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Stress and Stress Resilience in Children and Adolescents
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Stress and Stress Resilience in Children and Adolescents

A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Pediatric Mental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 October 2024) | Viewed by 23048

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Eva Möhler

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Germany
Interests: early life stress; prenatal stress; child abuse and neglect; intergenerational transmission of abuse; adverse childhood experiences
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce a Special Issue on ‘Stress and stress resilience for Children and Adolescents.

Background and history of the topic:

Numerous studies have highlighted the tremendous impact of stress on children's brains, development and behaviors. Since 2020, children and adolescents have been exposed to stressors like the war in Europe and lockdowns due to the pandemic. The results are considerable increases in mental health disorders and psychosocial disintegration.

Aim and scope of the Special Issue:

Strategies to boost stress resilience in children and adolescents are a vastly understudied subject and, therefore, within the central scope of this issue. A focus on possible pathways linking early-life stress and development includes stress-induced endocrine or neurobiological mechanisms and gene-environment interactions

Cutting-edge research:

As in recent studies, stress has been described as negatively impacting executive functioning, research on this topic, as well as the underlying neural mechanisms, will be welcome in this Special Issue. Furthermore, endeavours of prevention include low-threshold treatment programs or school-based training approaches with the aim of supporting children in several resilience factors, such as emotional regulation as well as self and impulse control.

What kind of papers we are soliciting:

This Special Issue invites researchers on the topic of early-life stress and stress resilience to share their work related to risk factors and longitudinal consequences of all different forms of stress in early life. A focus on prevention and intervention will be highly welcomed, just as research targeting neurobiological and psychophysiological sequelae of stress in childhood. Other topics of specific interest are potential stressors with regard to parent–child interactions.

Prof. Dr. Eva Möhler
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • early-life stress
  • stress resilience
  • adverse childhood experiences
  • child mental health
  • developmental trauma

