and divorce than controls. Abused and neglected females were also less likely than female controls to have positive perceptions of current romantic partners and to be sexually faithful. Conclusions Although previous research on childhood maltreatment and adult intimate relationships has emphasized outcomes for female victims of childhood sexual abuse, present findings suggest that other forms of early maltreatment (physical abuse and neglect) also have a negative effect on both males' and females' ability to establish and maintain healthy intimate relationships in adulthood.

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Childhood maltreatment encompasses relational traumas that have the potential to disturb future romantic relationships.
“CM encompasses relational traumas, whereby the betrayal, powerlessness, or disregard experienced have the potential to disturb future romantic relationships (Briere, 2002; Colman & Widom, 2004).”
From Partner Effects of Childhood Maltreatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2024) · cites this paper as Colman & Widom, 2004

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Authors: Colman, R. A., & Widom, C. S.
Affiliations: University at Albany, State University of New York (US)
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (US)
Corresponding author: Widom, Cathy Spatz
ORCID: Widom, Cathy Spatz
Venue: Child Abuse & Neglect
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 2004-11
Volume: 28
Issue: 11
Pages: 1133-1151
ISSN: 0145-2134 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2004.02.005
OpenAlex: W2026419621
Cited by: 443
References: 43
Citations by year: 2026: 13 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 47 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 30 · 2015: 29 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 24
FWCI: 6.84
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations: Child Abuse & Neglect (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: National Institute of Mental Health (MH-49467, R01MH049467)
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD 40774, R01HD040774)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
Social Sciences › Safety Research › Child Welfare and Adoption
Social Sciences › Health › Intimate Partner and Family Violence
Keywords: childhood abuse, child neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, intimate relationships, relationship functioning, cohabitation, divorce, sexual fidelity, romantic partners, social functioning
MeSH terms: Adult, Child, Child Abuse, Divorce, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Marriage, Prospective Studies, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sexual Behavior, Cohort Studies, Crime Victims

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Childhood abuse and neglect and adult intimate relationships: a prospective study

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