Invisible Scars: Residual Consequences of Childhood Maltreatment Even in Adults Classified as Resilient

Abstract

People exposed to childhood maltreatment (CM) are thought to emerge as “resilient” or “non-resilient” in adulthood, with the implication that resilient adults eluded the negative consequences of CM. However, adults with CM who are classified as “resilient” may still face negative outcomes in areas of life not captured by resilience criteria. To test this hypothesis, the present study examined whether higher levels of CM were associated with worse psychological, social, and physical health outcomes even in “resilient” adults. Using data at all three survey waves spanning two decades from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) longitudinal study, resilience was defined as healthy functioning across seven domains: psychiatric disorders, substance use, education, employment, homelessness, crime, and social isolation. Results showed that in both the “resilient” and “non-resilient” groups, higher CM exposure was significantly associated with worse outcomes on measures of stress reactivity, perceived stress, number of chronic conditions, self-esteem, life satisfaction, relationship quality with friends and family, and positive relations with others (measured at wave 3; all p-values <.033). These findings suggest that CM has enduring and overlooked psychological, social, and physical health consequences not captured by comprehensive resilience criteria, highlighting the need for intervention even in seemingly resilient adults.