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 279 KiB  
Article
A Study on Self-Compassion and Attachment Styles as the Predictors of Life Satisfaction in Children in Need of Protection
by Elif Tuğçe Atalar and Fatih Koca
Children 2025, 12(3), 285; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12030285 - 26 Feb 2025
Viewed by 592
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Societies are obliged to ensure that children in need of protection grow up psychologically, socially, and physically healthy. To achieve that, various practices have been developed. One of these practices is the use of children’s homes sites. Accordingly, this study [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Societies are obliged to ensure that children in need of protection grow up psychologically, socially, and physically healthy. To achieve that, various practices have been developed. One of these practices is the use of children’s homes sites. Accordingly, this study examined the relationships between the life satisfaction, attachment styles, and self-compassion levels of children in need of protection staying in children’s homes sites. It aimed to determine to what extent variables such as attachment style and self-compassion predict life satisfaction. In addition, whether life satisfaction differs according to gender, age, and the status of having a visitor was examined. Methods: The study sample consisted of 121 children between the ages of 8 and 14 who were staying in children’s homes sites in Istanbul between March and May 2022. The Satisfaction with Life Scale, the short form of the Self-Compassion Scale, the Three-Dimensional Attachment Style Scale, and the Personal Information Form were used with the participants. The researchers used the independent samples t-test, multiple linear regression analysis, Pearson product moment coefficient, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) during the analysis. Results: The findings showed that there was a significant positive relationship between secure attachment style and life satisfaction, anxious–ambivalent attachment, and self-compassion. Also, among the demographic variables, being visited by relatives was found to predict life satisfaction, while there was no relationship between life satisfaction and age and gender. Conclusions: The study findings were discussed within the framework of the literature, and suggestions based on the findings were presented. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress and Stress Resilience in Children and Adolescents)
12 pages, 448 KiB  
Article
The Relationship Between Self-Control and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Adolescent Psychiatric Outpatients: Exploring the Role of Self-Control
by Zhenhua Chen, Jie Xu, Ronghua Zhang, Yuxuan Wang and Ziwei Shang
Children 2025, 12(1), 99; https://doi.org/10.3390/children12010099 - 16 Jan 2025
Viewed by 871
Abstract
Background: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a significant public health concern that threatens the physical and mental health of adolescents. Given its high prevalence among adolescents, understanding the characteristics and contributing factors of NSSI is crucial. This study aimed to characterize NSSI and examine [...] Read more.
Background: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a significant public health concern that threatens the physical and mental health of adolescents. Given its high prevalence among adolescents, understanding the characteristics and contributing factors of NSSI is crucial. This study aimed to characterize NSSI and examine the relationship between self-control and NSSI among adolescent psychiatric outpatients. Method: This study was conducted in a psychiatric department of a hospital in Hubei Province, China, involving 206 adolescent psychiatric outpatients (135 females, 12–18 years old). Assessments included the Ottawa Self-Injury Inventory (OSI), the Self-Control Scale (SCS), and a self-designed sociodemographic questionnaire. Result: In this sample, 77.18% reported a history of NSSI. The prevalence of NSSI was significantly higher in females than in males (χ2 = 19.059, p < 0.01). The NSSI group had significantly lower self-control scores compared to the non-NSSI group (F = 27.458, p < 0.01). In the NSSI group (n = 156), self-control was negatively associated with NSSI frequency and fully mediated by NSSI function. Conclusions: These findings highlight the complete mediating role of NSSI function between self-control and NSSI frequency, offering insights for future prevention and intervention efforts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress and Stress Resilience in Children and Adolescents)
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11 pages, 1592 KiB  
Article
Parents of Child Psychiatric Patients Report More Adverse Childhood Experiences Compared with Community Samples
by Adriana Altpeter, Andrea Dixius and Eva Möhler
Children 2024, 11(12), 1427; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11121427 - 26 Nov 2024
Viewed by 767
Abstract
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have already been associated, in some studies, with various diverse psychosocial abnormalities in later life. However, it is still unclear whether ACEs reported by biological parents differ from ACE scores in community samples. Background/Objectives: The aim of this [...] Read more.
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have already been associated, in some studies, with various diverse psychosocial abnormalities in later life. However, it is still unclear whether ACEs reported by biological parents differ from ACE scores in community samples. Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the extent to which parents of a patient sample differ from a community sample in terms of reporting childhood experiences. In addition, the connection between parental negative traumatic experiences and their children’s reporting of these experiences should be examined in more detail. Methods: In total, 256 child psychiatric patients (73.8% female and 26.2% male) aged 4–18 years (mean [M] = 13.26 years, standard deviation [SD] = 2.73) were retrospectively examined for post-traumatic stress symptoms (using the CATS questionnaire). In addition, 391 caregivers, 316 of whom were biological parents, completed the ACE questionnaire on adverse childhood experiences. The frequencies of ACEs of the parents, the traumatic experiences of the patients and their cumulative occurrence were evaluated descriptively. Results: A total of 139 (73%) mothers reported at least one negative experience in childhood. In contrast, 65 fathers (52%) reported at least one negative experience in childhood. Mothers most frequently mentioned separation from a parent (38.7%), while fathers cited emotional abuse as the most frequent negative experience. These ACE scores were significantly higher than those reported from community samples. Post-traumatic stress disorder was diagnosed in 75 (29.3%) of the 256 patients. A total of 44.6% of children of mothers and 53.8% of children of fathers reporting at least one ACE showed a CATS score above the cut-off. Conclusions: Parents of child psychiatric patients show higher scores of adverse childhood experiences than a community sample with the same population background. Further empirical studies in parents of child psychiatric patients and a larger sample seem mandatory in the face of these results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress and Stress Resilience in Children and Adolescents)
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14 pages, 274 KiB  
Article
Gender Differences in Adolescents’ Body Complaints in Eight Countries: What Do Culture and Parents Have to Do with It?
by Katharina Weitkamp and Inge Seiffge-Krenke
Children 2024, 11(10), 1200; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11101200 - 30 Sep 2024
Viewed by 784
Abstract
