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THE IMPACT OF CHILD ABUSE ON HAPPINESS AND LIFE SATISFACTION IN ROMANIAN YOUTH. A NATIONWIDE STUDY
Abstract
Background: Child abuse and lack of emotional support experienced in childhood or even adolescents has long term costs affecting the capacity to fulfill life. Objective: The principal goal of this article was to study the extent to which the consequences of different forms of abuse are reflected in youth subjectively evaluated happiness and satisfaction with life. Method: Data were drawn from a large-scale, national representative longitudinal sample of 3524 senior high school students, who reported on their childhood victimization, followed through a second wave of research, two years after graduation of high schools N=1497 young adults. The analyses accounted for gender, urban-rural differences, socioeconomic deprivation, experiences of violence (physical, emotional and sexual, neglect, experience with domestic violence) recorded in 1st wave. Linear multiple hierarchical regressions were performed to estimate the prediction of abuse over well-being. Findings: Child abuse effects were reflected in individualВ’s subjective evaluations of well-being, predicted lower levels of happiness and life satisfaction while social support and financial situation played a protective buffering role. Occasional physical maltreatment had no effect on well-being if the family was supportive in general.
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References12
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