Objective: Although medically unexplained body complaints occur relatively frequently in adolescents, the causes are little-researched. This study examines the influence of cultural and family-related factors on somatic complaints. Methods and Measures: In a cross-cultural and cross-sectional study of 2415 adolescents from eight countries [...] Read more.
Objective: Although medically unexplained body complaints occur relatively frequently in adolescents, the causes are little-researched. This study examines the influence of cultural and family-related factors on somatic complaints. Methods and Measures: In a cross-cultural and cross-sectional study of 2415 adolescents from eight countries (Argentina, France, Germany, Greece, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, and Turkey), the associations of family variables with body complaints were tested and the cultural impact analyzed. Body complaints were assessed via self-reporting with a translated version of the body complaints scale of the Youth Self Report (YSR). In addition, Perceived Maternal/Paternal Behavior was assessed, as well as cultural dimensions of the eight counties. Results: Overall, females reported higher rates of body complaints than boys did. An additional negative impact of parental psychological control and anxious rearing was found that generalized across cultures, with a particularly strong impact on girls. Girls in stepparent families and boys in single-parent families reported more body complaints. Finally, body complaints were associated with Hofstede’s cultural factors in both genders, like individualism vs. collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and masculinity vs. femininity. Conclusion: These findings are particularly important for primary care providers, as they stress the relevance of taking into account family and cultural factors in body complaints which affect boys and girls differently, to provide adequate care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress and Stress Resilience in Children and Adolescents)
11 pages, 249 KiB  
Article
The Relationship between Digital Game Addiction Tendency and Depressive Symptoms in Children (36–72 Months)
by Melike Yavas Celik
Children 2024, 11(5), 520; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11050520 - 26 Apr 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1794
Abstract
Aim: We aimed to evaluate the relationship between digital game addiction tendency and depressive symptoms in children (36–72 months). Method: We conducted this research in a virtual environment with the mothers of 747 children (36–72 months). A predictive evaluation was performed using a [...] Read more.
Aim: We aimed to evaluate the relationship between digital game addiction tendency and depressive symptoms in children (36–72 months). Method: We conducted this research in a virtual environment with the mothers of 747 children (36–72 months). A predictive evaluation was performed using a simple regression analysis between the mean scores of the Digital Game Addiction Tendency Scale (DGATS) and the Child Depressive Symptoms Assessment Scale (CDSAS). Results: A total of 53.9% of children reported that they play games for 3–24 h a day. The average duration of children playing digital games was 2.86 ± 1.86 h per day. The total mean score of the CDSAS was 142.48 ± 27.36. The total mean score the children received from DGATS was 46.34 ± 17.28. In the regression analysis, it was determined that there was a strong positive correlation between the (DGATS) total score average and the (CDSAS) total score average (R = 0.52, R2 = 0.27, p < 0.05). Accordingly, digital game addiction tendency explains 27% of children’s depressive symptoms. Conclusions: When the standardized beta coefficient and t values are examined, it can be said that digital game addiction tendency is a significant predictor of children’s depressive symptoms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress and Stress Resilience in Children and Adolescents)
11 pages, 242 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Barriers and Facilitators in the Management of Childhood Trauma and Violence Exposure Intervention in the Vhembe District of the Limpopo Province, South Africa
by Petunia Tsheole, Lufuno Makhado, Angelina Maphula and Nombulelo Veronica Sepeng
Children 2024, 11(5), 516; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11050516 - 25 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1677
Abstract
Research has shown that barriers and facilitators in psychotherapy exhibit similarities. The authors of this study are of the view that to effectively address the difficulties encountered in psychotherapy for children and adolescents, it is crucial to consider the points of view of [...] Read more.
Research has shown that barriers and facilitators in psychotherapy exhibit similarities. The authors of this study are of the view that to effectively address the difficulties encountered in psychotherapy for children and adolescents, it is crucial to consider the points of view of professionals who have firsthand encounters with children. The purpose of this study was to effectively explore barriers and facilitators in the treatment of children exposed to trauma and violence. Exploratory and descriptive methods, as components of a qualitative research design, were employed to investigate and articulate the barriers and facilitators involved in managing childhood trauma. An advertisement was used to recruit participants. It was developed and distributed to psychologists and social workers recommended by the Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment Programme. Seventeen professionals were individually interviewed using semi-structured interview schedules. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). The findings of the study indicated a lack of commitment from parents in honouring appointments, financial challenges, a fear of perpetrators associated with the poor reporting of incidences, professional boundaries, and referral route challenges. Familiar facilitators in the management of childhood trauma included continuous training and workshops for all people working with childhood trauma and violence, the employment of more victim advocates, and awareness campaigns. Additionally, the referral pathway for traumatised children presents logistical, psychological, and educational hurdles, underscoring the complex nature of meeting the needs of these vulnerable populations within the healthcare system. In conclusion, even while the currently available research supports the barriers and facilitators for this population, more investigation is required to examine how these factors affect treatment outcomes, particularly in community-based settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress and Stress Resilience in Children and Adolescents)
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14 pages, 324 KiB  
Article
Moral Disengagement in Adolescent Offenders: Its Relationship with Antisocial Behavior and Its Presence in Offenders of the Law and School Norms
by Daniela Agudelo Rico, Carolina Panesso Giraldo, Joan Sebastian Arbeláez Caro, Germán Cabrera Gutiérrez, Valeria Isaac, María Josefina Escobar and Eduar Herrera
Children 2024, 11(1), 70; https://doi.org/10.3390/children11010070 - 8 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3523
Abstract
This study focuses on understanding the relationship between moral disengagement mechanisms in adolescents who engage in law-breaking activities and those who violate school norms. To do so, we administered the Mechanisms of Moral Disengagement Scale (MMDS), which evaluates moral justification, euphemistic labeling, advantageous [...] Read more.
This study focuses on understanding the relationship between moral disengagement mechanisms in adolescents who engage in law-breaking activities and those who violate school norms. To do so, we administered the Mechanisms of Moral Disengagement Scale (MMDS), which evaluates moral justification, euphemistic labeling, advantageous comparison, deflection of responsibility, diffusion of responsibility, distortion of consequences, dehumanization, and attribution of blame, to 366 adolescents (60.1% males (n = 220) and 39.9% females (n = 146)). Our results confirmed the hypothesis that law-breaking adolescents presented a higher degree of moral disengagement than those adolescents who violate school norms. Additionally, we found that adolescents who violated school norms displayed significantly higher levels of dehumanization than the controls, and law-breaking adolescents obtained the highest score in this domain. Our findings allow us to suggest that the presence of the dehumanization mechanism in adolescents who violate school norms could be used as an early indicator of the emergence of antisocial behaviors, since this was the only component of moral disengagement that significantly differentiated this group from the controls in the study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress and Stress Resilience in Children and Adolescents)
12 pages, 561 KiB  
Article
Student Burnout in Children and Adolescents: The Role of Attachment and Emotion Regulation
by Ioana Alexandra Iuga, Oana Alexandra David and Marie Danet
Children 2023, 10(9), 1443; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10091443 - 24 Aug 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4196
Abstract
In an effort to explain the factors contributing to the development of student burnout, a construct that has received attention in relation to academic outcomes, including burnout, is emotion regulation. Further, attachment theory has been used to explore the variations in the use [...] Read more.
In an effort to explain the factors contributing to the development of student burnout, a construct that has received attention in relation to academic outcomes, including burnout, is emotion regulation. Further, attachment theory has been used to explore the variations in the use of particular emotion regulation strategies, and attachment has received support as a contributing factor. The aim of the study is to explore the role of attachment security and emotion regulation strategies associated with student burnout symptoms in a sample of 602 Romanian children and adolescents (55% female) aged 8–16 (M = 10.45) from 18 schools. A secondary objective was to explore the gender differences in burnout symptoms. The results show that attachment security negatively predicts student burnout symptoms. Further, a higher attachment security positively predicts the use of adaptive emotion regulation strategies, which, in turn, are negatively related to student burnout. Emotion regulation strategies mediate the relationship between attachment and burnout symptoms. No gender differences have been identified. The study has practical implications for both parents and specialists, bringing to attention the importance of secure attachment in children, which could further encourage the use of adaptive emotion regulation strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress and Stress Resilience in Children and Adolescents)
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12 pages, 835 KiB  
Article
The Unique Role of Peer Support: Exploring the Effects of Various Sources of Social Support on the Mental Health of Unaccompanied Children in China under Residential Education
by Lizhang Dong, Yanan Peng, Ran Zhang, Kang Ju and Juzhe Xi
Children 2023, 10(8), 1326; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10081326 - 1 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2419
Abstract
This study investigates the impact of various sources of social support on the mental health of unaccompanied children under residential education in China. Unaccompanied children refer to those whose parents are still alive but unable to raise them due to various reasons. The [...] Read more.
This study investigates the impact of various sources of social support on the mental health of unaccompanied children under residential education in China. Unaccompanied children refer to those whose parents are still alive but unable to raise them due to various reasons. The study utilized self-reported questionnaires administered at two time waves, with the first wave (T1) evaluating family support, teacher support, and peer support, and the second wave (T2) evaluating depression, subjective well-being, and resilience. A total of 202 participants completed both surveys. To examine the predictive effect of different sources of social support on the mental health of these children, the study used the structural equation model with depression and subjective well-being as indicators. The results show that neither family support nor teacher support (T1) had a significant effect on the mental health (T2) of the children. However, peer support (T1) had a significant positive predictive effect on mental health (T2), indicating the unique role of peer support in promoting the mental health of unaccompanied children. The study also explored the mediating role of resilience between social support and well-being, revealing that though the direct effect of teacher support (T1) on mental health (T2) was not significant, the indirect mediating effect of resilience on the relationship between teacher support and mental health was significant. Both the direct and indirect effect of family support (T1) on mental health (T2) were not significant. These findings highlight the importance of creating a positive peer environment for unaccompanied children to promote their mental health. This study has important practical implications for the development of effective intervention programs aimed at improving the mental health of this population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress and Stress Resilience in Children and Adolescents)
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13 pages, 720 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Emotional Neglect on Cyberbullying among Rural Chinese Left-behind Adolescents—Mediating Role of Social Anxiety
by Xinran Hu and Bin Xiao
Children 2023, 10(6), 1055; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10061055 - 13 Jun 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2257
Abstract
Background: Cyberbullying is a globally shared youth problem—a problem of the interpersonal conflicts and contradictions that emerge during the socialization of adolescents. In particular, the issue of cyberbullying among rural left-behind adolescents needs to be given high priority. However, previous studies have paid [...] Read more.
Background: Cyberbullying is a globally shared youth problem—a problem of the interpersonal conflicts and contradictions that emerge during the socialization of adolescents. In particular, the issue of cyberbullying among rural left-behind adolescents needs to be given high priority. However, previous studies have paid little attention to how emotional neglect and social anxiety affect the cyberbullying behavior of rural left-behind adolescents. Therefore, this study was based on cognitive-behavioral theory to investigate the relationship between emotional neglect, cyberbullying, and social anxiety. Methods: This study used the Emotional Neglect Scale, the Cyberbullying Scale, and the Social Anxiety Scale to conduct an anonymous online survey of 1429 rural left-behind adolescents in China. Results: (1) Emotional neglect, social anxiety, and cyberbullying showed a two-way positive correlation. (2) The direct effect of emotional neglect on rural left-behind youth cyberbullying was significant (β = 0.14, p < 0.00). (3) Social anxiety showed a partial mediating effect in the process of emotional neglect affecting rural left-behind youth cyberbullying, with a mediating effect of 26.32%. Conclusions: The results have positive implications for improving relevant policies and constructing mechanisms for protecting the rights and interests of rural left-behind adolescents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress and Stress Resilience in Children and Adolescents)
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Review

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22 pages, 3584 KiB  
Review
Association between Hpa Axis Functioning and Mental Health in Maltreated Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Literature Review
by Pierre-Antoine Leroux, Nolwenn Dissaux, Jean Yves Le Reste, Guillaume Bronsard and Nathalie Lavenne-Collot
Children 2023, 10(8), 1344; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10081344 - 3 Aug 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2838
Abstract
Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that children who experience maltreatment show a more elevated risk of psychopathological disorders than children from the general population. The HPA (hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal) axis is not mature at birth and undergoes strong social regulation during the first years of [...] Read more.
Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that children who experience maltreatment show a more elevated risk of psychopathological disorders than children from the general population. The HPA (hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal) axis is not mature at birth and undergoes strong social regulation during the first years of life. Consequently, early exposure to stress could modify the usual adaptative response to stress. In stressful situations, perturbations in both cortisol response and cortisol circadian rhythm have been observed. Nevertheless, studies that have evaluated the links between child abuse, dysregulation of the HPA axis, and mental disorders have shown diverse results. Because of the variety of methods employed in the different studies, no formal comparisons have been made. In this systematic review, we have brought together these results. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of studies analyzing the correlation between child abuse, mental disorders, and HPA axis activity in patients aged between 6 and 16 years. PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Google Scholar were searched using relevant keywords and inclusion/exclusion criteria (from 2000 to 2020). Results: Fifteen studies from the 351 identified were included. Most patients were children in the child welfare system. Children who had experienced child abuse presented with more severe mental disorders (particularly in the dimensional measure) than children who had not been abused. HPA axis activity was assessed by measuring basal cortisol for some studies and cortisol reactivity for other studies. For children experiencing child abuse, there was a possible association between abuse and a decrease in the reactivity of the HPA axis. In addition, early life stress could be associated with lower matinal cortisol. However, the association between mental disorders and cortisol secretion in maltreated children did not seem obvious. Conclusions: This systematic review demonstrates that mental disorders are more frequent and severe in cases where child abuse has occurred. Moreover, children who experienced child abuse seem to present changes in the reactivity of the HPA axis. Nevertheless, the potential correlation between these changes in the reactivity of the HPA axis and mental disorders in this population needs to be evaluated in further studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress and Stress Resilience in Children and Adolescents)
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